Media and the sexualization of childhood /

Taking a broad approach, Gunter (Univ. of Leicester, UK) examines the sexual themes present in media contexts that involve and affect children. These contexts range from product advertising to pornography. In nine chapters, the author comprehensively explores these issues, compiling and organizing existing research into an easy-to-use manual of sorts. In a particularly compelling chapter titled "Fashion and Sexualization," Gunter discusses the "Honey Boo Boo" phenomenon and the preteen beauty industry. Likewise, the chapter "Digital Social Media and Sexualization" advances the discussion of this subject to include current trends in media consumption. However, Gunter at times veers from the stated objective of the book by dedicating significant portions of chapters (for example, the chapter "Magazines and Sexualization") to the way media portray images of grown women and men, with little focus on how these portrayals affect children. In any case, this book offers a one-of-a-kind, lengthy examination of media, sexuality, and children. --Kristen Lynn Majocha, University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown