This was forwarded to me yesterday, and it is incredibly disheartening. The issues surrounding teen sex have been a concern of mine since I was a teen, and while working at Planned Parenthood in high school, college, and post-college.
It bothers me that there is such a disconnect between the sexed-up images out there and our country's puritanical views regarding sex. These images are not just in movies or tv, but everywhere we go - in advertising, clothing + music marketing... in the push to divide the sexes into overtly male or female in presentation, but not to be bad. (Like sex is bad?)
I understand how sex can be embarrassing to talk about, especially if one is uncomfortable with their own sexuality. But how on earth else will our children understand how important + loved they are, and what positive sexuality is all about if we don't teach them? If we don't live it ourselves? Just some things to think about.
Edited to add: Where is the corresponding study + discussion about boys' sexuality? Why isn't Tyra shocked about the boys? More food for thought...
Another update (1/28/09): Check out the discussion on Feministing re: the NY Times article about the fact that most girls aren't really "going wild" at all. Very interesting...
And more good words (2/20/09) on Feministing re: the purity myth. Love this stuff.
4 comments:
yes - where's the discussion of teen boys? you know - the people at least a good potion of that 14% of the teen girls are likely having sex with at school?
Tyra is a great energy and force of nature... what these girls don't have is 'gumption'... having a baby as a teen because you are happy to have sport sex, at school!?, is a dumb way to live... don't girls have any other aspirations? The world is their oyster.. they need to know it... so sad that media has corrupted our young women... so sad. Don't be so hard on the parents... kids are absolutely bombarded with SEX from a young age - what else could we expect... tragic times, not just for the girls but boys too.
I don't know if parents can completely eradicate the effects of the media. (And I hate saying "the media" like it's some big hulking evil monster. I mean, parents work IN media!) But parents are the first + best models for their children.
Check out Gordon Neufeld's 'Hold on to Your Kids: Why Parents Need to Matter More Than Peers':
http://www.amazon.com/Hold-Your-Kids-Parents-Matter/dp/0375760288/
I need to finish it, but the concept is really interesting to me, and something I never thought about before Leah came along. I was always trying to get away from my parents when I was a teenager, for sure!
Yes, that's a concept I've heard about and saw the author speak... absolutely DO keep 'em close... They need you especially to counter the kind of peers they will encounter and kids they'll hang out with .. I'm planning to be a bit of a bully about 'playing' with them ... so they know its 'us four' first... bit needy? well its a chance I'm willing to take (o; Sarah, I like your blogs and yes kids (and cats) are COOL!
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