In an article by Alan Travis found here, the issue of sexualization in music videos is addressed. Videos are only growing in their intensity of blatantly sexual and almost pornographic images, and the availability of this images to young people is astounding. Not only that, but there is growing proof that this has negative effect on how society views women. Not only are songs chock-full of demoralizing lyrics, but we are slapped in the face with derogatory portrayals of women in videos displayed to millions of viewers globally. Not only do these videos basically send the message that women are only good for one thing, but they also are raising up a whole new generation of children to have the same values.

This article more than addresses how easy it is for children to view and obtain this material, and it suggests that there needs to be a tighter limit on these things. It argues that negative and even violent attitudes towards women will not be decreased until the mainstreaming of these images is curbed.

This is an important issue to society as a whole. Do we really want the young people of our world to be so heavily influenced my media that screams sex, sex and more sex? Do we really want their role models to be half dressed women and men that talk about nothing but getting what they want from girls and then leaving them? Not only is that forcing children to grow up too soon and have unrealistic expectations, but it also giving everyone the wrong idea about females as a whole. All these videos are going to do is decrease self-esteem in girls and build up disrespect in boys.

1 Comment

1. Kevin M on March 7, 2010 at 2:41 PM

   I know this article is about the UK, but if the government in the States tried to curb sexual content in music and music videos, wouldn't this be seen as a violation of the First Amendment? Wouldn't it be censorship, even prior restraint?