Introduction
The topic under discussion is human sexuality, which is a subject that generates a lot of controversy. It is essential to understand norms for sexual behavior and how society can maintain these norms. In this regard, one must discuss teen sex as well as premarital sex, and relate to this to the limitations that people place on human sexuality.
Analysis
The topic is a critical one because sex is related to vital parts of human organization, such as, family, procreation, and companionship. Furthermore, sex has grave ramifications on other people as well as society in general. Religious guidelines, moral principles, taboos and legal repercussions are indicative of the gravity of this topic. Additionally failure to abide by certain rules leads to unwanted consequences among concerned parties. It is vital to trace the sources of influence on current perceptions of human sexuality, and then establish how those norms ought to be maintained.
In order to understand the limits of human sexuality, one must look through the barriers to eligibility in sexual relations. Sometimes, an individual’s gender governs their sexual choices. Certain people believe sex should only be between persons of opposite gender, but this matter has elicited a lot of controversy in the public sphere.
Additionally, age places a limit on a person’s sexual choices. In most western cultures, it is illegal to have sex with a minor. However, some Asian, African and Islamic cultures allow teen sex as long as it is in the context of marriage. Additionally, one’s marital status also affects the limits society places on sex. Many individuals frown upon extra marital affairs; although sex between two uncommitted and consenting adults is somewhat permissible.
There are inherent contradictions in what society endorses and what dominant social platforms, like the media, endorse. Numerous individuals resent abnormal behavior, but few of them know about the entities that define normalcy. In most circumstances, a person’s religious beliefs, cultural heritage and upbringing have a large role to play in one’s definition of normalcy.
In modern society, the principle of consent is the most valuable one in setting boundaries for sex. Therefore, sex with underage persons or among them is frowned upon because these individuals do not have the psychological maturity to give consent. Additionally, violence in sex is highly frowned upon because one of the parties is held against their will, so no consent exists.
It should, however, be noted that people have not completely disregarded the relevance of marriage in sex (Bramlett and Mosher, 2002). Single parents, who have several sexual partners during a child’s development, have difficulties in teaching them about sexual morals. Such children will imitate their parent’s behavior, and may start having sex in their teens. Society’s lack of commitment on premarital sex has blurred the lines on sexual limits, and thus perpetuated teenage pregnancy or even violence.
Studies indicate that sixty six percent of all pregnant teens engaged in sex owing to abuse from older males (Potera, 2009). Usually, these activities took place because of parental absenteeism. Such parents are single and have to focus on economic activities rather than family obligations. Therefore, society may disregard the relevance of marriage in sexual relations, but the repercussions of these choices are quite vicious (McGurN, 2009).
The issue of sexual limits is often downplayed in the media. Through the use of certain stereotypes, premarital sex is strengthened and even glamorized. Advertisements are saturated with heavily sexualized messages. Women are selling perfume, clothes, cars and even garden equipment using their bodies. This saturation of sexually-charged messages causes many people to develop unrealistic ideas about sex.
It objectifies women and encourages individuals to focus on casual encounters. Furthermore, some of the most famous celebrities live promiscuous lifestyles. One may read about an actress who has had more than four partners in the span of one year. These public figures reinforce the stereotype of non-committal sexual relations and create the problems discussed in the above paragraph.
Perhaps a more alarming problem from the media is the perpetuation of stereotypes about teenage girls and sex. Pop culture can lead to violent sexual situations or rape; it also encourages teenage sex. Unlike past decades, where the media perpetuated societal norms, currently, the media perpetuates a counterculture that is often dangerous for those who are targeted by it.
A case in point is the Victoria Secret Pink brand. The company has used the media to advertise this line. This product category was launched in 2004 for young adults and collegiate women. The logic was that the pink brand would transition individuals from teenage hood to adulthood. Victoria Secret marketed the product as fun and flirtatious.
In fact, the company has taken campaigns to schools and other communities with large representations of 18-22 year olds (Zmuda, 2008. While the company claims to sell its garments to clients above the age of consent, it is no secret that teenagers resonate with this brand, and many of them buy Victoria Secret’s undergarments. Bright colors and graphics emphasize the playful aesthetic of the undergarments in the pink brand.
The flirtatious nature of the brand is also evident through some of the slogans on the undergarment. For instance, one of the products has the words ‘no peeking’. This slogan contradicts itself owing to the flirtatious nature of the pink undergarments. It shows that a girl’s no is really yes. The visuals obscure the slogan and indicate that the wearer cannot say no and truly mean it.
Many programs in the media make early sex and casual sex appear normal. For instance, in the movie Knocked up, the main actress – Alison is a professional career woman, who has casual sex with a stranger in a bar. It is only after Alison realizes she is pregnant that she decides to pursue the stranger (Apatow et. al. 2007).
