PG Family shows: role models and sexualisation

.@DanniiMinogue and @Redfoo let loose after @ReiganDerry's controversial performance! Now THAT was #awkies! https://t.co/7d87JV8RAt
— The X Factor Aus (@thexfactor_au) October 5, 2014

This week on X Factor (Channel 7, Sunday and Monday nights) an issue arose between the judges about the oversexualisation of artists.

Reigan Derry was the act at the centre of the controversy owing to her desire to separate herself from her past girl group Scarlett Belle where she was not comfortable with the way she was presented.

Dannii Minogue commented, “In the close-ups of this outfit, if you don’t want to be oversexualised … I’m getting mixed messages.”

“I don’t know if you guys are working together as a team,” said Minogue of Reigan and Red Foo’s partnership.

“As a mentor I would listen to what you said in that audition. If you don’t want to be oversexualised … stick to it.”

Red Foo defended Reigan’s outfit, saying, “It’s not oversexualised”.

“Look at what you’re wearing!” he said to Dannii.

“You want to talk about oversexualised, look what you’re wearing. This is see through. Let’s get real.”

While the altercation was specific to one particular contestant and the lack of communication between the mentee and mentor, it also opened up a discussion about the presentation of the artists and show.

The contestants should have a say in how they are dressed, but the producers also need to be mindful of the target market and audience of the show.

This show (and others such as Australia’s Got Talent and The Voice) market themselves at tweens and families, and are usually broadcast in the 6.30pm or 7.30pm timeslot on mainstream TV.

While this means they are rated PG (‘Parental Guidance recommended for young viewers’) it does not stop the content from often bordering on inappropriate, whether it be through the the outfits, song lyrics, dance moves or comments made.

The X Factor judges L to R: Ronan Keating, Natalie Bassingthwaite, Dannii Minogue, Red Foo

The show does all it can to create hype around their contestants and judges, and subsequently they become role models for the younger viewers. They religiously rewatch each performance, pore over magazine articles featuring the acts and aspire to replicate them in any way they can.

We are thus advocating for Channel 7 and the producers to better consider how the show is presented considering its young demographic, and ensure the content is appropriate for the time of night.

What do you think of these variety shows? Have any performances in particular offended you? Or do you think they have been appropriate considering the time slot and PG rating?