The document summarizes the issue of hyper-sexualization of children in dance. It discusses how dance for young children, particularly girls, has become increasingly sexualized in recent decades through reality TV shows, pageants, and sexualized choreography. This is problematic as it can have negative cognitive and developmental effects on children. The document advocates for raising awareness of this issue and promoting age-appropriate dance standards through education and policy changes.

2. Trigger Warning: Sexually Explicit Images
This presentation contains explicit sexual information and images that
could potentially be triggering, please watch with care.

3. The Opportunity: Benefits of Dance for Kids
The Problem: Hyper-Sexualization of Children in Dance
The Big Picture: A Pornified Culture
The Solution: Education & Action
8 - 9 Year Old Dancers

4. The Opportunity
Benefits of Dance for Kids

5. Dance is a wonderful activity for children.
Research shows that children’s dance classes
– with age-appropriate standards –
help children mature physically, emotionally, socially and cognitively.
The Opportunity: Benefits of Dance for Kids
Standards for Dance in Early Childhood. (n.d.). Retrieved July 6, 2016, from http://www.ndeo.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=893257&module_id=55419

6. Children in dance learn advanced skills in …
Creativity
Problem Solving
Risk Taking
Higher Order Thinking
Communication
Social Awareness
Emotional Maturity
Improved Self-Esteem
The Opportunity: Benefits of Dance for Kids
Hanna, J. L. (1999). Partnering dance and education. Intelligent moves for changing times. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
Tarr, B., Launay, J., & Dunbar, R. I. (2016). Silent disco: Dancing in synchrony leads to elevated pain thresholds and social closeness.Evolution and Human Behavior. doi:10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2016.02.004

7. Look at the beauty of healthy, age-appropriate dance …
The Opportunity: Benefits of Dance for Kids

8. The Problem
Hyper-Sexualization of Children in Dance

9. Over the course of the last decade, dance for young
children - particularly little girls - has changed.
Girls are becoming increasingly sexualized
through dance at younger and younger ages.
The Problem: Hyper-Sexualization of Children in Dance

10. Age appropriate choreography has morphed into
reality TV shows and dance recitals that exploit and sexualize children.
Contestants on Reality Show
“Toddlers & Tiaras”
8 – 9 Year Old Dancers
The Problem: Hyper-Sexualization of Children in Dance

11. The Problem: Hyper-Sexualization of Children in Dance
Here’s an example with dancers age 8 and 9 …
Click here to view this dance in it’s entirety.

12. Hypersexualization of young girls: Why should we care? (n.d.). Retrieved July 12, 2016, from http://www.cwhn.ca/en/hypersexualizationprimer
American Psychological Association, Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls. (2007). Report of the APA Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls. Retrieved from hhttp://www.apa.org/pi/women/programs/girls/report.aspx
What Does it Mean to Sexualize Girls?
The American Psychological Association says sexualization is
different than healthy sexuality.
A girl is sexualized when:
• She is valued only for her sexual appeal or behavior rather
than other characteristics
• Her physical attractiveness is equated with being sexy
• She is treated as a sexual object — that is, made into a thing for
others’ sexual use, rather than seen as a person with the capacity
for independent action and decision making
• Sexuality is inappropriately imposed on her
The Problem: Hyper-Sexualization of Children in Dance

13. The sexualization of girls is not new.
Though today with digital media
the sexualization of girls has become
commonplace, widespread and a pervasive cultural norm.
Hypersexualization of young girls: Why should we care? (n.d.). Retrieved July 12, 2016, from http://www.cwhn.ca/en/hypersexualizationprimer
The Problem: Hyper-Sexualization of Children in Dance

14. The massive onslaught of sexualized messages is
having an impact on girls at younger and younger ages.
Recent research shows that most girls – as young as 6-years old – are beginning to
think of themselves as sex objects.
Hypersexualization of young girls: Why should we care? (n.d.). Retrieved July 12, 2016, from http://www.cwhn.ca/en/hypersexualizationprimer
Levin, Diane E., Kilbourne, Jean. So Sexy, So Soon. (2009). Ballantine Books.
The Problem: Hyper-Sexualization of Children in Dance

