Low-Cut Shirts and High-Heeled Shoes: Increased Sexualization Across Time in Magazine Depictions of Girls

• Published in: Sex roles Vol. 69; no. 11-12; pp. 571 - 582
• Main Authors: Graff, Kaitlin A., Murnen, Sarah K., Krause, Anna K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01-12-2013; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adolescents; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Biological and medical sciences; Content analysis; Cultural change; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gender Studies; Girls; Grade 5; Longitudinal Studies; Medicine/Public Health; Original Article; Psychology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Sexuality; Social psychology; Social role. Sex role; Sociology; United States; North America; America; Sexual objectification; Keywords; Sexy; Girls’ magazines; Social environment; Human; Sex role; Cultural environment; Female; Girls' magazines; Qualitative analysis; Mass media; Woman; Content analysis; Press
• ISSN: 0360-0025; 1573-2762
• DOI: 10.1007/s11199-013-0321-0

Theory and past research predict an increase in the sexualization of girls in United States culture. We used content analysis to examine change in the number of sexualizing characteristics (e.g., low cut shirts, high-heeled shoes) and childlike characteristics (e.g., polka-dot print, Mary-Jane style shoes) present in depictions of girls across time in the magazines
Seventeen
(
N
 = 1649 images from issues in selected issues from 1971 through 2011) and
Girls’ Life
(
N
 = 763 images from selected issues from 1994 to 2011). One-way ANOVAS revealed increases in the total number of sexualizing characteristics across time in both magazines. In particular, depictions of low-cut tops and tight fitting clothing increased in both magazines. There was also a decrease in the number of childlike characteristics in
Girls’ Life
across time. Possible reasons for increased sexualization as well as possible consequences are discussed.