Executive Summary (HTML) Executive Summary (PDF) Report of the APA Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls (PDF) The proliferation of sexualized images of girls and young women in advertising, merchandising, and media is harming girls' self-image and healthy development. This report explores the cognitive and emotional consequences, consequences for mental and physical health, and impact on development of a healthy sexual self-image. What Parents Can Do Parents can teach girls to value themselves for who they are, rather than how they look. Parents can teach boys to value girls as friends, sisters, and girlfriends, rather than as sexual objects. Here are some conversation starters for parents, as well as other adults and caregivers. Empowering Girls: Media Literacy Resources With the help of the adults in their lives, girls and boys can gain media literacy skills, can learn to resist the message that how girls look is what matters, and can learn how to advocate for themselves. Here are some resources that can help. APA Press Release