15. A 2014 study found that
children are starting the teenage years four years earlier than they used to.
Meaning that girls aged 4 – 10 are
engaging with teen culture and exhibiting hyper-sexualized behavior.
Tiggemann, M. and Slater, A. (2014). Contemporaty girlhood: maternal reports on sexualized behaviour and appearance concern in 4-10 year-old girls. Elsevier: Body Image, 11(4), pp 396-403.
The Problem: Hyper-Sexualization of Children in Dance

16. Hypersexualization of young girls: Why should we care? (n.d.). Retrieved July 12, 2016, from http://www.cwhn.ca/en/hypersexualizationprimer
Levin, Diane E., Kilbourne, Jean. So Sexy, So Soon. (2009). Ballantine Books.
Girls’ sexual development is being hijacked.
The culture invites them to imitate the porn-style dance moves of their favorite stars.
Yet, they do not have the emotional sophistication
to understand what they are seeing and doing.
The Problem: Hyper-Sexualization of Children in Dance

17. American Psychological Association, Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls. (2007). Report of the APA Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls. Retrieved from hhttp://www.apa.org/pi/women/programs/girls/report.aspx
Where do girls receive sexualization messages from?
The American Psychological Association’s task force on the
Sexualization of Girls found sexualized messages come from:
Media - including television, music videos, music lyrics,
movies, magazines, sports media, video games, the Internet
and advertising
Personal Relationships – such as with parents, teachers,
and peers
Girls Themselves - when purchasing products and clothes
designed to make them look physically appealing and sexy,
and if they style their identities after the sexy celebrities who
populate their cultural landscape, they are sexualizing
themselves.
The Problem: Hyper-Sexualization of Children in Dance

18. Hypersexualization of young girls: Why should we care? (n.d.). Retrieved July 12, 2016, from http://www.cwhn.ca/en/hypersexualizationprimer
Thongs Marketed to Young Girls
Created for 6-Year Olds Created for 10-Year Olds
Here are some examples:
The Problem: Hyper-Sexualization of Children in Dance

19. Hypersexualization of young girls: Why should we care? (n.d.). Retrieved July 12, 2016, from http://www.cwhn.ca/en/hypersexualizationprimer
Advertisements of Young Girls in ‘Sexy’ Poses
Cover of15-Year Old
Miley Cyrus
10-Year Old Model
Thylane Blondeau
Summer Collection Diapers Children’s Dance
Costume
TRIPLE THREAT
The Problem: Hyper-Sexualization of Children in Dance

20. Hypersexualization of young girls: Why should we care? (n.d.). Retrieved July 12, 2016, from http://www.cwhn.ca/en/hypersexualizationprimer
Sexualized Products & Product Marketing
Ages 5+ Ages 3+Pole Dancer Doll
The Problem: Hyper-Sexualization of Children in Dance

21. The Problem: Hyper-Sexualization of Children in Dance
And here are a few examples of how the
sexualization of girls is distorting children’s dance …

22. Over 100 global reports have revealed the
negative effects sexualized messages are having on
the healthy development of children.
We need to ensure the dance classroom is a safe place
for kids to experience and delight in dance –
without exploitation.
The KidsPace Code of Practice (n.d.), Retrieved July 13, 2016 from http://www.kidspacecode.com/#!dance-code-of-practice/eft5l
American Psychological Association, Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls. (2007). Report of the APA Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls. Retrieved from hhttp://www.apa.org/pi/women/programs/girls/report.aspx
The Problem: Hyper-Sexualization of Children in Dance

23. The Problem: Hyper-Sexualization of Children in Dance
Here Dr. Tomi-Ann Roberts, PhD talks about
the sexualization of girls in mainstream dance …
American Psychological Association, Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls. (2007). Report of the APA Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls. Retrieved from hhttp://www.apa.org/pi/women/programs/girls/report.aspx
E.D.I.F.Y. Movement. (2015, July 11). Dr. Tomi-Ann Roberts, PHD sits down with Y.P.A.D. about the Sexualization of Children in Dance [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwtMavXJv5s

24. The Problem: Hyper-Sexualization of Children in Dance
There are many known effects of the sexualization of girls in dance …
American Psychological Association, Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls. (2007). Report of the APA Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls. Retrieved from hhttp://www.apa.org/pi/women/programs/girls/report.aspx
E.D.I.F.Y. Movement. (2015, July 11). Dr. Tomi-Ann Roberts, PHD sits down with Y.P.A.D. about the Sexualization of Children in Dance [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwtMavXJv5s

