Sexuality can be seen as behavior and experience that is based on male-female sex differentiation. It encompasses the consciousness of one’s own sex and that of the opposite sex, sexual instincts, sexual desires, libido, and sexual behavior (Janell, 2009, p 5). Recently, sexuality has increasingly become a topic of focus among the various media sources.
At the same time, there have been troublesome issues regarding the contents of the media sources in as far as the issue of sexuality is concerned.
Some of the problems associated with these issues can have dire consequences to certain members of the society, especially the teenagers. Therefore to enhance greater understanding of the issue of sexuality, it is vital to take comprehensive and critical view of the subject matter as argued from different sources.
As Janell (2009, p 3) notes, sexuality has been the subject matter in the news, in recent days. Particularly, all media sources including magazines, New Papers, CD and DVD packaging, television, movies, internet and other visual images such as billboards and advertisements in buses are full of images that are subtly or explicitly sexual.
Most of these media aim at attracting customers to purchase their products or services. However, with little understanding of the effects, they do not put a limit on their advertisements and end up polluting their coverage.
Most of them do not give regard to the moral aspect of sexuality (Castañeda & Campbell, 2006, p. 1). Of course, this does not go without bringing about negative effects to the vulnerable sections of the society, especially the young people, who end up imitating these sources.
According to Janell (2009, p. 5), the development of new technology in the modern world has led to increased access to information regarding sexuality without limit. For example, teenagers in today’s world have rated the media and internet sources as the leading sources of sex information. Pornographic pictures and videos, sexual toys and access to other related sites with such information are readily available to the young people through the internet.
Due to their influence, the number of young people exposing themselves to illicit sexual acts without thinking of the dire consequences has increased. Worse still, many of these young people do not use contraceptives while engaging in sex, thereby exposing themselves to the infection of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and also risking with pregnancy.
Greenberg, Bruess and Conklin (2010, p. 650) explains that the overall proportion of illicit sexual content in the media continues to increase. However, the negative consequences of sexuality are hardly displayed.
Remarkably, very few of media programs emphasize on sexual risks and responsibilities. As such, many young who engage in sexual activities out of influence from the media are exposed to the associated risks. Eventually, there is the possibility of a rise in the number of young people contracting STIs in the society.
Also, the number of young women giving birth at tender ages may rise. But as Greenberg et al (2010, p. 650) explains, the problem of sexuality is subject to judgment by family, school, religion and government among others. Therefore, it is their duty to alert young people on implications of sexual behavior that is, risks and responsibilities involved.
Clearly, the problem of sexuality is real in the contemporary society. Evidently, much of the information about sexuality provided in the media is not educational but it is largely misleading, unrealistic and inaccurate.
Imitation of such information by young people may lead to serious consequences to them and the whole society at large. It is thus important for all segments of the society to cooperate to mitigate the impact of the problems associated with sexuality.
Reference List
Castañeda, L., & Campbell, S. B. (2006). News and sexuality: media portraits of diversity, California: Sage.
Greenberg, J. S., Bruess, C. E., & Conklin, S, C. (2010). Television and programming, Exploring the, Dimensions of Human Sexuality. London, UK: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Janell, L. (2009). Sexuality Now: Embracing Diversity, exploring human sexuality, past and present. MassWadsworth, Canada: Cengage Learning.