...Investigate a Social Issue: Sexuality of the Teen and Young Adult Kamala Buck Strayer University Introduction to Sociology June 3, 2012 Val Margarit, M.A., Ed.S Investigating the Social Issue: Sexuality of the Teen and Young Adult How can we educate our teen and young adults about sex in society today? This subject is very sensitive in the home, in the school and even in the church. Our teens today need to be educated on this subject as statistics show that there are growing numbers of teen pregnancies and HIV/ STD cases today. In an article written by Deborah Myers, Educating our Teens about Sex, she writes that it is extremely important they we as parents start to talk to our children when they are younger about their body parts and how they function. By doing this when they are young, this lays the foundation for more detailed conversation about sexuality when they are older. There will be less embarrassment and they are more likely to come to the parent with questions and advise on topics as they get older. By approaching the subject of sexuality naturally and as a healthy bodily function, this eliminates guilt and fears associated with the subject. Today as parents in the United States, we tend to focus mainly on the dangers of sex. Parents, educators and health care providers warn young people against the risks of sex and heartbreak, but unfortunately that does not give them the tools to navigate the territory of sexuality and relationships in a healthy...
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...Adolescent Sexuality and Modern Media ENG 122 August 5, 2012 Adolescent Sexuality and Modern Media Adolescents are greatly influenced negatively by media of today, whether that is adult television, music, or the World Wide Web. Our society is consumed by some form of media today, which could be the overabundance of reality shows on TV or by the use of Facebook which is exposing the youth to sexual content and innuendos. With the freedom of speech engraved into the United States Constitution, to ask that the media be regulated is almost impossible. Parents need to be held more accountable for what their children are exposed to, and if they are involved in some form of media that could be questionable, parents should have free resources available to assist in explaining the consequences of the negative behavior. Does today’s modern media truly have an effect on our adolescent girls and if so, in what ways. Girls from the ages of fourteen through 18 are doing unquestionable things today that you did not see in the ‘80’s. TV programming has taken an extreme jump from the simplicities of cartoons, comedies and sitcoms to the unregulated exposure of today’s reality, and its consequences. When one turns on the TV, channels that have been geared towards our younger generation, for example MTV and VH1, these channels initially consisted of music videos, have now turned into Pandora’s Box, with programming consisting of 16 & Pregnant, Jersey Shore, Basketball Wives...
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...Media Portrayal of Sexuality and Adolescents Kaylene Merchant PSY/265 September 4, 2014 Doris Tolan Media Portrayal of Sexuality and Adolescents It is no secret that the media can have a major influence over the lives of individuals; it helps to shape trends and social behaviors across our nation and the world. Adults and children alike can be influenced into certain behaviors based on what they witness through the media, and teenagers, who are fairly impressionable, are no exception. The effects of the media’s portrayal of sexuality are ranging, but it is safe to say that the majority of individuals in the US have all been affected in one way or another by the media. The consequences of the media’s effect on adolescents has only been examined through correlational studies which compared the sexual activity portrayed in the media with trends among teens (Gruber & Grube, 2000). From the research found, it is obvious that adolescents tend to reflect the sexuality that they witness through the media. The media often shows sexuality as a commodity, and the casual acceptance is typically adopted by adolescents. Adolescents are more likely to engage in the behaviors that are shown as appropriate by the media. This means that after a teenage girl sees how young pregnant girls are turned into reality stars, she is more likely to engage in the same behaviors in hopes of becoming famous. As young men witness the acceptance of promiscuity, they may take part in the same activities...
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...Sex education in public schools has been a controversial issue in the United States for over a decade. Sex education needs to keep up with the sexuality of today’s young adolescents. Young adolescents are becoming more sexually active at a younger age; by the time they reach high school most have already acquired some knowledge about sex but little about sexual responsibility. With the number of young adolescents with sexually transmitted diseases and teenage pregnancies rising— sex awareness is definitely needed. The question remains whether sex education should come from their parent or from a qualified professional at school. In order to educate young adolescents about the consequences and responsibilities of engaging in sexual activities it is my belief that sex education classes should be taught in public middle school. Most goals of sex education classes are the promotion of adult sexual health. Four main goals, according to National Guidelines Task Force, are to provide accurate information about human sexuality, to provide an opportunity for young adolescents to develop and understand their values, attitudes, and beliefs about sexuality, to help young people develop interpersonal skills and to help young adolescents apply responsibility of sexual relationships. Such responsibilities include how to defend a teenager against the pressures of prematurely becoming involved in sexual intercourse, encouraging the use of contraceptives, and other sexual health measures. The...
