In addressing the topic of adolescent sexuality, there are a plethora of issues that might be included in the discussion. Sexual identity development, sex and violence, teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) might be a few of the pertinent areas as well as the influence of substances, families and religion on teenagers, choices around sexual activity. The discussion here cannot possibly address the wide scope of important questions that are relevant to this subject so I have chosen to focus a bit on the influence of popular culture and media on adolescent sexuality and include some statistics relating to a few areas of teen sexuality.
It is impossible to ignore the profound influence that popular culture has on adolescent sexuality here in the United States. It is through popular culture and media that teens get their ideas about what is attractive, what's feminine and masculine and what is sexy or romantic. Kids learn a lot about what's "cool" and about how to be in relationship with others from television and movies and images of intense sexuality play a large role in what they learn. Although parents, schools and religious institutions may be trying to teach adolescents about sexuality through verbal instruction and prohibition, it is important to recognize that in this culture, people no longer seem to learn primarily through verbal instruction but through pictures and images (Brown, J., 2,000). These images are often aimed at fantasy and desire and feed the hunger for stimulation and excitement.
Cultural images are powerful because they are not just inventions of the media but come out of and feed into the already existing feelings of the times. Ad agencies, fashion developers, and program writers and designers invest a great deal of money researching cultural currents, and images are created to feed into the existing insecurities, fears and fantasies. It was not that long ago that one had to seek out pornographic magazines (hidden behind a counter) or seek an X-rated movie to see explicit depictions of sex. Today, we live in a culture that puts these images into every home. Between 1975 and 1988 the amount of sexual behavior on prime time television doubled and the amount of sexual suggestiveness increased fourfold (American Academy of Pediatrics, 1996). Television is available 24 hours a day, turning out highly sexualized images of women's bodies, plots involving sexual pursuit, and danger and violence. Sexuality is linked to almost all everyday activities that teens might think about engaging in from eating a pizza to riding in a car. It,s no wonder that sex is no longer seen by adolescents as something only the "cool" or "wild" kids do but as something necessary to become a full-fledged member of our culture.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (1996), on MTV, 75% of videos that tell a story involve sexual imagery, over half involve violence and 80% combine the two, suggesting violence against women. By age 18, the average American teenager will have spent more time watching television than learning in the classroom, viewing an average of 21 to 22 hours of television during the week and listening to the radio several hours a day. Of TV shows containing sexual content, only 1% have a primary emphasis throughout the show on issues concerning sexual risks or responsibilities (Kunkel, Cope, Maynard, Biely, Rollin & Donnerstien, 1999).
Our culture continues to romanticize casual sexual behavior without responsibility in the media while parents and schools try to teach monogamy and abstinence to our teens. In movies, television, and music videos we still see romantic encounters portrayed as sexually irresistible moments of intensity between people who couldn't care less about condoms or each other's sexual histories. How do these portrayals effect the sexual behavior of adolescents?
In one study that questioned 1,389 urban students at the beginning and the end of 6thgrade, 30% of those entering 6the grade had already had sexual intercourse. 5% reported initiating sex during the 6th grade year (Kinsman, 1998). The US department of health reported (1996) that approximately 12% of males and 3% of females between 18 and 21, report having had sexual intercourse by the age of 12. Between 1979 and 1988 there was an increase from 5% to 25% of all 15 year-olds engaging in sexual intercourse. According to 1997 data (Ann E. Casey Foundation, 1999) about half of all high school students have had sex at least once; 48% of females 49% of males.
Although adolescent contraceptive use has increased over the years, with females reporting 51% condom use and males 63%, adolescent use is still lower than that of adults (Mesche, Bartholomae & Zentall, 2002). Adolescents are still at a disproportionate risk for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI). In 1995 an estimated two thirds of all STI cases occurred in individuals under the age of 25. Fifteen to Nineteen year-olds had the highest gonorrhea rate among all age groups (US Dept of Health and Human Services, 1998). Adolescents are also among the groups most at risk for contracting HIV. In the last ten years, the proportion of U.S. adolescents AIDS cases that are female tripled, from 14% to 46% and these statistics do not include those that contacted the disease as adolescents but have not yet been diagnosed. Sexual transmission is the most commonly noted method of contracting the disease in adolescents.
Pregnancy is another outcome of unprotected sex and although teen birthrates have been declining since 1991, the United States still has the highest teen birth rate of any industrialized country (Ann Casey Foundation, 1999). Although abortion rates among teens have been declining, over one third of all teen pregnancies in the U.S. still end in abortion (Alan Guttmacher Institute, 1999). Adolescent pregnancy results in numerous personal and societal problems that are outside the scope of this paper, but it is important to note the statistics and wonder how our teens are finding themselves in these predicaments.
Because our culture continues feed to adolescents a steady diet of sexually charged images that promote the idea that casual sex is one way to add excitement and romance to life, it is not surprising that teens are having sex at younger ages and abandoning responsibility and control like the images they see. And because a part of our present culture is the prevalence of HIV and other STIs, this behavior becomes more and more dangerous. It seems that teens are also confused by a culture that says, "abandon all to your sexual drive" but also says you must look absolutely perfect while you're doing it. Thinness for girls, muscle bulk for guys and beauty for everyone is a must that causes a hyperconsciousness about physical appearance. How can one be spontaneous and sensual with the level of vigilance needed to work with the belief that you must be physically perfect in order to have value or be loved? Add anxiety about AIDS, concern about "doing it right", burn-out from school, competition among peers and the result seems to be teens that are very much out of touch with the more relaxed sensual pleasures of the body and exploration of relationship.
Many teens turn to drugs and alcohol to "numb out" from these and other confusing and uncomfortable feelings and this behavior adds to the adolescent sexual landscape. One study of four urban high schools found that the best predictor of risky sexual behavior was alcohol and/or drug use (MADD). Students are found to be 2-3 times more likely to be sexually active if they drink frequently, use marijuana or smoke cigarettes (Graves & Liegh, 1995). Research also shows that many teens are under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol during their first sexual experience. In one study, 78% of the teenage girls reported that it was "easier to have sex" when using alcohol or other drugs (Millstien, Moscicki & Broering, 1993). Alcohol use, illicit drug use as well as age at first intercourse have all been found to be risk factors related to having multiple sexual partners among adolescents. The chances of a young woman having multiple sex partners increases by 70% when the risk factors such as binge drinking or riding with a driver who had been drinking are present (Santelli, Brener, Lowery, Bhatt, & Zabin, 1998).
It seems that we are living in a culture that does not support easy and mindful exploration of sexual development for adolescents but blasts teens with images of intensely sexualized relationships (often containing violence), perfect looking bodies, and little to no responsibility for sexual safety. We are seeing the results of this culture in the statistics that point to earlier sexual activity and increased risky sexual behavior in teens. To what extent pop culture and the media influence adolescent's sexual attitudes and behaviors remains a question that teens and parents as well as researchers continue to argue, but it seems foolish to ignore the trends and the obvious connection to popular culture and media.
Parents need to stay involved in their adolescent's lives while giving them enough freedom to do their job of individuation. Being aware of what is really happening in the world of adolescent sexuality and talking to your kids about it is important, but don't be surprised if your teens won't communicate with you about this topic. It's normal for teens to balk at talking about sex with their parents. What's important is to keep talking to them and encourage them to talk to other adults. If you are concerned that your child has fallen into dangerous behavior in regards to sex and/or drugs and alcohol, I encourage you to seek help from resources in your community available through schools, community mental health organizations or private adolescent, family or individual therapists.
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