In class the past week or two, we have been discussing sex education in schools and the influence of politics on the matter. As we all know, the media is a huge source of information for many Americans and the political media, especially, has an impact in the way people vote and, therefore, what amendments, laws, politicians, etc. are voted for. The links below are from two news sources (Fox News and CBS) each of which tend to lean one way, politically, over the the other.
CBS News - Sex Education Lacking
Fox News - Proposed Sex-Ed Program Shocking and Outraging Parents
So what are your opinions, ladies?
- How far do you think the media goes in influencing public opinion about sex ed?
- What about negative media images about sex (pornography, objectification of women, defining masculinity for men)? How should these be worked in the discussion of sex in schools?
- Special classes for teachers who will teach sex ed?
- If you were to teach a sex ed class, how would you go about doing it?
- Are there boundaries?
- etc.
Feel free to elaborate or answer in what ever way you please :)
::Maura B.
Well. I would just like to say that the things some people can say can be so offensive. But this is if you try and take all opinions seriously, a really complicated matter. Obviously the news we get is not always accurate, and it is always slanted, sometimes to higher degrees than others. But what concerns me is that so many people eat this stuff up. Especially Fox News, that station is so freaking popular. And I have my opinions on Fox News especially, not just opinions but facts, about how exactly they go about putting their slant on things. Mostly I think they're ridiculous, and as a person who thinks that it is frightening that so many people hear their misleading and inaccurate agenda and swear by it.
ReplyDeleteOn another note I think you're question about negative media images about sex Maura is really important. So much of the time that is just not taken into account and I do think it's really important as it shapes our social reality too. And I personally do think that sexual empowerment should be included in sex education which in my opinion would include a discussion of these topics and their affects.
However I do think the idea of parents wanting a say in what their kids are taught about sexuality is an interesting topic. I mean what about our say in the other things our children are taught, what if I think the way history is taught is a load of crap and I want that changed, then I have to take my kids out of public school and teach them myself or at the very least supplement their education. I don't really see this as any different. I do think that values should be kept out to as much of an extent as they can, I think teachers should try and keep their subjective opinions out of the content as much as possible and simply present accurate facts, including everything they can so as not to be subjective by omission. However I understand that this is probably a tricky matter for people who disagree with what is being taught. But for the benefit of the community as a whole I think those people who disagree should have to supplement their children's education. I think that is the fair option.
-Emilia
One of the biggest problems surrounding this issue is political socialization. The majority of the time, kids have the same beliefs as their parents and sex education in schools can be a key issue when aligning political leanings. As a liberal minded person, raised by democrats, I never really saw an issue with having sex ed in junior high and I didn't hear anything about it from my parents. In fact, my mother was a little relieved that someone else could talk to me about sex (but that's another issue). In elementary school we were lectured on the reproductive process however we were also separated by gender. This I believed lessened how "awkward" the lesson could have been, but I feel like this also taught us 5th graders that sex/sexuality was something you didn't discuss with polite company, especially someone who could potentially be your partner. I never felt snubbed because of this until college however convincing parents that their children should learn about their bodies at an age before they decide they can learn better through trial and error is hard to argue. If sex education was mandatory for every single adolescent in the USA, I believe we would all be sexually more cautious, aware, and healthier. However, there are a lot of roadblocks in the way of that and until we remove politics from sex there's no way this can be a non-issue.
ReplyDelete-Claire L.
After watching the video clip from CBS. I would have to say that I agree with alot of the points that she is making. I feel that if teens are taught more about contraception and reproductive health may reduce the reproduction among teens. I feel that parents play a big role in their teens reproductive education and they as parents need to educate their teens and making a sex positive atmosphere. This also means that the parents and teachers need to be educated on sex and reproductive health as well.
ReplyDeleteas for your question as to how far the media goes on influencing public opinion on sex ed. I feel that the media has little influence on public opinions about sex education. I feel that the media may introduce some new ideas, but most people that have an opinion on sex ed programs usually stick with their opinion. (you know...sort of like abortion...no matter what the media says it is hard to change someones opinion on abortion. After reading that article from Fox news I was appalled that he was against the sex ed programs. I feel that those measures that were proposed were excellent. Those types of things need to be taught in schools. But in the article he does have a point, The governmemt can barely teach our students how to read and write", how can we expect them to be a liable source to educate our children on sex and reproductive health AND THAT IS WHERE THE REAL PROBLEM LIES...how can we efficiently teach students about reproductive health...what is the proper protocal?.
Simone McGary
Media influences virtually all aspects of life, including sex education in school. I'm sure shows like 16 and Pregnant, Teen Mom, and films about teenage mothers (15 and Pregnant & Juno don't exactly leave the most positive impression of sex ed in the minds of some American parents. Some parents may actually believe that sex Ed actually contributes to the high instances of teen pregnancy and may not want their children participating in sex ed. Other parents may think it's the lack of sex ed that promotes teen pregnancy. It's a complex situation.
ReplyDeleteI definitely think teachers need to have special training in order to teach sexual education. The teachers who taught my sexual education programs were not qualified at all. They were stiff and awkward and encouraged abstinence above anything. I also know a health teacher at my high school that had three daughters. She told her students that she kept track of when her daughters were ovulating and while they were ovulating, they weren't allowed out of the house, as if her daughters could only get pregnant while ovulating. This was an actual teacher allowed to teach sex Ed, yet she partook in bizarre practices with her own children. She shouldn’t have been allowed to teach sex Ed ever.
I think sex Ed classes need to stress the unrealistic features of pornography and even sex on television. I think a lot of teens believe that what is shown in porn or on TV regarding sex is the real thing and that’s usually not the case. I think respecting bodies needs to be emphasized in sex Ed programs. Pornos and sex on television doesn’t do a good job conveying this message so I think this is where sex ed programs have to pick up the slack.
Ashley B.