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Sex and the media - What do you think?
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What do you think about the portrayal of sex in the media?
Do you think advertisers are making too much use of it? do you think it's being made to look too easy?
Hannah - "They make losing your virginity look easy. Surely you shouldn't be portraying that sort of image to people who are likely to be thinking about it?"
Shadow - "Sex sells, so they say, so many programmes use it to drawn in more viewers."
David - "I am very annoyed about the pretence that gay boys and girls don't exist - like on Byker Grove or Grange Hill. I've got a boyfriend and I think it's very strange that not a single kids TV programme shows two boyfriends or two girlfriends together."
Lea - "Yes, TV programmes, especially soaps, do make too much of a deal over it. Ok, so its supposed to be about real life, and yeah these things do happen- but how many times do you see a girl choosing to refuse to have sex, over having it? Not often."
Do you think that the emotional side of sex is overlooked?
Heidi - "They always exaggerate sex in programmes and films and the emotional side is never seen."
Hannah - "Does no one in Hollywood feel pain? And how come we never see anyone that doesn't believe in sex before marriage and stick to it? There doesn't seem to be anything around at the moment saying that this is ok. There never really seem to be some of the real issues tackled. Like sex and different religions or going through an abortion or miscarriage."
Shadow - "Many shows focus on the emotional side and all the thinking it over stuff."
David - "I think children's programmes only concentrate on the emotional side of relationships and not the sexual side. I've got no complaints about it because I think most of us are thinking about relationships but most under 16's haven't actually had sex (?) - well I haven't anyway - not with anyone else I mean!"
Lea - "The emotional side is definitely ignored, because on TV you never see the, you know, love side of things, well rarely. It's just sex and that's it. Characters like, say Candice from Corrie....she just had sex with Jason because she liked him. Now what message is that sending off to 14 year old girls? its just saying "Well, she didn't love him, so I don't suppose I have to love a lad to sleep with him"
Have you noticed how people on TV very rarely use a condom? Surely that isn't a good example to portray? Do you think that TV programmes should have a responsibility to teach safe sex through example?
Heidi - "I've never seen any of them use condoms."
Lance - "How can the government plan to bring down the number of teen pregnancies if they show stuff like that on TV?"
Hannah - "Do they not realise what a strong influence the media has on the young population?"
Rob - "Almost every advert you have on TV has some link to sex or sexual behaviour."
Rosalind - "I believe you are being slightly naive and narrow minded about the whole issue. Do you really think that just because an advert on the t.v or in a magazine uses sex to sell, there is a direct link between that and the amount of teenage pregnancies in the U.K. We are all individuals who have freedom of thought and ignore any media message given to us."
Shadow - "Years ago in Byker Grove there was a fairly big storyline about sex, (it was one of the girls Lou was fostering?) and that showed her talking it through, and going to a clinic getting condoms.
"Many shows have stuff about safe sex. I was only watching Dawson's Creek this morning and they went on a mission to get a condom. Programs cant show people putting them on, that's a bit dodgy for terrestrial TV.
I think it shouldn't be down to TV anyway. Parents (however embarrassing it may be) need to talk more openly to their children. I think the main problem is narrow minded prudish Britain, but that's just my opinion."
David - "You're right about the condoms but I suppose it's not very easy to show men putting them on. It might be an idea to make the odd exception or at least mention them occasionally when there's a sex scene. I guess they don't want to make the TV drama programmes look like a lecture."
Lea - "I don't know how many times I've read girly magazines for 13-14 year olds and they problem pages have consisted of 13 year olds worrying about having sex with their 17 year old boyfriends...or 12 year olds questioning the size of their breasts. COME ON. They're so young and yet they are worrying over adult problems? I really don't know what society is coming to nowadays...I know I sound like an old woman but I hope you will see my point. Sex is portrayed as a must-do thing to the under 16s....and Britain wonder why we have the highest teenage-pregnancy statistics in Europe?"
Andy - "I think the media portrays that you must have sex to be cool and if you're not getting any then you must be some freak with two heads. I mean, they make a big thing about 12-13 year olds wearing things like microskirts and things, is it any wonder why there appears to be a paedophile epidemic?"
Andy - "I think there should be more to show the consequences of sex. Not necessarily to scare people into not having it but just to show that it's not a game as the media portrays it. I think the problem is that no one wants to take the responsibility of teaching sex ed to people. THe parents think the school should do it, others think it's the parents responsibility. If they're not getting educated properly then they'll turn to the media."
