Computer games, pornography and sex-related slogans have been the main reason behind this disturbing trend, said the study commissioned by the Home Office.
According to the report, due out later this month, girls are feeling under pressure to please boys while boys believe they must sleep with several girls to fit in, “The Telegraph” reported. Dr Linda Papadopoulos, a clinical psychologist who carried out the study, said: “Little boys are always told ‘aren’t you clever, aren’t you strong’. Little girls are told ‘aren’t you pretty?’ even today.
“They are adhering to what society expects and internalising behaviours.”
She cited the example of the computer game Miss Bimbo, where the aim of the game is to accumulate boob jobs and marry a billionaire.
Dr Papadopoulos’s comments came as Opposition leader David Cameron said he tried to stop his six-year-old daughter Nancy from listening to Lily Allen songs because of the sexual content of some of her lyrics.
The report will suggest imposing age restrictions on lads’ magazine such as “Zoo and Nuts” and introducing a symbol to signify when an image in a magazine has been airbrushed.
“It’s a drip-drip effect. Look at porn stars and look at how the average girls looks now,” said Dr Papadopoulos.
“We are hypersexualising girls, telling them their desirability relies on being desired. They want to please at any cost.
“And we are hypermasculinising boys. Many feel they can’t live up to the porn ideal, sleeping with lots of women.”
A Home Office spokeswoman said: “We know that many parents are concerned about the pressures that their teenage and even pre-teen daughters are under to appear sexually available at a younger and younger age, and about the negative impact this may be having on boys too.”
