Sexual Exploitation of Female Teens in Television
Presenter(s)
Amanda Gallant
Theme
Gender, sexuality, and/or LGBTQ+ rights
Abstract or Description
Amanda Gallant
Dr. Meek
WGSS 240-X01
April 22, 2021
Sexual Exploitation of Female Teens in Television
“Females ages sixteen to nineteen are four times more likely than the general population to be victims of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault” (RAINN.org). Television shows like Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars consistently over-sexualizes the roles of teenage girls throughout their series. This oversexualization places fatalistic pressure on teens to fit unattainable beauty standards. Overall generating struggles with self-acceptance, allowance of unwanted behavior and society viewing females as objects.
In this presentation, I will explore different aspects of oversexualizing women in television shows and the negative affects it has on teens girls. I will start with Gossip Girl;casual sexual behavior is constantly used with no regard to consent or protection. I will then indulge in Pretty Little Liars, the acceptance of underage drinking and rape throughout the series takes away from the seriousness of the crimes. In the end, I will wrap up with the way both of these programs use unrealistic beauty standards, negatively impacting teen growth and self-acceptance.
Peirce, Meghan L. “‘Sexual Representations in Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill: A Textual Analysis’.” Academic Journals, 10 Dec. 2010, academicjournals.org/journal/JMCS/article-full-text-pdf/D26587011164.
This research project discusses how Gossip Girl uses young, beautiful teens surrounded by money as an unrealistic representation of American life. Young minds get misconstrued by this, thinking they can emulate a carefree life like the ones depicted. Almost all of the conversations between male and female characters include sexual innuendos, teaching young girls that their body will get them where they need in life. The main protagonists in this television show disconnects any feelings when participating in sexual activities, de-valuing the intimacy of sex. Women are constantly portrayed as accessories to men at parties, objectifying and using them. Similarly, in a popular television show: Pretty Little Liars, young girls are objectified by older men.
Marcus, Stephanie. “'Pretty Little Liars' Can't Get Past Its Statutory Rape Problem.” HuffPost, 8 June 2017, www.huffpost.com/entry/pretty-little-liars-addresses-its-statutory-rape-problem-but-not-in-the-way-we-hoped_n_5937f09ee4b0ce1e740956e6.
In this article from the Huff’s post it discusses how age deceiving is promoted in Pretty Little Liars by the main character Ezra. She constantly lies about her age, acting older to go to bars and have sex with older men. Ezra ends up getting into relations with one her teachers and instead of viewing it as rape, Pretty Little Liars drives the audience to view them as “star-crossed lovers”. This edifies young girls into thinking predators taking advantage of minors is not only acceptable, but desirable. Statutory rape is celebrated because Ezra wanted it too, but she is minor, the teacher should have been charged. These actions teach young girls that no disciplinary action will happen if they engage in a similar situation.
Trekels, Jolien, and Steven Eggermont. “‘I Can/Should Look like a Media Figure’: The Association Between Direct and Indirect Media Exposure and Teens’ Sexualizing Appearance Behaviors.’” Journal of Sex Research, 2 Nov. 2017.
In this peer review article, it discusses how young girls desire emulating characters in television shows. Teen programs send the implication to females that men will be more interested if they fit a certain beauty standard. Social media then extracts the characters from these shows and enforces this idea that beauty is a requirement. It is stated that thinner characters, dressed provocatively in television shows receive more positive comments about their appearance; along with rewards like having a boyfriend or getting the job they want. This causes teens to feel they need to fit those beauty standards to fit in and be appreciated. These unrealistic beauty standards then give girls low self-esteem and often times they captivate in harmful behaviors.
Mentor
Michele Meek
Comments
Madison Walsh4 years ago
This opens up an extremely important conversation. Impressionable teenagers are watching things like this and when they portray sex, especially nonconsensual sex, in a way that makes it seem acceptable, young people receive unrealistic ideas about these things. Things like this negatively influence everyone regardless of gender. Young girls are taught that their worth is equated to their looks and their ability to receive attention from men. Men are taught that treating women in a derogatory manner is how they will get the attention they may desire. These portrayals are so incredibly harmful. I think things are starting to change there are more shows out there that are addressing these issues differently. One that comes to mind for me is "A Teacher" which is on Hulu I believe (or some other streaming service). It talks about a female teacher becoming involved with a male student. It is a piece meant to challenge gender norms as well as the idea that sexual exploitation is something that is "normal". This is a well thought out project well done.
