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1) The sexual behaviors that our culture largely approves of and emphasizes are:

ID: 3445113 • Letter: 1

Question

1) The sexual behaviors that our culture largely approves of and emphasizes are: (list 8-10; be specific)

2) The sexual behaviors that our culture largely discourages or prohibits are: (list 8-10; be specific)

3) How are all of the above conveyed (i.e. taught) to children, young adults, and adults? Write about a paragraph.

4) The types of media that are likely to influence American’s sexualities are:

5) The media tends to portray love relationships to be:

6) The media tends to portray sex as:

7) The positive effects the media has on American sexualities can include:

8) The negative effects the media has on American sexualities can include:

9) Sociologists know that the social environment significantly shapes us, including our sexualities. How conscious or aware are you of the impact the media, your family, and our culture have on your own sexuality? Discuss.

Explanation / Answer

1 All societies have moral rules regulating sexual behavior. These rules are very different from society to society, and although the de facto enforced rules are not always in agreement with the written rules, they are usually sufficiently specific to be studied and compared with reasonable accuracy. Comparison of the sexual morals of various societies reveals a distinct connection between the morals and the social structure. More generally speaking, it can be said that regal societies have strict sexual morals, whereas kalyptic societies are more liberal. This connection is quite analogous to what applies to other areas of morality, but still puzzling because there is no obvious rational or functionalistic explanation for the sexual morals.

2.

The most traditional reason given for the sexual morals is that they shall prevent unwanted children. This explanation is contradicted by two factors: Firstly, strict sexual morals always include a prohibition against contraception and abortion - the two most effective means against unwanted childbirth. And secondly, strict sexual morals are found in the very same societies that encourage and require a large production of children. We must conclude, therefore, that strict sexual morals lead to a higher birthrate in society as a whole - not smaller.

Another traditional explanation of the sexual morals is that they shall prevent the spread of venereal diseases. But this argument is also contradicted by the prohibition against condoms and other means that may prevent the spread of venereal diseases. It is true that the tightening of sexual morals in modern times found some of its reasons in the syphilis epidemics, but it was also the fight against syphilis that gave rise to better sex education and hence a liberalization of the morals at the beginning of the twentieth century

3.The web has unique potential for adolescents seeking comprehensive sexual health information. As such, it is important to understand the nature, scope, and readability of the content and messaging provided by sexuality educational websites. We conducted a content analysis of 14 sexuality education websites for adolescents, based on the 7 essential components (sexual and reproductive health and HIV, relationships, sexual rights and sexual citizenship, pleasure, violence, diversity, and gender) of the International Planned Parenthood Framework for Comprehensive Sexuality Education. A majority of content across all sites focused on sexual and reproductive health and HIV, particularly pregnancy and STI prevention, and other information about STIs and HIV. No other topic comprised more than 10% of content coverage across a majority of sites. The authors found little discussion of gender issues, sexual rights, sexual diversity, or sexual violence. Most sites provided brief references to sexual pleasure, generally moderated with cautionary words. Language used implied a heterosexual female audience. Reading levels for most sites were above the 9th-grade level, with several at the college level. These findings have implications for enhancing online sexuality education

4.From a health viewpoint, early sexual activity among US adolescents is a potential problem because of the risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. New evidence points to the media adolescents use frequently (television, music, movies, magazines, and the Internet) as important factors in the initiation of sexual intercourse. There is a major disconnect between what mainstream media portray—casual sex and sexuality with no consequences—and what children and teenagers need—straightforward information about human sexuality and the need for contraception when having sex. Television, film, music, and the Internet are all becoming increasingly sexually explicit, yet information on abstinence, sexual responsibility, and birth control remains rare. It is unwise to promote “abstinence-only” sex education when it has been shown to be ineffective and when the media have become such an important source of information about “nonabstinence.”

5.

The root of any romance today is love, but it wasn’t always so. In past cultures, people came together because their parents arranged it or they wanted to join lands or kingdoms; love was secondary. Today, love is the only thing that matters. This over-emphasis on love is encouraged by media that tells stories, sings songs and writes books about how true love conquers all, is ultimately fulfilling, brings a never-ending wealth of happiness and is rarely marred by significant conflict.

Sure, everyone knows real love doesn’t work this way, but that doesn’t mean those tantalizing (and insistent) images don’t affect people’s hopes for romance—and, in turn, cause disappointment in the mundane drone of the day to day.

6 Media and gender refers to the relationship between media and gender, and how representations of the different genders created for and by mass media. Media can range from newspapers, magazines, comic strips, novels, CDs and music videos. These representations can influence the general public's perception of the different genders. It is important to continue exploring interactions of media and gender to dismiss personal choices, but to see the larger context, and potential consequences for ourselves and others. Advertisements and pictures in magazines carry significant messages about cultural norms and values, but also norms of gendered relations for both men and women.

7,8,9, answers

Teenagers are just discovering their sexuality. It is very normal for them to be interested in everything sexual. But the amount of sex in media today can make a teenager confused. Sex without responsibility – that seems to be the message being beamed at teenagers. This can lead to irresponsible sexual behavior and unwanted pregnancies.

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Making Everything Commercial:

Happiness comes at a price. At least that’s the message teenagers get through media. Their life would be perfect if only you’d buy them that hot new game, that happening dress. Advertisers target teenagers to ramp up their revenues. But teenagers fall prey to the idea of commercialization of happiness.5. Obesity:

Chances are your teen today spends most of her time in front of the TV or computer. Playing outside has become a rarity. Add to that bad eating habits, and you have an obesity epidemic at hand.. Score Low In School:

Teens who watch too much television have lower scores in exams. Also, such teens are not good readers as they spend more time in front of the television. A study reveals that individuals with high degree scores watch less television in their childhood and teenage. Another study reveals that different media affects school work differently.

Third-grade scorers with computers in their bedrooms did better than those without computers.

Third-grade scorers with televisions in their bedrooms did worse on their academics than those without TV in their bedrooms.

The media today is powerful and omnipresent. You just can’t escape its tentacles. And you don’t need to! Remember, media is just a tool and like any other tool, how you use it depends on you.

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