25. The Effects of Sexualization
American Psychological Association, Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls. (2007). Report of the APA Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls. Retrieved from hhttp://www.apa.org/pi/women/programs/girls/report.aspx
Body Dysmorphia
Eating Disorders
Poor Academic Performance
Promiscuity
Teen Pregnancy
Higher Risk of Abusive Relationships
Higher Risk of Pornography Use
Unable to Identify Sexual Abuse
Mismanagement of Social Networking
Promotes Rape Culture
Promotes Objectification of Females
Relationship Wounding due to Constant
Comparison
Co-Dependence
Desensitization
The Problem: Hyper-Sexualization of Children in Dance

26. Children exposed to sexual, pornographic images – or ideas –
are more vulnerable than adults because
children are more likely to instinctively
imitate behaviors they are exposed to (due to mirror neurons).
Pornography harms children - Dr. Sharon Cooper, M.D. at PornHarms.com briefing [Video File]. (2010, December 6). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFw1Cnuq9jc
Jensen, K. (2014, September 4). Can soft-core porn damage your child’s brain? Retrieved from http://protectyoungminds.org/2014/09/04/can-soft-core-porn-damage-your-childs-brain/
Cognitive Effects of Sexualization
The Problem: Hyper-Sexualization of Children in Dance

27. Plus, children exposed to pornography
experience neurological stress.
Their brains are simply not mature enough to handle the exposure to porn.
They also are more likely to
develop impulsive behavior and are less able to think critically.
Pornography harms children - Dr. Sharon Cooper, M.D. at PornHarms.com briefing [Video File]. (2010, December 6). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFw1Cnuq9jc
Jensen, K. (2014, September 4). Can soft-core porn damage your child’s brain? Retrieved from http://protectyoungminds.org/2014/09/04/can-soft-core-porn-damage-your-childs-brain/
The Problem: Hyper-Sexualization of Children in Dance

28. The Problem: Hyper-Sexualization of Children in Dance
And here is more insight about sexual objectification and
the cognitive effects it has on children …
E.D.I.F.Y. Movement. (2015, July 11). Dr. Tomi-Ann Roberts, PHD sits down with Y.P.A.D. about the Sexualization of Children in Dance [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwtMavXJv5s

29. The Problem: Hyper-Sexualization of Children in Dance
When sexually explicit music is used for children’s dance,
it has a huge effect on children …
E.D.I.F.Y. Movement. (2015, July 11). Dr. Tomi-Ann Roberts, PHD sits down with Y.P.A.D. about the Sexualization of Children in Dance [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwtMavXJv5s
Dr. Christina Donaldson talks with YPAD about the effects of sexualized music and dance on youth. (2016, February 9). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J948ovWHUZg

30. The Problem: Hyper-Sexualization of Children in Dance
The sexualization of girls also has an effect on boys …
E.D.I.F.Y. Movement. (2015, July 11). Dr. Tomi-Ann Roberts, PHD sits down with Y.P.A.D. about the Sexualization of Children in Dance [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwtMavXJv5s

31. Boys and Sexualization
There is a growing trend to sexually objectify the male body in
mass marketing and popular media.
Boys experience similar effects that girls experience, such as:
• Body-image problems
• Eating disorders and body dysmorphia
• Less likely to seek help for problems
Daniel Agliata, Stacey Tantleff-Dunn (2004). The Impact of Media Exposure on Males' Body Image. Journal of Social and ClinicalPsychology: Vol. 23, 1 Special Issue: Body Image and Eating Disorders: Influence of Media Images, pp. 7-22.
Prud’homme, J. (2015, July 21). Popular Culture and the Male Body: A New Challenge. Retrieved from http://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2015/07/15310/?utm_source=The+Witherspoon+Institute&utm_campaign=02321aada7-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_15ce6af37b-02321aada7-
84110661
The Problem: Hyper-Sexualization of Children in Dance

