Abstract

Previous studies have shown that adult female celebrities are more likely to be represented by sexualized images than their adult male celebrity counterparts. Even minor-aged female musicians are sometimes represented by sexualized imagery. No study has been found specifically regarding the sexualization of young female celebrities or comparing the image sexualization of those teenaged female celebrities with that of minor male celebrities. Grounded in Gerbner’s Cultivation Theory, this qualitative study used content analysis to compare the sexualization of the imagery used to represent Miley Cyrus with the imagery used to represent the Jonas Brothers. Each of these two Disney-promoted musical acts has had its own television series and multiple hit songs, and Cyrus and Nick Jonas, the youngest member of the Jonas Brothers, are the same age. This study analyzed the photos on each of their official websites and official fan club sites when they were 17 years old. The subjects were analyzed for clothing, gender role and mimicry of pornography, including state of dress, poses, and headline text. Findings suggest that minor celebrities follow the same pattern seen in adult celebrities, in that the female presented sexualized dress and submissive posture as compared to demure dress and assertive posturing on the male website.