The feature illustrates the pervasiveness of casual relations in society. Teenagers are having sex as seen through pop icons’ song choices. Justin Bieber sings about intimacy with a girl in his song “That should be me”. In the first verse he says “Rumours spreadin’ ‘bout this other guy. Do you do what you did when you did with me” (Lrics Mode, 2010). Justin was still underage when writing the song.
In order to promote right attitudes towards sex, one should make the effort to understand the reasons for having sex and the limits of what is acceptable. However, one must also embrace the fact that society is deeply divided about certain norms in society. Therefore, individuals who choose lifestyles that do not comply with one’s personal preferences but are accepted by society should be respected.
This reflection has taught me that some limits on sexual behavior can be easily blurred, and society will not directly frown upon it. However, concerned individuals will pay for those consequences indirectly. I also learnt that the media covertly encourages deviant sexual behavior through the images it portrays and the stories it focuses on.
Annotated Bibliography
Apatow, J., Robertson, S., Rogen, S., Goldberg, E. (Producers), & Apatow, J. (Director). (2007). Knocked up [DVD], Universal City, California: Universal Pictures.
The movie is a story about Alison Scott, a competent reporter, who has casual sex with a laid back and average-looking stranger known as Ben Stone. Because of a misunderstanding during the sexual act, Alison gets pregnant, and tries to contact Ben. She struggles to forge a relationship with him, but realizes that he is irresponsible and juvenile. Fortunately, the two get to know each other during the pregnancy. This movie points out the pervasiveness of casual sexual encounters in popular culture.
Bramlett, D. and Mosher, W. (2002). Cohabitation, Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage in the United States. Vital Health Statistics 23(22), 1-35.
The Journal article was a comprehensive survey of a wide range of subjects throughout the United States. It intended on unraveling attitudes towards sex in the context of marriage. The researchers asked participants about their sexual practices in marriage and outside marriage. The article is essential in shedding light on sexual norms in American society. It points out the issues that many regard as acceptable and offensive. Therefore, the study assists in meeting the key objective in this analysis on human sexuality.
Lrics Mode (2010). Justin Bieber: That should be me lyrics. Web.
The website is a script of the lyrics to Justin Bieber’s song “That should be me”. Bieber is a teenage pop sensation who rose to stardom after posting a video on YouTube. He released the song in 2010, when he was 16 years old. Nonetheless, the song’s lyrics are marred with sexual undertones. The singer has many underage fans (even less than 5 years old) and many of them sing these words. The song identifies some of the sources of underage sexual encounters.
McGurN, W. (2009, January 6). Like a virgin: The press take on teenage sex. Wall Street Journal, p. 15.
In the newspaper article, the author looks at the role of family in young people’s sexual lives. He explains that teenagers who come from religious homes and social environments are less likely to engage in risky sexual behavior, get pregnant or loose their virginity before 21.
The writer reiterates that parents strongly influence children’s attitudes towards sex. This article is crucial in illustrating some of the sources of ideas about sex in society. It proves that family influences are indispensable, and that the casual attitude towards sex starts in one’s home.
Potera, C. (2009). Sex and violence in media influence teen behavior. American Journal of Nursing, 109(2), 20.
The article focuses on the effect of television on teenage sexual behavior. The author found that teenagers who watched more television were more likely to become pregnant. She also illustrated that websites and games create a violent culture among teens that can lead to purveyance of non consensual and underage sex. This journal is crucial to the subject under discussion because it illustrates how the media creates a counterculture and perpetuates dangerous stereotypes. Some of them are manifested through violent acts.
Zmuda, N. (2008, January). Pink label: Victoria’s sales secret. Advertising Age, 15.
The article focuses on the marketing strategies of one of the most successful lingerie retailers in the country: Victoria Secret. The author reveals that the retailer has a line that is targeted at young women. She also reiterates that the company conducts marketing campaigns in colleges and universities in order to promote the product.
While this article does not directly refer to the commercialization of childhood, it is crucial in shedding light on the pervasiveness of sexual ideas among young people. It illustrates where ideas about teenage sex come from, and the dangers of this sort of commercialization.
References
Apatow, J., Robertson, S., Rogen, S., Goldberg, E. (Producers), & Apatow, J. (Director). (2007). Knocked up [DVD], Universal City, California: Universal Pictures.
Bramlett, D. and Mosher, W. (2002). Cohabitation, Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage in the United States. Vital Health Statistics 23(22), 1-35.
Lrics Mode (2010). Justin Bieber: That should be me lyrics. Web.
McGurN, W. (2009, January 6). Like a virgin: The press take on teenage sex. Wall Street Journal, p. 15.
Potera, C. (2009). Sex and violence in media influence teen behavior. American Journal of Nursing, 109(2), 20.
Zmuda, N. (2008, January). Pink label: Victoria’s sales secret. Advertising Age, 15.