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Early puberty, 'sexualisation' and feminism

Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review

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Early puberty, 'sexualisation' and feminism. / Roberts, Celia.
In: European Journal of Women's Studies, Vol. 20, No. 2, 05.2013, p. 138-154.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review

Harvard

Roberts, C 2013, 'Early puberty, 'sexualisation' and feminism', European Journal of Women's Studies, vol. 20, no. 2, pp. 138-154. https://doi.org/10.1177/1350506812456458

APA

Roberts, C. (2013). Early puberty, 'sexualisation' and feminism. European Journal of Women's Studies, 20(2), 138-154. https://doi.org/10.1177/1350506812456458

Vancouver

Roberts C. Early puberty, 'sexualisation' and feminism. European Journal of Women's Studies. 2013 May;20(2):138-154. doi: 10.1177/1350506812456458

Author

Roberts, Celia. / Early puberty, 'sexualisation' and feminism. In: European Journal of Women's Studies. 2013 ; Vol. 20, No. 2. pp. 138-154.

Bibtex

@article{689a71798b7f4f2d8af369f18c0bde43,
title = "Early puberty, 'sexualisation' and feminism",
abstract = "Early onset puberty is increasingly prevalent among girls globally according to many scientists and clinicians. In the medical and scientific literature early sexual development is described as a problem for girls and as a frightening prospect for parents. News media and popular environmentalist accounts amplify these figurations, raising powerful concerns about the sexual predation of early developing girls by men and boys and the loss of childhood innocence. In this article the author frames one feminist approach to early puberty, arguing that feminist theorists should both take scientific work around population changes in sexual development seriously and use their critical skills to unpick and challenge the discourses constituting early development as a matter of concern. The author suggests that contemporary academic and policy debates on the {\textquoteleft}sexualization{\textquoteright} of girls have important resonance for critical explorations of early puberty. These debates currently pay little attention to the physiological aspects of sexual development and could be enriched by so doing. As in the case of {\textquoteleft}sexualization{\textquoteright}, issues of class, racialization and agency are central to understanding and challenging normative concerns about girls{\textquoteright} early sexual development. ",
keywords = "Early onset puberty, feminism , girls , hope , science studies, sexual development , sexualization",
author = "Celia Roberts",
year = "2013",
month = may,
doi = "10.1177/1350506812456458",
language = "English",
volume = "20",
pages = "138--154",
journal = "European Journal of Women's Studies",
issn = "1461-7420",
publisher = "SAGE Publications Ltd",
number = "2",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Early puberty, 'sexualisation' and feminism

AU - Roberts, Celia

PY - 2013/5

Y1 - 2013/5

N2 - Early onset puberty is increasingly prevalent among girls globally according to many scientists and clinicians. In the medical and scientific literature early sexual development is described as a problem for girls and as a frightening prospect for parents. News media and popular environmentalist accounts amplify these figurations, raising powerful concerns about the sexual predation of early developing girls by men and boys and the loss of childhood innocence. In this article the author frames one feminist approach to early puberty, arguing that feminist theorists should both take scientific work around population changes in sexual development seriously and use their critical skills to unpick and challenge the discourses constituting early development as a matter of concern. The author suggests that contemporary academic and policy debates on the ‘sexualization’ of girls have important resonance for critical explorations of early puberty. These debates currently pay little attention to the physiological aspects of sexual development and could be enriched by so doing. As in the case of ‘sexualization’, issues of class, racialization and agency are central to understanding and challenging normative concerns about girls’ early sexual development.

AB - Early onset puberty is increasingly prevalent among girls globally according to many scientists and clinicians. In the medical and scientific literature early sexual development is described as a problem for girls and as a frightening prospect for parents. News media and popular environmentalist accounts amplify these figurations, raising powerful concerns about the sexual predation of early developing girls by men and boys and the loss of childhood innocence. In this article the author frames one feminist approach to early puberty, arguing that feminist theorists should both take scientific work around population changes in sexual development seriously and use their critical skills to unpick and challenge the discourses constituting early development as a matter of concern. The author suggests that contemporary academic and policy debates on the ‘sexualization’ of girls have important resonance for critical explorations of early puberty. These debates currently pay little attention to the physiological aspects of sexual development and could be enriched by so doing. As in the case of ‘sexualization’, issues of class, racialization and agency are central to understanding and challenging normative concerns about girls’ early sexual development.

KW - Early onset puberty

KW - feminism

KW - girls

KW - hope

KW - science studies

KW - sexual development

KW - sexualization

U2 - 10.1177/1350506812456458

DO - 10.1177/1350506812456458

M3 - Journal article

VL - 20

SP - 138

EP - 154

JO - European Journal of Women's Studies

JF - European Journal of Women's Studies

SN - 1461-7420

IS - 2

ER -