For a girl looking like an adult on the outside while being a child on the inside can have consequences. At a time in her psychological development when the opinions of her peers and “fitting in” are increasingly important, appearing more physically mature than one’s friends can set her apart and diminish her self-esteem.
Diminished self-esteem, in turn, can make a girl susceptible to sexualization. Sexualization, according the American Psychological Association, can cause a girl to base her identity or her own sense of worth on her sexual appeal or the sexual gratification she gives to others.
Media can contribute to this sexualization. The research on the objectification of women in advertisements, music videos, movies and television programs is conclusive: media bombards its consumers with the message that it is acceptable to value females solely their appearance. A girl who is at odds with her own body for appearing to develop earlier than her peers’ is more likely to believe these messages.
Such a girl also is more susceptible sexualization from others. If a girl is getting negative attention from her peers because of her appearance of physical maturity, then she may be more likely to fall prey to seemingly positive attention from older males. Research indicates that the younger a girl is when she first has sex, the greater the age difference between her and her partner. A full quarter of all girls lose their virginity to males four or more years older than they are.
More importantly, girls with older male boyfriends are more likely to be sexually active, less likely to practice safe sex, and more likely to get pregnant than are girls whose boyfriends their same age.
In my final post of this series, I will present strategies for combating sexualization and for building self-esteem in girls who look adult on the outside but remain children on the inside. Until then, please keep your girls away from older boys and please remember that I am a researcher presenting findings from a variety of disciplines. If you suspect that your child is experiencing mental or physical issues, you probably are right. Consult a licensed physician immediately.
