Introduction Jessica Valenti wrote a book titled The Purity Myth (2010) and it talks very deeply about how the virginity of a woman is seen as a moral panic in America. In this book, she also states that this generation of women is not damaged by girls who are having sex, but rather it is damaged by the myth of sexual purity (Valenti, 2010). There is a stigma in the United States about teenagers and sexuality. In the book Sexual Teens, Sexual Media: Investigating Media's Influence on Adolescent Sexuality Teenagers, the authors talk about how teenagers are being told to remain abstinent from sex until marriage, and that sexually transmitted diseases will kill you (Brown, Steele, Walsh-Childers, 2001). Over 80 percent of abstinence programs contain …show more content…
Society no longer considers teenage pregnancy to be something they are not aware of; it has always called for public attention (Coontz, 1992). Intentional framing of sexual encounters and sexual content has been increasing in past years (Brown & Newcomer, 1991). This is beginning to cause concern at a time when teenagers are starting to become sexually active and 25% of them have already been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease (Institute of Medicine, 1997). About four million teens contract a sexually transmitted disease each year (Kaiser, 2013). In addition, the messages being portrayed may sometimes be incorrect and they do not help to promote sexual health to its audience. A study regarding sexual content on television was published by the Kaiser Family Foundation in 2005 and resulted in these findings: seventy percent of all shows have sexual content, up from 56% in 1998 and 64% in 2002. Sixty-eight percent of all shows include talk about sex, and 35% of all shows include sexual behaviors. The proportion of shows with sexual content in prime-time on the major broadcast networks has also increased. Nearly eight in ten such shows (77%) include sexual content, compared to 67% in 1998 and 71% in 2002 (Kaiser,
Author Amy Schalet ultimately brings up a delicate and sensitive topic about teens having sex, comparing the different mindsets of families in the Netherlands and in America. By Schalet carrying the interviews, she found out that teens in America are a lot more secretive with their personal lives, and would not discuss it with their parents, unlike teens from the Netherlands that eventually told their parents. While some people might say that it’s a matter of common sense, some other people might argue it has to do with culture. Catholics, for example, believe in celibacy until you have decided on the person you will marry. You are taught from young age to protect your body and mind from carnal desires and focus on other things that will benefit you on the long run. Obviously, times have changed, and not many people practice this anymore. We can see an example on shows on television about teen pregnancy, while these shows aren’t necessarily telling to go ahead and have children at young age, it might have negative impact on younger girls, almost like a unintentional role model. On the other hand, writer Jamaica Kincaid, demonstrates the In The Girl we see the other side of the coin, a mother that is so demanding and is always right, no matter the outcome, she is right, and things have to be done a certain way. I think a figure like this would not benefit
Today’s young Americans face strong peer pressure to be sexually active and engage themselves in risky behaviors (Merino 100-109). Anyone deciding to have sex must first think about all the risks involved. Kekla Magoon, author of Sex Education in Schools, says that “half of all teens aged 15 to 19 years old in the United States have had sex” (Magoon 64-65). It is currently not required by federal law for schools to teach Sex education and those few schools that do teach Sex education have the decision to determine how much information is allowed. Advocates from both sides of the Sex education debate agree that teens need positive influences in order to make practical decisions (Magoon 88-89). Opponents of Abstinence-only education believe it fails because it does not prepare teens for all the risks of sex (Magoon 64-65).
In May 2006 the silence cries of Kaylib Neal began to fill the delivery room as young Kizzy Neal slightly tilts her head with the energy she has left to take a glace at her new son. Although this moment is one of the happiest times of Kizzys life, she still wishes she could have waited to experience this moment at a later time in her life. At the age of only thirteen, Kizzy is one among the thousands of teenage girls who become pregnant each year in the United States. According to The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, 34% percent of young women become pregnant at least once before they reach the age of 20. Eight in ten of these teen pregnancies are unintended and 79% are to unmarried teens. There are many preliminary causes for such a high In Kizzy’s case, the blame is put on the lack of sexual education within her school. She claims that because she did not received adequate information on this subject, she was unaware of what she was getting herself into. The question is: will the opportunity to experience sex education classes make a difference in preventing teen pregnancy? Sexual education, in a broad sense, is a series of courses taken by adolescents throughout their school years in order gain a better understanding of aspects that pertain to sexual activity. Beginning as early as third grade, the students learn what sex is, what its consequences are and how to prevent those consequences. Being of the main consequences of engaging in sexual activity, Teen Pregnancy is commonly spoken about within these classes. Given that teens are being informed of this consequences within accurate sex ed. Classes, providing comprehensive classes in a school environment does not cause an increase in teen pregnancy.
