Getting Real: Challenging the Sexualisation of Girls

by Melinda Tankard Reist (Editor), Noni Hazlehurst (Preface)

Assembling writers, advocates, and academics, this volume spotlights the sexualization and objectification of girls and women in the media, popular culture, and society. From clothing and music to magazines and toys, this collection explores today’s advertising and merchandising techniques and the effects they have on the premature portrayal of girls as sexual beings. Arguing that the sexualization of girls leads to self-destructive behaviors such as eating disorders and self-harm as well as to increased anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem, this account blames corporations, the media, and the sex industry. Informative and spirited, this record will interest critics of the “pornification” movement.

Genres: Nonfiction, Parenting, Feminism

180 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Melinda Tankard Reist is a Canberra author, speaker, commentator, blogger and advocate for women and girls.

Writing

Melinda is author of Giving Sorrow Words: Women’s Stories of Grief After Abortion (Duffy&Snellgrove, 2000), Defiant Birth: Women Who Resist Medical Eugenics (Spinifex Press, 2006) and the recently released Getting Real: Challenging the Sexualisation of Girls (Spinifex Press, 2009), now in its second printing.

Melinda’s commentary has been published and broadcast in Australia and overseas. She has appeared recently on ABC’s Q&A, Channel Seven’s ‘The Morning Show’, ABC 666 ‘Keynote Speakers’, ABC Melbourne ‘Jon Faine program’ and 2GB Drive, to name a few. She’s also editor of Faking It: The Female Image in Young Women’s Magazines (WFA 2007). Melinda is named in Who’s Who of Women (Australia) and World Who’s Who of Women.

Speaking

Melinda is in demand as a speaker in Australia and overseas, including for schools, conferences and youth events. Melinda has addressed intimate gatherings and audiences of 15,000. Melinda also consults on a range of issues of concern to women. See the testimonials section for some of the responses to recent addresses she has given.

Advocacy

Melinda’s advocacy for women and girls has included helping establish a supported accommodation and outreach service for women pregnant and without support, involvement in projects to address poverty, trafficking and sex slavery, and working to highlight and address the objectification of women and sexualisation of girls in Australia and globally.

Campaigning

Melinda is one of the founders of a new grassroots campaigning movement “Collective Shout: For a world free of sexploitation“. Recently launched, Collective Shout names and shames corporations, advertisers and marketers who objectify women and sexualise girls to sell products and services. Collective Shout has seen success with a number of recent campaigns against products which sexualise and commodify children.

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartbreaking statistics and facts but worth the read. You will be changed forever.

[Naomi Nolet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went and saw Melinda Tankard Reist speak on this issue and it alternately disgusted and dismayed me. Relevant for all of us who were once young girls and are watching girls grow up today.

[Asferdinand · Rating 1 out of 5]

Seems to be written mainly for people who need to be convinced that children are being sexualised at earlier ages and that such sexualisation is a problem. For people who have already reached this conclusion and are wanting something a bit more in-depth, the book is sorely lacking. I would also have wanted to see more analysis around issues like class, race and disability and how these affect the messages children receive around sexuality. Additionally, while Reist is rightfully outraged at the pressure girls and young women are under to display and express sexuality in inappropriate and harmful ways, she often goes too far the other way. It often felt as though she was wanting to keep them virginal and pure, without the realisation that this way of controlling girls' and women's sexuality is also problematic.

[Rosie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmm a little out dated vibes. The phrase "Barak and Michelle Obama's public kisses and embraces have turned them into the 'hot couple' who are making sex in marriage look not only desirable but better than the alternative." Made me cackle. I mean they aren't exactly who I would consider sexual icons. Also it was jaring there was no refernce to the me too movement but of course it hadn't happened yet. But some of it was really cool and interesting. A great way to waste a study period.

[Snezana Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read for anyone who cares about young females, and the barrage of sexually inappropriate and sexually objectifying material on blatant display in our society.

[Veronica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is tackling the issue from the Australian perspective. They rely on a lot of the books and research that comes from American feminists.

So far I've found myself fascinated at how the authors seem to be part liberal feminist and part conservative feminist.

[Dean Carroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

An introductory book on a very real problem for society. Well worth a read if you don't know about the issue at all, or are unsure about the extent of the problem. A brave book to publish, well done Melinda and contributors!

[Heidi Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential reading for understanding how sexualisation of girls has become the norm and ways to push back against this alarming socialization technique