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Diane Abbott: British culture 'increasingly pornified' Diane Abbott: British culture 'increasingly pornified'
(35 minutes later)
British culture is "increasingly pornified" and is damaging young people, shadow health minister Diane Abbott is to warn in a speech later.British culture is "increasingly pornified" and is damaging young people, shadow health minister Diane Abbott is to warn in a speech later.
She believes that the rise of sexual bullying and "sexting" - where people send sexually explicit text messages - is a result of hyper-sexualisation.She believes that the rise of sexual bullying and "sexting" - where people send sexually explicit text messages - is a result of hyper-sexualisation.
A "revolution in sex education" to help tackle the problem is needed, she says.A "revolution in sex education" to help tackle the problem is needed, she says.
She will urge a "national conversation" between parents and children about sex, porn and technology.She will urge a "national conversation" between parents and children about sex, porn and technology.
There have been increasing concerns over the commercialisation and sexualisation of children, the ease with which pornography can be accessed through the internet and the way in which young people use text messages and emails to exchange sexually explicit images.There have been increasing concerns over the commercialisation and sexualisation of children, the ease with which pornography can be accessed through the internet and the way in which young people use text messages and emails to exchange sexually explicit images.
In 2011, the head of the Mother's Union, Reg Bailey, carried out an independent review for the government looking at the pressures on children to grow up too quickly. In 2011, the head of the Mothers' Union, Reg Bailey, carried out an independent review for the government looking at the pressures on children to grow up too quickly.
It found that nine out of every 10 UK parents said children were having to grow up too early, with 40% saying they had seen things in public places, such as shop window displays and advertising hoardings, that they felt were inappropriate for children to see because of their sexual content.It found that nine out of every 10 UK parents said children were having to grow up too early, with 40% saying they had seen things in public places, such as shop window displays and advertising hoardings, that they felt were inappropriate for children to see because of their sexual content.
'Pressure to conform''Pressure to conform'
Ms Abbott, whose brief covers public health, will say in a speech on Tuesday that fast-developing technology and an "increasingly pornified British culture" has led to a "secret garden, strip-tease culture in British schools and society, which has been put beyond the control of British families".Ms Abbott, whose brief covers public health, will say in a speech on Tuesday that fast-developing technology and an "increasingly pornified British culture" has led to a "secret garden, strip-tease culture in British schools and society, which has been put beyond the control of British families".
Of particular concern is the way in which new technology, such as smart phones and the internet, are changing the way in which young people engage with their sexuality, leaving teachers and parents struggling to keep up. Of particular concern is the way in which new technology, such as smart phones and the internet, is changing the way in which young people engage with their sexuality, leaving teachers and parents struggling to keep up.
In 2009, the charity BeatBullying found that over a third of young people had received a sexually explicit text or email, with the majority of these coming from peers.In 2009, the charity BeatBullying found that over a third of young people had received a sexually explicit text or email, with the majority of these coming from peers.
There is also a wider commercial pressure, which is "sexualising children for profit" and imposing a certain version of sexuality on young people and adults.There is also a wider commercial pressure, which is "sexualising children for profit" and imposing a certain version of sexuality on young people and adults.
Ms Abbott, who stood for the Labour leadership in 2010, is expected to say: "For so long, it's been argued that overt, public displays of sexuality are an enlightened liberation.Ms Abbott, who stood for the Labour leadership in 2010, is expected to say: "For so long, it's been argued that overt, public displays of sexuality are an enlightened liberation.
"But I believe that for many, the pressure of conforming to hyper-sexualisation and its pitfalls is a prison. And the permanence of social media and technology can be a life sentence."But I believe that for many, the pressure of conforming to hyper-sexualisation and its pitfalls is a prison. And the permanence of social media and technology can be a life sentence.
"Parents and teachers have a duty to ensure that children develop a healthy view of sexuality, distinct from this porn version that is swamping and infiltrating British life. Because it's a very specific form of sexuality that's being imposed, on children and adults: a porn version. This is what kids are dealing with on a daily basis."Parents and teachers have a duty to ensure that children develop a healthy view of sexuality, distinct from this porn version that is swamping and infiltrating British life. Because it's a very specific form of sexuality that's being imposed, on children and adults: a porn version. This is what kids are dealing with on a daily basis.
