By Shari Levine
Mmm.. ohhh... yeah... that's good...
Where would you hear this kind of talk?
- A scene in a soap opera
- The Super Bowl halftime show
- MTV
- An episode of Gossip Girl
- An advertisement for shampoo.
Sex is a BIG part of the entertainment media. Whether on TV and movies, music and videos, or magazines and books, sex will make you stop what you're doing and look. And maybe, if you stop and if you look for long enough you'll want to buy something because sex sells.
So, what's the big deal?
A few years ago Justin Timberlake ripped off part of Janet Jackson's outfit and exposed her bare breast to millions who were watching the Super Bowl. During the halftime show, Janet and Justin seductively danced and sang together until OOPS - Justin tore off her costume and showed us her private part.
Some people think it was a terrible thing to do, especially since children and teenagers were watching the game. Parents were angry at the head of CBS network for letting it happen. What do you think?
What they did doesn't seem so bad when you think about the sexy talk and action that happens all day and night on TV. Sure, there aren't many bare nipples on your TV screen, but turn on a soap opera when you get home from school, and there's a good chance that you will see two people passionately kissing, or even in bed together. Surf to MTV and you'll probably see a beautiful, sexy woman dancing in her underwear.
Between 8 pm and 9 pm is the "family hour" on television. Shows are supposed to be "appropriate" for kids to watch with their parents. During that hour, you and your parents can tune in to Gossip Girl or Survivor -- a reality show featuring people in bathing suits talking trash about each other.
What are YOU thinking when you see sexy images, or hear people talking about sex on TV?
TV's Influence on Teens
Does TV make kids want to have sex? Well, maybe. In one study, 3 out of 4 teens said the fact that "TV shows and movies make it seem normal for teenagers to have sex" is one reason they have sex. The media is filled with images that are sexually exciting, but it rarely follows up with information about how to deal with those feelings.
Real Sex vs. Reel Sex: The difference
Many people are disappointed when they find out that TV sex is quite different from real life sex, especially when you're a teenager. First of all, trust me when I tell you that not many teenaged boys look like Shane West or Adam Brody. TV stars are reading a script, and are told what to do during love scenes. Your average teenage boy is clueless.
The most frustrating thing about sex in the media is that it usually doesn't have any real consequences. Actors finish their work and then they go home. They don't get pregnant. They don't get sexually transmitted infections (STIs). They don't really get their hearts broken.
What Now?
After seeing all of these sexy images in the media you may feel like giving "it" a go. When it's the right time and it's with the right person, sex can be an enjoyable experience (in private) as long as you use birth control that protects against STIs and prepare yourself for an experience that will be quite different from what you see on TV.
Whether or not you want to have sex, it may be helpful educate yourself about the real-life issues surrounding teens and sex. Some TV shows do give helpful information about sexual decision-making. Teens around the country are saying that they have learned how to talk with a partner about safer sex, and how to say no to an uncomfortable sexual situation from watching TV. It even helped them to talk about sex with their parents.
Media Literacy - Part of the Answer
One goal of the media is to entertain us. Another is to sell us things like ideas (all teens are having sex) and products (you need special lip gloss to be sexy). The media is a construction of reality, which means that it is something based on reality but given a spin.
Media Literacy teaches people to view the media with a critical eye so that our beliefs and values will not be controlled by it. Take some time while you "consume" media (watch TV, read a magazine, etc.) and ask yourself the following questions:
- What is being sold during the commercials or in the magazine ads? Businesses want you to purchase their products. They want to make you feel like you need the stuff they're selling, so they carefully put their ads in places where you will be sure to see them. Because they are so powerful, there are times when the advertisers influence a story in a magazine or a character's actions on a show. Can you find examples where that is happening?
- Do the characters look or talk like real people?
- Why are violence and sex on TV? How do they add to the story?
- Is the show or magazine article making a statement about values or morals?
Strong girls think for themselves so it's important to consume your media with open eyes and ears, and a healthy dose of criticism.
