A study by the American Psychological Association (APA) on cultural trends finds that American girls are sexualized in almost every medium and product—advertisements, video games, clothing and cosmetics, among others. This, in turn, contributes to other trends among girls like eating disorders, low self-confidence and depression (www.apa.org/releases/sexualization.html).

The study found, strangely enough, that college girls who took math tests in a bathing suit received a lower score than those fully dressed. As the executive summary stated, 'thinking about the body and comparing it to sexualized cultural ideals disrupted mental capacity." There was no difference in test scores for young men whether they were wearing bathing suits or were fully dressed (www.apa.org/pi/wpo/sexualizationsum.html).

Columnist Kathleen Parker noted: 'It can't be coincidence that girls' self-objectification—looking for male attention in all the wrong ways—has risen as father presence has declined. At last tally, 30 percent of fathers weren't sleeping in the same house as their biological children" ('Dads Are Key to Giving Girls Reality Check on Sexuality," The Orlando Sentinel, Feb. 28, 2007).

For more information on developing the right understanding of marriage, sex and family, request or download Marriage and Family: The Missing Dimension.