Romance and sexuality have been explored extensively in various forms of literature and media such as novels, films, TV shows, songs, plays, and poetry for centuries. These narratives often revolve around the love lives of fictional characters who fall in love or are involved in intimate relationships. The way these stories are told can influence how individuals perceive romantic relationships, understand their own sexuality, formulate expectations regarding romantic relationships, develop fantasies about their ideal partner, and even shape their identity.
The concept of "love" is depicted as an all-consuming feeling that must be pursued at any cost, regardless of its potential consequences. Moreover, there is an emphasis on physical attraction and sexual activity as essential components of a successful relationship. This presentation of romance and sexuality can lead to unrealistic expectations and create anxiety among adolescents regarding their ability to find a perfect partner, maintain a healthy relationship, and express themselves sexually.
One way in which media and literary narratives affect adolescent sexual cognition is through exposure to sexual content. Many of the movies, books, and television shows they consume include explicit descriptions of sexual acts, often without warning or context. This can desensitize them to the idea of sex, making it seem like something normal and expected rather than special and meaningful. It also creates an unhealthy focus on body parts and performance instead of emotional connection and communication.
Many narratives present sex as a transactional act, with one person giving and another receiving pleasure. This reinforces objectification of others and perpetuates harmful gender stereotypes.
Romanticized narratives can create unrealistic expectations for relationships by painting love as a magical experience where everything falls into place effortlessly. Adolescents may start to believe that finding the right partner will solve all their problems and fill a void in their life. They may become overly dependent on their partner, leading to codependency and resentment if the relationship does not live up to these expectations. These narratives also tend to gloss over the complexities of real-life relationships, such as disagreements, compromises, and challenges. As a result, when adolescents enter their first romance, they might be surprised by the reality, causing frustration, disappointment, and confusion.
Some narratives depict healthy relationships that value intimacy, trust, communication, and respect. These stories emphasize the importance of self-love, setting boundaries, and maintaining personal autonomy within a relationship. They celebrate diversity, including LGBTQIA+ characters and nontraditional family structures.
Even positive representations can still have negative effects, as they may pressure adolescents to conform to specific ideals or shame them for not meeting those standards.
Media and literary narratives shape how adolescents perceive romance and sexuality, affecting their cognition, relational expectations, fantasies, and identity formation. While it is impossible to completely shield teens from such influences, parents, educators, and mentors should strive to provide them with accurate information about healthy relationships and promote critical thinking skills to help them evaluate what they see and hear.
How do media and literary narratives of romance and sexuality influence adolescents' sexual cognition, relational expectations, fantasies, and identity formation?
Media and literary narratives about romance and sexuality can influence adolescents' perception of what is considered “normal” for their age group and how they view relationships. These stories may present unrealistic expectations of love and intimacy, such as intense passion or perfect compatibility, which can lead to disappointment when real life falls short.