In most recent years, sexual activity has become extremely prevalent among adolescence. The use of the word adolescence is in reference to those within the age range of twelve years old and eighteen years old. Teenagers have adopted a new curiosity and pursuit for sexual experiences. This early desire to participate in what is normally considered, by society, to be an adult experience, is concerning to both parents and the public alike. This concern begs the question, what is causing this early onset of sexual curiosity. Some believe it is the influence of their peer that causes adolescents to pursue such activities and yet still there are others that blame the media. The media does play a significant role in the lives of adolescents and influences much of their perspectives on sexual activity, especially that which is viewed in movies and on television. It seems that the early onset of sexual activity in adolescence is a result of explicit movies and television.
However, despite there being a large amount of sexual content in media, it can be argued that parents are the ones to blame for the viewing of such sexual content in the first place. There may be sexual media in the world, but it would not exist if there weren’t a demand or desire for it. With that in mind, parents have the ability these days to control much, however not all, of the sexual content their children view. Parents can use parental controls on their TV’s and computers to prevent their children from watching inappropriately sexual TV shows and viewing images or reading about inappropriately sexual media. Parents have the ability to prevent their children from watching R-rated, or other inappropriately rated, movies. Also, parents can prevent the media that their children do view out of their control from causing their curiosity to become action through consistent and frequent conversations pertaining to sexual activity. If parents were more aware and open with their children, perhaps adolescents these days would not be so prone to early sexual activity. Sexual media isn’t something that can be discontinued in a day, however if parents were to take action pertaining to the matter, perhaps that wouldn’t be necessary.
I think the parent's part isn't necessarily using Parental TV controls, or prohibiting R-rated movies-it's the education behind it. Parents should instill in their children the principles and values behind why sex-rich media is wrong. This is an obligation that I think is far too often overlooked. In most tv shows or movies it is, in fact, adults participating in sexual activity. This piques curiosity in adolescent viewers, a natural curiosity that can even be piqued when learning about such things in sex-ed classes in school. This curiosity should be explained, and the adolescents' questions should be answered by experienced parents who want only what is best for their kids, and it should most definitely NOT be left up to the kids to answer their questions on their own. Like they say, "curiosity killed the cat." And, as we all know, "cat" means "spiritual welfare" in Hebrew.
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ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you last sentence about parents being aware of how much they could affect the media and it's influence on their children. It's definitely something that educating your children on can result in less of a chance of early and/or pre-marital sexual activity.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree that sex in the media plays a huge role in early sexual activity of adolescents. They make sex look okay at any age and unwed. I do believe that parents should be aware of what their kids are watching. However, I agree with Donut Fence. It is the education of sex that needs to be taught to children at a earlier age so when they do become adolescents they can have stable morals.
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