This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Brown chapter.
Alright, let’s talk about sex.
What is it about America that has caused us to have such a skewed outlook on the topic of sex? We are the nation that debates over sexual education: if contraceptives should be readily advertised to teenagers, and if these methods are “politically correct.” Yet, at the same time, we air explicit reality shows such as “Jersey Shore.” Sex is regarded as a taboo subject in our society, but everyday the average person is taunted with dozens of advertisements with sexual innuendo. Not only are these advertised messages prevalent, but also demeaning towards women. The lack of education construes a false and crude misrepresentation of women and what roles they should aspire towards in society.
I think the skewed view of sexuality portrayed by the media and supported through our American culture does nothing for the advancement of the female image.An average 18-year-old high school graduate will have spent 15,000 hours watching television. The Kaiser Family Foundation found that 70% of all TV shows include some sexual content, compared to their evaluation from 7 years ago, which reported only 56%. Because of the huge influence media plays on the developing teenager, I say that it is their job topromote positive images of relationships in society. We all love Chuck Bass because he is that notorious “womanizer,” but let’s be real. Aren’t you swooning for him since he realized that he is meant to be in a monogamous relationship with the woman he now cannot have? (For those of you living under a rock, I am referring to Blair Waldorf.)
Think of sex as drinking. With that analogy in place, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Illegal? Abuse? Not tolerated? Exactly. In Europe, there is a liberal drinking culture. Alcohol is part of the family and social scene, and children are brought up in its presence. The occasional glass of wine and perhaps even a gin and tonic are accepted, but more importantly, they are respected.
I think the skewed view of sexuality portrayed by the media and supported through our American culture does nothing for the advancement of the female image.An average 18-year-old high school graduate will have spent 15,000 hours watching television. The Kaiser Family Foundation found that 70% of all TV shows include some sexual content, compared to their evaluation from 7 years ago, which reported only 56%. Because of the huge influence media plays on the developing teenager, I say that it is their job topromote positive images of relationships in society. We all love Chuck Bass because he is that notorious “womanizer,” but let’s be real. Aren’t you swooning for him since he realized that he is meant to be in a monogamous relationship with the woman he now cannot have? (For those of you living under a rock, I am referring to Blair Waldorf.)
Think of sex as drinking. With that analogy in place, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Illegal? Abuse? Not tolerated? Exactly. In Europe, there is a liberal drinking culture. Alcohol is part of the family and social scene, and children are brought up in its presence. The occasional glass of wine and perhaps even a gin and tonic are accepted, but more importantly, they are respected.
In our country, where drinking is far from integrated into a sophisticated culture, it is no surprise that there is a staggering increase in alcohol abuse amongst teenagers in America compared to those who are raised in Europe. There is a taboo around drinking in the States due to its harsh legal restraints, which cause this tension around the substance, transforming it into the perfect fuel for teenage
defiance. In the same way, there is a taboo revolving around sex in American culture. A large population still embraces this idea that, women should wait to get married, and therefore, like alcohol, abuse sex. It is natural for people to go against overbearing legislations. If we were more accepting about people and their sex lives, we may see people engaging in it in a healthier manner. We should integrate it more into our society in such a way that teens will no longer feel like sex is an act of defiance, or feel any way threatened by the subject. There needs to be an acceptance, not a denial of sexuality.
But it is definitely easier said than done. The late Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders was a strong advocate for sexual education and very much on the forefront of initiating stronger sex ed reforms. However, one poorly worded response on the subject of masturbation sparked such an incredible controversy that she was fired mid-term.
Brown University Sophomore Sophia Seawell voices her opinion and discontent on the issue through her own blog, “This Girl on Girls,” a site geared towards highlighting current issues regarding women’s rights and feminist topics.
After participating in FemSex (a female sexuality
workshop offered at Brown) her first semester in college, Sophia starting thinking about these issues independently and became inspired to address the lack of equality between the sexes. Sophia uses her blog to share her thoughts biweekly on current issues on feminism and sexuality. “So many people think feminism is not relevant anymore because there was already a movement, and equality has already been established,” says Sophia. “But that is so not the case.” She is referring to the major suffrage movement during the 60s that established new powers for women. Sophia stresses that women must fight to maintain and eventually rise to the same status as men.
I am impressed by Joycelyn Elders’ perception of the ignorance dominating American youth. I support her promotion of a much needed improved sexual education program, but I believe it is the girls like Sophia, the one who advocate and educate at a local level, who instigate a progressive and permanent change in our society. If the President’s right hand man (or in this case, woman) cannot effectively spark the reform we need, ladies, we’ve got a long hard battle ahead of us. It starts with us believing in ourselves.
Check out Sophia’s blog here: http://thisgirlongirls.blogspot.com/
I am impressed by Joycelyn Elders’ perception of the ignorance dominating American youth. I support her promotion of a much needed improved sexual education program, but I believe it is the girls like Sophia, the one who advocate and educate at a local level, who instigate a progressive and permanent change in our society. If the President’s right hand man (or in this case, woman) cannot effectively spark the reform we need, ladies, we’ve got a long hard battle ahead of us. It starts with us believing in ourselves.
Check out Sophia’s blog here: http://thisgirlongirls.blogspot.com/