WHEN IS A 'GIRL' NOT A 'GIRL'?
Policy Watch SA questions the motives underpinning a popular AI text-to-image community art platform's dedication of an entire website browsing page to 'girl' (the platform also has separate 'woman' and 'female' browsing pages)
*Disclaimer: By providing examples of the way women are portrayed by AI text-to-image art generators and on community platforms providing access to the software, Policy Watch SA is simply drawing attention to apparently widespread concerns about the underpinning issues explored here. This should not be misinterpreted as condemnation of a specific software model, community platform or their users/members.
In the art world, nude portrayals of the female body tend to be associated with fine art. By contrast, semi-nude portrayals of the female body are "more commonly found in commercial contexts and ... used to evoke desire and allure" (ThisVsThat). "Both forms of representation have had a significant impact on art and popular culture, sparking debates about beauty standards, objectification, and the role of women in society".
surely this little girl doesn't belong here?
users tag their images #girl so that they'll appear on the 'girl' page
the rows of images below are copied from the 'girl' page of a popular AI text-to-image community art platform – illustrating how the images of pre-adolescent girl children and conservatively dressed adolescent girls appear among over-sexualised images of young women
anime girl images often send mixed messages
another little girl in worrying company
does this fresh-faced teenager really belong here?
for more information on what's meant by NSFW, see the red section at the bottom of this page
another confusing anime
in this row, we have 'girls' working out (and a cabaret singer) ...
NSFW means content not safe/suitable for viewing in a public, formal, or controlled environment such as a workplace, school or family setting. Many workplaces and schools have policies prohibiting access to sexual and graphic subject matter (Wikipedia)
more sources of information on NSFW and related issues include:
Understanding US law on NSFW content: a 2025 guide for AI and image generation users (David Fornelli)
The algorithmic gaze: representations of women in AI art (Danielle King)
Policy Watch SA explores how the sexualised images of angels are used to objectify women
MORE FEMALE OBJECTIFICATION?
"Almost every religion and culture' worldwide has some form of angel as its 'archetype of communication between mortals and the divine" (Owlcation). In most theological and scriptural traditions, angels are generally considered to be spiritual beings without a physical gender (Tamika Rice in LadySanity)
In western culture, obviously female angels first appeared during the Renaissance. By the 19th century, gendered angels had become the norm (Wikimedia Commons).
Generally seen as symbols of empathy and compassion, angels are associated with purity, kindness, protection, comfort, support, hope and inspiration (Jodie Lawrence in BrainWiseMind).
In that context, as powerful "psychological archetypes" they may even inspire individuals to work towards achieving "their highest potential". This may be why, in Irish folklore, wayward fairies are sometimes understood to be fallen angels (LibraryIreland).
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With all that in mind, why – on a popular AI text-to-image international art community platform – are angels so explicitly sexualised? Rarely if ever are they portrayed in a context remotely reflecting altruistic intentions. Taken from a popular community art platform, the images below clearly illustrate this. When first published, not one had been labelled 'NSFW'.
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