"Young people are accessing far harder pornographic images than 10 or 15 years ago.""Young people are accessing far harder pornographic images than 10 or 15 years ago."
'Dark corners of the internet''Dark corners of the internet'
Many young girls are pressurised into exposing themselves online, Ms Abbott will say, and are unaware that pictures posted onto the internet can be there forever.Many young girls are pressurised into exposing themselves online, Ms Abbott will say, and are unaware that pictures posted onto the internet can be there forever.
And she will identify sexual bullying known as "slut-shaming", where young women are attacked by their peers for their sexual behaviour, as a symptom of the porn culture.And she will identify sexual bullying known as "slut-shaming", where young women are attacked by their peers for their sexual behaviour, as a symptom of the porn culture.
"I fear we're seeing the rise of a 'strip-tease' culture in British schools, and British culture, with the British family unit left marginalised," Ms Abbott is expected to say."I fear we're seeing the rise of a 'strip-tease' culture in British schools, and British culture, with the British family unit left marginalised," Ms Abbott is expected to say.
"It's hyper-sexualized British culture in which women are objectified, objectify one another, and are encouraged to objectify themselves; where homophobic bullying is normalised; and young boys' world view is shaped by hardcore American pornography and other dark corners of the internet.""It's hyper-sexualized British culture in which women are objectified, objectify one another, and are encouraged to objectify themselves; where homophobic bullying is normalised; and young boys' world view is shaped by hardcore American pornography and other dark corners of the internet."
She will argue that parents need to be put back in control and a greater emphasis place on family values.She will argue that parents need to be put back in control and a greater emphasis place on family values.
"Parents are a powerful force in shaping their children's attitudes to gender and sexuality and have a vital role to play in supporting their children to cope with and contextualise sexualised images and messages," she will say."Parents are a powerful force in shaping their children's attitudes to gender and sexuality and have a vital role to play in supporting their children to cope with and contextualise sexualised images and messages," she will say.
"Parents recognise that they should be the ones to set the standards that their children live by, but in some things they need more support. It's about putting children's lives back in view of families.""Parents recognise that they should be the ones to set the standards that their children live by, but in some things they need more support. It's about putting children's lives back in view of families."
Children's privacyChildren's privacy
Compulsory personal, social, health and economic education and also sex and relationship education needs to be considered, she will say.Compulsory personal, social, health and economic education and also sex and relationship education needs to be considered, she will say.
Sex education should be "revolutionised" to better prepare young people for "healthy, respectful, emotionally fulfilling relationships" and deal with issues of self-esteem.Sex education should be "revolutionised" to better prepare young people for "healthy, respectful, emotionally fulfilling relationships" and deal with issues of self-esteem.
Ms Abbott is expected to back an "opt-in" mechanism for adult content online, with internet users having to make an active choice to allow pornography on their computers or smartphones.Ms Abbott is expected to back an "opt-in" mechanism for adult content online, with internet users having to make an active choice to allow pornography on their computers or smartphones.
She will also say "child friendly" computers that filter out adult content by default should be looked at.She will also say "child friendly" computers that filter out adult content by default should be looked at.
The prime minister's adviser on preventing the sexualisation and commercialisation of childhood, Conservative MP for Devizes Claire Perry, has reportedly urged parents to challenge their children about their mobile phone and social media usage to ensure they are not sending inappropriate messages.The prime minister's adviser on preventing the sexualisation and commercialisation of childhood, Conservative MP for Devizes Claire Perry, has reportedly urged parents to challenge their children about their mobile phone and social media usage to ensure they are not sending inappropriate messages.
"We've given our children all these opportunities to communicate in private, but we've lost the confidence to actually get involved in that," she told the Daily Mail."We've given our children all these opportunities to communicate in private, but we've lost the confidence to actually get involved in that," she told the Daily Mail.
In December, the government rejected plans to block internet access to pornography on all computers automatically, saying the move was not widely supported by the respondents to its consultation.In December, the government rejected plans to block internet access to pornography on all computers automatically, saying the move was not widely supported by the respondents to its consultation.
Ministers instead called on internet service providers to encourage parents to switch on a filter to stop access to adult content.Ministers instead called on internet service providers to encourage parents to switch on a filter to stop access to adult content.