Raunchy TV shows make boys see girls as sex objects, parents warn

Explicit TV shows are causing young boys to disrespect women and turning girls into sex objects, parents warn.

Mothers and fathers told of their frustration at raunchy pre-watershed TV programmes, soap operas, TV talent shows and music videos in a new report into the sexualisation of childhood.

One parent said: "With music videos I have a battle on my hands with raising my son when it comes to respecting women and not to see them as sexual objects. He seems obsessed with how they look as opposed to their talents or abilities."

Another parent said: "My little girl will copy songs and moves without really understanding. She will often do shows for us and they sometimes worry me because they will be doing 'sexy dancing' and I have to explain why I don't think it's okay."

Reg Bailey, head of the Mothers' Union, produced the report. It comes after about 500 viewers complained about explicit dance routines on X Factor in December. Mr Bailey said: "Parents feel there is no space where children can be children."

The report, backed by the Government, called for age restrictions on music videos, and for raunchy images on the front of magazines and news-papers to be blocked.