Report highlights concerns of parents as many concerned over impact of pornography

A study into the sexualisation of children in Ireland has found that parents are often torn between avoiding discussion of the issue in an attempt to protect their children’s innocence, and addressing possible hazards to keep them safe.

The study, conducted by academics in University College Cork, found that many parents are concerned about the impact of pornography on their children, particularly younger males. It argues that ideas of girls being responsible for their own safety blurred the promotion and better understanding of sexual consent and “contributes to victim-blaming for sexual violence in our society”.

The report, entitled ‘The sexualisation and commercialisation of children in Ireland: An exploratory study’, was led by Dr Elizabeth Kiely and based on a range of sources, including direct interviews with parents and young people as well as focus groups, and a list of formal complaints made to key regulatory bodies.

The report states: “The evidence gathered indicates that sexualisation, as deployed in popular discourse and in focus group/interview data, is strongly gendered, so that ‘sexualised’ or ‘knowing’ girls are perceived as a problem, both for themselves and for others.

“Easier access to sexually explicit material and pornography — be it accidental, deliberate, or habitual — is how ‘sexualisation’ is mainly viewed as impacting on boys, with associated implications for girls’ lives, relational experiences, and wellbeing.

“Girls’ sexualised dress, demeanour, and practices were strongly perceived by parents to put them at risk of unwanted sexual attention or possibly assault, indicating a relatively pervasive and concerning construction of the ‘problem’ of sexual assault as one of girls’ inappropriate clothing or way of being.”

The report states that parents “sometimes struggled” in knowing how best to protect their children, either avoiding direct conversations or addressing it directly.

“Some parents were concerned about risks posed by children’s online activities in terms of them unwittingly breaking the law, or in terms of jeopardising their future education and employment prospects.”

Parents indicated that education was key to addressing many of the issues they faced with their children, while the report also noted that the introduction of a regulatory one-stop portal like Parentport in the UK could be considered, as well as an upgraded Relationships and Sexuality Education Programme.

The report states: “In view of how sexualisation is frequently framed in very particular ways in public discourse, there is an onus on those contributing to it to shift it from being an issue solely about child protection towards one about the protection of girls and women in our society.

“There is a need to consider the implications of a discourse of sexualisation that makes girls responsible for their own safety.

“It obfuscates a discourse promoting a better understanding of, and acceptance of, the importance of sexual consent. It contributes to victim-blaming for sexual violence in our society.”

• See the full report at www.dcya.gov.ie