An Evaluation of the American Psychological Association’s Task Force Report on the Sexualization of Girls

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Task Force Report on the Sexualization of Girls (Report). The Report has four parts: evidence of the sexualization of girls; consequences of the sexualization of girls; positive alternatives; and recommendations. The Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls (TSG) presents ample evidence of the problems and consequences, as well as some positive alternatives and helpful recommendations. This paper will argue that the recommendations presented will not achieve the goal of protecting girls because the TSG fails to identify the underlying causes and implicitly accepts unsubstantiated ideologically based assumptions.