Prime-time TV sexualises, fetishises underage girls: US study

A study conducted by the Parents Television Council (PTC) has found that Hollywood is obsessed with sexualising teenage girls to the point where their participation in sexual situations is higher than that of adults.

PTC's report, titled 'New Target: A Study of Teen Female Sexualization on Primetime TV', is based on data drawn from the 25 most popular shows in the 12-17 demographic throughout the 2009-10 television season.

Around 47% of underage female characters participated in sexual situations compared to 29% of adults.

"The results from this report show Tinseltown's eagerness to not only objectify and fetishise young girls, but to sexualise them in such a way that real teens are led to believe their sole value comes from their sexuality," Fox News quoted PTC president Tim Winter as saying.

"This report is less about the shocking numbers that detail the sickness of early sexualisation in our entertainment culture and more about the generation of young girls who are being told how society expects them to behave.

"Storylines on the most popular shows among teens are sending the message to our daughters that being sexualised isn't just acceptable, it should be sought after.

"It is outrageous that TV executives have made it their business to profit off of programmes that depict teen girls blissfully being sexualised by casual partners," he stated.

Examples used by the PTC to illustrate its findings, all taken from prime-time broadcast television, included Taylor Momsen's character in bed with Ed Westwick on Gossip Girl, Annalynne McCord taking a swig of alcohol while wearing only a bra and panties on 90210, and a lesbian kiss between cheerleaders on Glee.

PTC and its supporters are calling on parents, actors, and advertisers to take action and demand that the trend to air content based on teen sexualisation be reversed.