information for practice

There are several components to sexualization, and these set it apart from healthy sexuality. Healthy sexuality is an important component of both physical and mental health, fosters intimacy, bonding, and shared pleasure, and involves
mutual respect between consenting partners (Satcher, 2001; Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States [SIECUS], 2004). In contrast, sexualization occurs when
 a person’s value comes only from his or her sexual appeal or behavior, to the exclusion of other characteristics;
 a person is held to a standard that equates physical attractiveness (narrowly defined) with being sexy;
 a person is sexually objectified—that is, made into a thing for others’ sexual use, rather than seen as a person with the capacity for independent action and decision making; and/or
 sexuality is inappropriately imposed upon a person.