sexualization

[ sek-shoo-uh-lahy-zey-shuhn, or, especially British, seks-yoo- ]

noun

1. the act of endowing with sexual characteristics, or of excessively emphasizing those characteristics:

   In the real world, the sexualization of girls isn't confined to beauty pageants.

   Parents and other concerned adults have begun grassroots campaigns to counteract sexualization in advertising.

Word History and Origins

Origin of sexualization¹

sexual ( def ) + -ization ( def )

Example Sentences

Karol G is responding to the backlash surrounding her latest single that drew criticism from critics and social justice advocates for its perceived sexualization of minors.

From Los Angeles Times

“Why are they portraying the Menendez brothers this way??? They never enjoyed doing these things. What kind of Pov is this??? We need empathy not sexualization.”

From Salon

She is an enlightened woman who doesn’t like the sexualization, but it’s a really hard thing to come down on because there’s a feeling among girls, and I’ve seen this in my own capturing of feminism and new feminism, where girls feel like showing their bodies is their right and their self-expression and they want to own that.

From Los Angeles Times

“This fringe agenda includes biological males competing against girls and the sexualization and indoctrination of our children.”

From Salon

Komrosky’s supporters saw him as trying to instill crucial, Christianity-based moral values and combat the early and harmful sexualization of children — a cause they believe most parents would be willing to support.

From Los Angeles Times