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...Explain the major factors or historical foundation that contributed to making the selected social issue important for sociological consideration Human sexuality is defines as an area of research and study that focuses on all aspects of humans as sexual beings. Basically, human sexuality involves much more than anatomy and sexual responses, but incorporates how we engage in relationships and behaviors that determine our desires and sexual identity as well as our overall sexual health, well-being, and our perceptions and expressions (Hockenbury and Hockenbury, 2006). There are many factors that help develop our sexuality, arguably one of the most important, is our actual gender. Whether, I am a female or male will likely have a major influence on the development of my individual sexuality. Furthermore, sexuality is an integral part of our personalities whether we are aware of it or not. Although Human sexuality is a normal part of life and everyday development, there are several sides to human sexuality and how we behave as human beings. There is the impact on aging in sexuality, sex and violence, and sexuality (Hockenbury and Hockenbury, 2006). One of the historical events was the sexual revolution in American come of age in the late 1960s. The Playboy magazine became the most popular in America. Also in the 1960s sexual mores was upside-down. First was the technology of birth control. The birth control pill was perfected, for the first time giving women the freedom...
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...choices, and, subsequently, their children learn from seeing these experiences. Parents are very important when it comes to influencing their children’s lifestyle choices. Being if they live with them, children are with their parents almost all of the time. They teach their children everything from walking, talking, potty training, and etc. Children and young teens watch their parent’s everyday choices. Most parents can be a positive influence for their children, and raise them to be independent and moral. For instance, a parent can be a hard worker, providing for their family everyday, and teaching them that having an education is very important. On the other hand, parents can also show negative influences to young teens. For example, if a parent smokes and drinks all the time, and their children see their mom or dad experiencing it the children think that it is normal and okay to do. The lifestyle choices parents influence can have a positive or negative impact. If a young teens parent or parents work hard, and show them being independent is important, that can have a positive impact on their children. The young teen will learn that education is very important, and become successful with...
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...Sex education is instruction on issues relating to human sexuality, including human sexual anatomy, sexual reproduction, sexual activity, reproductive health, emotional relations, reproductive rights and responsibilities, sexual abstinence, and birth control. Common avenues for sex education are parents or caregivers, formal school programs, and public health campaigns. Schools have a significant role in imparting effective sex education to adolescents. Research has shown that with effective sex education to young adults in schools, it is possible to push back the age at which adolescents experiment with sex. These programs also have the potential to encourage youngsters to use protection during their first sexual experience. Sex education should be taught in school to create early awareness among teenagers, to prevent social problem, and to develop healthy attitude. The factor why sex education should be taught in school is to create early awareness among teenagers. The importance of sex education is to help teenagers make more informed decisions about sex because teenagers are still too young to make a right decision for themselves and they don’t understand what is the issue that may arise problem from early pregnancy will bring various types bad impact and also social problem. Plus, they need a guidance from the elders especially parent and teacher to make a right decision for them. Sex education taught in school will make teenagers realize disadvantages about unsafe sex thus...
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...infections spread amongst those under the age of 25 (SEICUS). When comparing teen pregnancy rates in countries like France, Germany, and the Netherlands, to the United States, the rate is almost eight times higher. Within the states, Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi have the highest rates of sexually transmitted infections. However, in West Virginia, one of the poorest states alongside the previously mentioned three, has one of the lowest teenage pregnancy rates. The reason? They have no abstinence-only education. Having a lack of a strong sexual education system added with the spread of misinformation has created numerous problems compared to other developed countries. “Rights, respect, responsibility,” is the motto for the Advocates for Youth organization that has been the basis for France, Germany, and Netherlands’ philosophy on sexual health. Creating an open, safe, and informative environment has made it easier for people of all ages to feel comfortable dealing with and discussing their sexuality, as well as having sensible and realistic government policies results in overall better results when comparing teens across the Atlantic Ocean. The older generations have a responsibility to give the tools youths need to prepare them the responsibility that comes with sexuality. The younger generations have a right to know. Statistically, the United States falls behind in it’s sex education for teens, such as preventing pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and infections...
