School assault allegations should sound alarm bells over the early sexualisation of children

THE linking of alleged sexual assaults by young boys at a Queensland primary school with the early sexualisation of children should sound alarm bells, Tasmanian Liberal Senator Stephen Parry says.

Senator Parry said the reported comments of renowned child psychologist Michael Carr-Gregg yesterday could be prophetic.

“Dr Carr-Gregg has been a vocal critic of the sexualisation of children and I share his concern at the growing trend that is seeing sexually-charged material and products being marketed at younger and younger children,’’ he said.

“In relation to the shocking allegations out of Queensland, Dr Carr-Gregg said:

`Usually they (children) are just imitating something they might have seen perhaps on the internet, on TV or a movie or tragically been a victim of some form of sexual assault.

`We do bombard them in virtually every form of media with sexuality in one way or the other.

`Young people are very impressionable and this could perhaps be a case of monkey see, monkey do.’

“If this is a case of children having been influenced by inappropriate material then it may only be an alarming sign of things to come.’’

Senator Parry, who served on a Senate inquiry into the sexualisation of children in the media, says the issue demands greater attention from governments and the wider community.

“Most of all it demands that those who are in a position to influence our children behave responsibly,’’ he said.

“Recently we have seen T-shirts marketed at very young children with adult slogans, while many dolls and video music clips are highly sexualised.

“At what cost comes this charge to deny our kids a childhood; to force our young people to grow up sooner?’’

Senator Parry said the Standing Committee on Environment, Communications and the Arts inquiry made a range of recommendations in its June 2008 report.

“First and foremost was recognition that `preventing the premature sexualisation of children is a significant cultural challenge’,’’ he said.

`This is a community responsibility which demands action by society. In particular, the onus is on broadcasters, publishers, advertisers, retailers and manufacturers to take account of these community concerns,’ the report said.

“The committee recommended that the steps being taken to address concern over child sexualisation in the media by industry bodies and others should be further considered by the Senate in 18 months.

“I call on the Australian Government to ensure action is taken in following up the committee’s report and addressing this very serious issue.’’
Senator Stephen Parry