32. Additionally,
the objectification of men by women feeds the objectification of women by men.
Research shows that male objectification feeds “sexual animosity.”
Sexual animosity in young males results in increased consumption of media that objectifies women.
And the problem continues to grow!
Daniel Agliata, Stacey Tantleff-Dunn (2004). The Impact of Media Exposure on Males' Body Image. Journal of Social and ClinicalPsychology: Vol. 23, 1 Special Issue: Body Image and Eating Disorders: Influence of Media Images, pp. 7-22.
Prud’homme, J. (2015, July 21). Popular Culture and the Male Body: A New Challenge. Retrieved from http://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2015/07/15310/?utm_source=The+Witherspoon+Institute&utm_campaign=02321aada7-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_15ce6af37b-02321aada7-
84110661
The Problem: Hyper-Sexualization of Children in Dance

33. The Big Picture
A Pornified Culture

34. The Big Picture: A Pornified Culture
The culture has changed.
There is a rapid increase
in the hyper-sexualization of kids – at younger and younger ages –
is due to a larger public health issue –
a growing pornified culture.

35. As pornography becomes normalized
society starts to unknowingly accept the effects it has on our children.
Dance becomes distorted.
The Big Picture: A Pornified Culture

36. The facts: Mainstream porn is free, hardcore and harming children and youth. Retrieved from http://www.culturereframed.org/the-crisis/
Mainstream porn is free, hardcore and harming children.
The Pornography Facts:
1) Porn sites comprise 12% of the internet
2) Porn sites get more visitors monthly than Netflix, Amazon and Twitter combined
3) 35% of all internet downloads are pornographic
4) 90% of children ages 8 -16 have viewed porn
5) The largest consumers of pornography are 12-17 year old boys
6) Pornography has become a primary source of information about sex especially among children and adolescents.
7) 90% contained at least one aggressive act against women.
The Big Picture: A Pornified Culture

37. The Problem: Hyper-Sexualization of Children in Dance
Dr. Gail Dines, Founder of
talk about
Growing up in a Pornified Culture …
Now listen to

38. A pornified culture makes unhealthy sexuality normal
and promotes sexualizing children in dance.
The Big Picture: A Pornified Culture

39. The Problem: Hyper-Sexualization of Children in Dance
The sexualization of children in dance also affects
the cheering audience, parents and society …

40. The Solution
Education & Action

41. What Can You Do?
Dancers from Dance Moms
10 – 12-year olds
The Solution: Education & Action

42. Research
1) Educate Yourself & Others
2) Take Action & Speak Out
Here’s how …
The Solution: Education & Action

43. Visit: soultosolechoreography.org
Click on DA:NCE.
1. Sign the online petition to stop adult costumes, choreography
and music for children.
2. Share this free presentation with friends and family via social
media and present it to your local community groups.
1. View and download the dance studio toolkit to educate dancers
and dance studios.
2. Advocate for age-appropriate dance. Join YPAD.
The Solution: Education & Action

44. Visit: ypad4change.org
1. Download YPAD’s Standards for Costumes, Music,
Choreography, Judging and more. Then share this resource
with dance studios and parents.
1. Share these music libraries with dance studios:
• Y.P.A.D. Spotify Playlist
• Y.P.A.D Dancer’s Playlist on Facebook
• Squirrel Trench Audio music library
1. Educate yourself further with additional resources here.
2. Become a YPAD Member and be an advocate for change.
3. For the full interviews with Tomi-Ann Roberts, Ph.D and Dr.
Christina Donaldson, Ph.D from Youth Protection Advocates in
Dance, visit ypad4change.org/resources
The Solution: Education & Action
“Through education and activism
we stand united to stop all
exploitation of youth in performing
arts”

45. Visit: kidspacecode.com
1. Share their Dance Code of Practice with dance studios.
2. Download their resources for parents, dance educators and
schools
Visit: dianeelevin.com/sosexysosoon/
1. Read the book and help guide your kids
The Solution: Education & Action

46. Visit: endsexualexploitation.org
1. Educate yourself with additional resources here
2. Join the movement to end sexual exploitation
3. Sign petitions to end sexual exploitation
The Solution: Education & Action

47. Dance is powerful.
The ability to move and communicate at the
heart level is stirring.
Children deserve to learn and experience the gift of dance in
safe environments that do not sexualize them.
Children deserve to love dance, their bodies and
themselves.
Children deserve not to be victims of sexual exploitation.
The Solution: Education & Action

48. Join us!