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...education in preventing teen pregnancy Anamika Laddha Chamberlain University Abstinence only versus Sex education in preventing teen pregnancy Introduction United States has the highest level of teenage pregnancy amongst the industrialized nations – nine times as high as Netherlands or Japan, twice as high as England and Wales or Canada. Over eight hundred thousand teenage girls get pregnant each year, most unintentionally (The Alan Guttmacher Institue, 2000). Four out of ten young women become pregnant at least once before age 20. Moe than 80% of these pregnancies are to unmarried teens (National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, 2004). Teenage pregnancy usually refers to girls who have not reached legal adulthood. World Health Organization defines Teenage Pregnancy as “any pregnancy from a girl who is 10-19 years of age,” the age being defined as her age at the time the baby is born. It is not limited to any social, economic, racial or ethnic groups. It is a serious issue that has effect on all of us and should be a concern from obstetric and socio-economical point of views. Factors Contributing to Teen Pregnancy The reasons behind teen pregnancy are complex, varied, and typically interconnected. As Sisson (2012) points out that teen pregnancy should not be looked as isolated issue and it must be understood within context of social complexities and inequities all of which needs to be effectively addressed in order to be one step closer to offer our teens better life. The...
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...left up to parents, or do schools have a responsibility to inform students about these issues? There are many people who support the idea of sex education being taught in school, and there are others who do not agree. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) survey, more than 47 percent of all high school students say they have had sex; and 15 percent of high school students have had sex with four or more partners during their lifetime. It also states that among students’ who had sex in the three months prior to the survey, sixty-percent reported condom use and twenty-three percent reported birth control pills usage during their last sexual encounter (NCSL,2013). Sex Education provides positive feedback about sexuality and sexual expressions, including benefits of abstinence, the sexual reproductive system, and also relationships. There are several pros and cons towards teaching sex education in all school systems. Sex education is not predominantly about sex. Other issues originate from this topic also. Relationships, interpersonal skills, and even how the body works. Some kids that are not involved in sex education have never heard of all the sexual transmitted diseases, and are not aware of the risks of being sexually active with several sex partners’. They essentially need to be taught the consequence of sex and that STD’s cannot be cured. There are several...
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...The Theology of Sexuality Ashlee Mason Liberty University Abstract Sex and Marriage There are many excerpts from the Bible that speak on what sex is supposed to entail. Sex is God’s gift to men and women who come together in the commitment of marriage. * Hebrews 13:4, NIV. "Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure." * I Corinthians 7:3,4, NIV says, "The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife." * I Corinthians 7:5, TLB. "So do not refuse these rights to each other. The only exception to this rule would be the agreement of both husband and wife to refrain from the rights of marriage for a limited time, so that they can give themselves more completely to prayer. Afterwards, they should come together again so that Satan won't be able to tempt them because of their lack of self-control." In the aforementioned passages it is implied that the union of marriage should be honored by all and not just the two that are married. It is also implied that once man and woman are married their body then becomes something that is shared so to deny one’s spouse of their marital duties on a consistent basis that is not agreed upon by both husband and wife leaves them susceptible to temptations outside of their marriage. Forbidden Sex When interpreting...
