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The Influence of Music Media on Gender Role and Self-identity: Perceptions of Children Aged 6 and 10 years

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 September 2014

Lesley-Anne Ey
Lesley-Anne Ey*
Affiliation:
Division of Education, Arts and Social Sciences, University of South Australia
*
address for correspondence: Lesley-Anne Ey, Division of Education, Arts and Social Sciences, University of South Australia, St Bernards Road, Magill SA 5072. E-mail: lesley-anne.ey@unisa.edu.au
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Abstract

There are currently widespread concerns around the impact of media on children's healthy development. This study investigated whether music media influences young children's gender role and self-identity. Thirty-four Grade 1 children and 38 Grade 4 children participated in an experimental study to explore their attitudes towards their own and the opposite gender, their perspectives about gender- and self-presentation, and whether a one-off exposure to music videos influenced their views. Results showed that children demonstrated attitudes consistent with gender stereotypes seen in contemporary music media. The findings indicate a need for early intervention to help children develop healthy attitudes around gender role and self-identity.

Keywords

music mediayoung childrensexualisationgender roleself-identityearly intervention
Type
Articles
Information
Children Australia , Volume 39 , Issue 3 , September 2014 , pp. 147 - 160
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2014 

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