“…in the absence of comprehensive sex and sexuality education…adolescents are largely getting their sex education and socialization through media—and the higher their ‘sexual media diet,’ the earlier their sexual experimentation begins.” (Olfman 10) The vast lack of acknowledgment that the media controls childhood sexualization is astounding. As Dr. Sharna Olfman explains “Media can be viewed then as both a reflection and a shaper of society.” In the patriarchal society U.S. citizens live in, there seems to be a massive blindspot where there should healthy sexuality education. A direct result of this blindspot is the prevalent acceptance of rape as an inevitable, inextricable part of society. Men and women are both dangerously,
A report published by the U.S Department of Health and Human Accommodations “suggests that as many as 50% of all adolescents are sexually active” (White, 2008, p. 349). A portion of those are puerile women who will become pregnant, adolescent men who will contract a sexually transmitted disease (STD) and teenagers who will suffer from emotional distress and regret. Albeit the majority concurs inculcation is the solution to this dilemma, one q...
“In 2005, out of 68% of TV shows that showed steamy sexual content, only 15% discussed risk and responsibility. And it’s not just movies and TV: Music, video games, and the Internet are also filled with sexually explicit, often-degrading messages that can shape kids’ attitudes about sex.” (greatschools.org)
Watching television programs with a high level of sexual content can shape the patterns of sexual behavior of a teenager. According to Brown (Brown, Greenberg, & Buerkel-Rothfuss, 1993) many teenagers are not able to receive useful information about sex from their parents, this is the reason they usually use the alternative way to find this information through the media. A Kaiser Family research from 1996 (Kaiser Family Foundation, 1996; 1998) shows that a quarter of all the young people have told that they have learned a lot about pregnancy from television shows and 40 percent of them have gotten ideas how to talk about sexual issues. In these modern times media is holding the power to influence the audience and most of all the youngest audience which is developing their view about sex.
Research Questions and/or Hypotheses The research question and basis of the study can be summarized as whether or not the exposure to sexual concepts through the media have significant influences on the sexual practices of teenagers. Similarly, it is proposed that, if proven to be accurate, media can be used in similar formats to encourage safe sex and preventative sexual health practices. The use of focus groups, journal writings, room tours, and interviews allowed teens the opportunity to discuss sexuality which was operationalized as teen views on love, sex, and relationships. Steele, 1999, p. 334.
1. The documentary “Lets Talk About Sex” focused on how the lack of, and improper comprehensive sexual education in America, and how it is causing many avoidable health issues for teenagers. Some of these health issues are STI’s, unwanted pregnancies, and mental health issues caused by unwanted sex, or guilt. Due to the stigmas, beliefs, fears, and lack of knowledge and awareness, the topic of sex often goes not talked about. By not addressing sex but then constantly seeing it society is causing confusion for teens.
One of the most damaging occurrences operating today subsists within the avalanche of sexual media that young children and teenagers have at their deposal, with basically no alternative other than lust to identify with. On average today, children are exposed to various sexual venues that illustrate sex as strikingly provocative and/or disrespectful and certainly lust driven; predictably this sexual magnetism persists as all they recognize or relate to. In addition, young people’s sexual acceptance usually develops through their peers and the status quo. The lack of healthy sexual guidance wreaks havoc on adolescents due to bullying, and sexual harassment that increases to a more critical level each year. Scores of tragic misfortunes continue,
Martinez, Gladys, Joyce Abma, and Casey Copen. “Educating Teenagers About Sex In The United States”. CDC.GOV. Center of Disease Control and Prevention, 15 Sept. 2010. Web. 09 Feb.2014
Adolescents, Sex, and the media: Ooooo, Baby, Baby-a, Q & A. This research paper aimed to answer questions asked on the media becoming the leading sex educator: Do teenagers think the media affect them? , How does the media teach teens about sex?
“In 1986, then U. S. Surgeon General, C. Everett Koop, published a report calling for sex education, including information on preventing the transmission of HIV virus through safe sex, to be instituted in public schools starting at elementary level. And, by 1988, 90 percent of all the schools in the nation offered some form of sex education program.” Although, sex education was introduced to children in school, it was not until the introduction of social media the rate of teen pregnancy has reduced. Today, the government agencies such as the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has introduced easy to use tools to communicate with the teens for this purpose via Facebook and Twitter as it believes in delivering the message through these
The glamorous side of sex is everywhere; music, tv shows, movies and social media. To a mature adult, it is easy to ignore the sexual messages in those outlets. However, to a teenager, going through mental and physical changes and peer pressure, it is extremely easy to fall for what is shown to “cool.” Everyone has fallen for half truths to be cool in their teenage life. It just so happens that teen pregnancies and STDs are not one of those things that one can simply walk away from. Babies and STDs leave a lasting effect on everyone involved. The National Conference of State Legislatures states:
“The media may be especially important for young people as they are developing their own sexual beliefs and patterns of behavior and as parents and schools remain reluctant to discuss sexual topics (p.26)”.