Sexualisierte

Sexualisierte is the participle form of the German verb sexualisieren and functions as an adjective meaning “made sexual” or “interpreted as sexual.” It is used to describe actions, representations, or phenomena in which sexuality is rendered salient or central.

The term appears in various contexts, including media studies, education, law, and cultural analysis, and is common in compounds such as sexualisierte Gewalt, sexualisierte Werbung, or sexualisierte Bildung.

In discourse, sexualisierte is often used descriptively to indicate a process rather than a value judgment, but it can also carry evaluative implications when used to critique objectification, commodification, or gender norms. The concept is linked to broader discussions of sexualisierung des Alltags (the sexualization of everyday life) and sexual objectification, where bodies or sexual cues are used to attract attention or define social roles. In policy and law, phrases like sexualisierte Gewalt are employed to emphasize the sexual dimension of violence or abuse.

Critics warn that overemphasizing sexuality may lead to moral panic or stigmatization, while proponents argue that acknowledging sexualized aspects is necessary for education, consent, and protection, especially for minors. Understanding sexualisierte requires attention to power relations, media literacy, and cultural context, as the term describes a social process with varying meanings across different communities and times.