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Amanda Gallant4 years ago
Hi Madison. I was in disbelief when researching about all of the sexual content in television shows. The disregard of protection, consent and respect is evident through so many different shows. I have never seen "A Teacher" but I imagine that the female teacher involving herself with a male student is sickening to watch. Its saddening to see how not only acceptable shows make these actions but how desirable they make them seem as well.
Sarah Milligan4 years ago
Hi Amanda! This presentation would be a great conversation starter to how teenagers ideas of sexual relations and relationships are formed. It is crazy to think, even when I was watching PPL, that the relationship between a minor and teacher was so glorified. Look at it now, the fact that the tv show twisted the power struggle between them, along with the legal complication into a good light is crazy. I really liked the points you brought up, along with the hidden messages the shows were putting forward!
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Amanda Gallant4 years ago
Hi Sarah,<br />I too thought it was insane the way a minor and teacher relationship was glorified and made to seem desirable. If I was to do more research I would start looking more into the effects this also has on male characters. I feel as though male characters are being raised to mimic these characters as well and treat sexual relations loosely.
Katie Walsh4 years ago
I love that you have chosen this topic to shed light on. It was something I've always noticed and felt was so wrong. I have never seen Gossip Girls or Pretty Little Liars, so it was interesting to read about their massive contributions to this issue, because I am aware of how huge these shows were in pop culture at one point in time. It is so harmful to have shows like these marketed towards girls who are aged 14-16, and to see how damaging it can be to their psyche when they expect the life a 19 year old actress is portraying them to have. Really interesting project!
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Amanda Gallant4 years ago
Hi Katie,<br />One thing that I also did not add in my presentation is the way that these shows use females in their 20's to play the roles of high school students. This also makes these young girls think that they should look much older rather than feel confident in the bodies that they have.
Olivia Briggs4 years ago
I watched almost all of the shows you mentioned when I was in middle/high school and had no idea the subliminal messaging I was receiving. I think these shows are harming young girls and the way they think about their bodies. It seems that most of my friends as well as myself are never satisfied with our bodies and always trying to change our appearance. The constantly changing beauty standards don't help either. If shows taught us self acceptance rather than showing us super skinny girls with tons of makeup on, maybe we'd have a different perception of ourselves.
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Amanda Gallant4 years ago
Hi Olivia,<br />I completely agree, I think that shows need to start teaching self acceptance rather than fitting a certain image. The reason I chose this topic was because I too noticed the same problems with dissatisfaction in myself and my friends face with their bodies and the way we present ourselves. It takes a tole on our mental health.
Tyler Solomon4 years ago
One of the most important key takeaways is that I found in the conclusion is the fact that older women do portray teenage girls. Which does impact the way teenage females view their body although it is fiction and stories they do have an impact on then the way people watch them. This is why it important to change the way that teenagers are presented in films. Another important takeaway within this presentation is the fact that teenage girls will change their natural looks in order to look a certain way. This presentation is amazing. Really nice job!
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Amanda Gallant4 years ago
Hi Tyler,<br />Thank you for the feedback on my presentation! There was so much more information on this topic that I was not even able to cover, for example how television shows do similar body shaming and pressures on men. There needs to be a change in the way that shows present their main characters that revolves around self acceptance and appreciation for ones differences.
Elizabeth Ezekiel4 years ago
Hi Amanda - well done presenting such an important topic. I remember growing up feeling frustrated that I did not look like the other girls I saw on television, even though in reality the actresses were often a decade older than me, though "acting" the same age. Your phrase "teaching young girls that their body will get them what they need in life" is especially poignant, for the over-sexualization of young women in media surely sparks young girls to force their sexual awakening long before they are ready for it.
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