Kaliko -> RE: Breast Cancer T-Shirts for Cheerleaders (10/19/2011 7:54:35 PM)
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ORIGINAL: Marc2b I would also like to point out, to whom it may concern, that AneNoz is dead on about sexuality and American Culture. When it comes to sexuality we are a schizophrenic culture. In our politics, our broadcast media, and our “official” view of adolescent sexuality we are very prudish but a quick check beneath the surface reveals that we match any other culture on the planet for horniness and “depravity.” Hell, we outshine some of them. As a culture I think we are dreadfully unfair to our adolescents. Our official message to them (when we are not busy pretending that they are neuters who don’t switch on until their eighteenth birthday), via the “church” and “mainstream” media is: “DON’T DO IT! DON’T DO IT! DON’T DO IT! ESPECIALLY IF YOU’RE A GIRL BECAUSE THEN YOU’RE A SLUT!” Yet at the same time we bombard them with entertainment and advertising that tells them how un-cool they are if they don’t do it. Is it any wonder teenagers tend to be a little koo-koo? Adolescence is hard enough with us screwing them up even more. I question this. How is it different in other countries? I'm not disagreeing with you...I just don't know the answer either way. It seems to me (and perhaps this is me being a product of the prudish society mentioned above) that it's just good sense to advise teenagers against having sex. In the same way that I would advise a teenager to not get married before knowing she is truly in love and mature enough to handle marriage, or not pin herself down to a career without exploring all options that might be open to her, or whatever...same goes for sex. The idea of teenagers having sex isn't awful and I think many people are realistic about it. But just because it's done, does that mean that we, as parents and a society, shouldn't ask that a teenager use discretion in choosing when and with whom to have sex? And regardless of a teenager's individual choice, sex education takes place in our schools. Condoms and other birth control methods are available. STD prevention is taught. Lesbian and Gay Alliances are in place in high schools all across the country. Student Assistance Counselors are in place and equipped to handle all sorts of situation, sexual or otherwise. How are we as a society putting our heads in the sand about it and asking that teens not be sexual beings? Do other countries offer up their teenagers in a sexual exaltation? What, exactly, makes other countries so much less "prudish" than us? These are earnest questions - not bitching. I truly just don't know - what is done differently elsewhere that people think Americans are so prude about our teenagers?
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