Pornography and Todays Teens
While parents and schools often debate whether it’s best for children to learn about human sexuality at home or at school, kids today are learning about sex from another source: the Internet. Some experts believe this is harmful, even dangerous.
I think children should be learning from all possible responsible sources. If parents aren’t going to teach their children, then schools should be prepared to pick up the task.
According to a report from the American Psychological Association, pornography can warp a teenager’s perspective on sexuality.
I don’t have a doctorate or Ph.D. even and I could have told you that!
For teen girls, experts say, pornography can present an unattainable body image that can lead to eating disorders, depression and hyper-sexualized behavior.
Personally I don’t think it’s girls looking at the images that’s causing the problem here. I think it’s the boys and how they view them. What they view as being a “hot woman” and then you find the girls trying to become something the object of her crush will want or desire.
Experts first recommend that parents put in place a filter to block porn on their home computer. Next, if their children have seen porn, talk with them about what they saw and how it affected them. Counter those images of women with positive and realistic ones.
I have a filter alright! It’s called a laptop and sitting right next to me while browsing the net.
I remember when my grandmother nearly had a heart attack when I might have seen the streaker running down the pitch dark street at night. It’s so hard to believe in just this short amount of time - that porn and it’s influence has made it as far as it has.
What are some things you do to protect your children from porn? Do you feel you teach your children adequately on the topic of sex?
Care to share some of your tactics?
Thanks to Connect with Kids for introducing this topic of discussion
Tags: parenting, teens, sex education, pornography
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POSTED IN: Parenting
2 opinions for Pornography and Todays Teens
Jessica
Nov 10, 2007 at 9:21 pm
Oh this subject really gets me going. I’ve encountered so many people who have grown up not knowing that sex is more than naked bodies and pleasureful physical feelings. It frustrates me to know end. We talk about how sex is meant to be more than the physical act of sex, it’s about loving and caring for someone so much that you’re willing to share the most special part of you and your feelings with them. How sex is meant for two people to share in a loving, meaniful relationship.
We also talk about modesty. How some beatiful girls ruin their beauty by walking around showing their belly’s and busts and how even their attitude can ruin the physical beauty you see. A girl can still be beatiful and even more so by dressing approriately and no showing all her parts to the world.
Logan Levkoff
Nov 29, 2007 at 6:17 pm
I am a sexologist and sexuality educator specializing in parent-child sexual communication. Sexuality is far more than our sexual orientation or whether or not we are “virgins”. As parents, it is our responsibility to provide healthy, positive messages about sexuality to our children and teens. For this reason, I have written a book called, Third Base Ain’t What it Used to Be: What Your Kids are Learning About Sex Today - and How to Teach Them to Become Sexually Healthy Adults. Hopefuly, this will act as a wonderful resource for parents trying to tackle these complicated subjects at home.
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