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...Sexual Maturation Adolescent Sexual Maturation Rachel Siminski PSY351 December 10, 2012 Abstract Children have a rate of sexual maturation that follows them throughout life; there are physical and mental effects. These changes in an adolescent reflect changing mental states as a result of physical changes. There are more sexual desires, feelings of increased intimacy and a different understanding of their physical body. There are many correlations between the changes of the mind and body, I will also describe theories of you they effect one another. Adolescent Sexual Maturation Adolescence is a challenging period for both children and their parents. Three stages of adolescence - early, middle, and late, are experienced by most teens, but the age at which each stage is reached varies greatly from child to child. These different rates of maturation are connected to physical development and hormone balance, neither of which the child can control. For this reason, adolescents should be treated as individuals and any guidelines should be adapted to the particular child. The biological changes we associate with adolescence actually unfold over a long period of time, beginning with the maturation of the adrenal axis during childhood and ending with the maturation of the gonadal axis in the early 20s (Steinberg, 2011). Piagets Theory and Adolescent Maturity At 15 years of age a teenager is well prepared to understand the risks. According to Jean Piaget and his Theory of...
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...purpose of this essay is to identify how preeminent teenage pregnancy has become in teens ages fourteen and up, how famous it has become in the United States and how the majority of teens do not finish their education after becoming pregnant. The sources used in this essay provide the necessary information needed for readers to understand why and how a teenagers environment has become influential for them becoming pregnant. Teenage pregnancy is affecting teens by causing them to drop out of school and not finish their education which later results in a limited amount of choices when choosing a career. Outline Thesis: The social life of teenagers influences teenage pregnancy through pressure from peers, too much access to the media and lack of sex education from parents and teachers in the United States. I. Peer pressure in the United States is the major factor influencing teenage pregnancy in the U.S. A. During adolescence, teenagers often feel pressure to make friends and fit in with their peers. B. Many times these teens let their friends influence their decision to have sex. C. The Kaiser Family Foundation states that more than 29 percent of pregnant teens reported that they felt pressured to have sex. II. Excessive access to the media plays an important role in teenage pregnancy A. In the U.S today, the majority of teens have access to phones, tablets and computers which...
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...Kristen Embry PSY 223 Test 3 1. Puberty is a stage in the lives of both males and females in which their bodies begin to develop from a child to an adult. During puberty both males and females will develop and grow more rapidly than any other time in their lives except for infancy. Everyone goes through puberty, but everyone doesn’t necessarily go through it at the same age or in the same way as someone else. There isn’t just one single event that determines when puberty is beginning. It is a set of events that may happen gradually or very suddenly. Puberty typically begins between the ages of 8 and 14 in girls and between 9 and 15 in boys. However, it is hard to know exactly when puberty has begun in either sex due to unseen hormonal changes that precede physical changes by up to three years, according to our text book on page 303. During puberty, boys will notice several physical changes occurring. These include a major growth spurt, the shoulders becoming broader, and an appearance of body hair under the arms, on the chest, and on the face. They will begin to notice their voices changing from a childlike tone to a deeper, more adult tone as well as begin to have body odor and acne due to hormones being produced at a high rate. The male genitals will undergo some changes as well. As we watched in the video on puberty, the penis will grow longer and wider while the testicles drop into place ready to aide in reproduction later in life. Wet dreams, or nocturnal emissions...
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...The Power of Media to influence youth Abstract: This study is based on one of the most common methods of qualitative research – Thematic Analysis. It highlights the extent to which print media is using sexuality to generate interest amongst the youth for a particular product or service. The study also focuses on the effect that mass media have on our youngsters. To prove this further, the theory of Social Reflection has been used as a tool which shows the kind of impact a particular message or an advertisement (in this case) will have on society. For this test random sampling method was used, fourteen random newspapers from 30th May 2002 to 10th November 2011 were taken as samples to conduct the test. The study has verified and there are enough grounds on basis of which it can be said that print media or media in general is communicating the messages in a way which has got huge impact on our young generation. Introduction: United Kingdom is facing a lot challenge because of increasing rate of teenage sex and the credit for this goes to media which openly portrays sexual activities. Apart from this United Kingdom is also worried about the rising health issues amongst teens who are highly vulnerable to media .Schools in United Kingdom have incorporated sex education as a subject to equip students with the needed information. Still teenage pregnancy cases are highest in United Kingdom. Only teaching sex education as a subject in Schools is...
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