In today's world, where technology has advanced significantly, there is an increase in the availability of sexualized media content that can be accessed easily by anyone using their devices. This has led to a rise in teenagers' exposure to such content which may have adverse effects on their sexual health. This research paper will examine how this exposure shapes teenage expectation of sexual performance.
The term "sexualization" refers to the act of presenting or portraying something as sexual in nature. Media companies are increasingly producing sexually explicit content for commercial purposes, which has created a growing concern among parents, educators, and psychologists who fear that it might influence children negatively and shape their view of what constitutes appropriate sexual behavior. Sexualized media contains images, videos, songs, games, movies, TV shows, and books that feature nudity, eroticism, intimacy, or sexual acts in one way or another. The content may also contain romantic scenes, kissing, touching, or suggestive dialogue but does not include intercourse or graphic depictions of sex. These materials are readily available on the internet and social media platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and Twitter.
Sexualized media has various impacts on the lives of teenagers. Firstly, it increases their risk-taking behaviors by encouraging them to experiment with sexual acts at an early age and engage in unsafe sexual activities due to false expectations. Teens often fail to understand the potential risks involved in sexual encounters because they see it as exciting adventures. As a result, they engage in unprotected sex, leading to pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, other STIs, or even death from rape. Secondly, exposure to sexualized media can lead to addiction, depression, anxiety, stress, eating disorders, low self-esteem, and body image issues.
Teenagers tend to develop a distorted perception of real life after seeing idealized images in sexualized media. They learn how men and women should behave during sexual activity based on what they watch or listen to which is usually different from reality. Consequently, this creates unrealistic expectations regarding physical appearances, sexual performance, and relationships.
Some girls may feel that they must be thin and fit for boys to find them attractive while others may think that they need to perform particular sex acts to please their partners. This misconception leads to psychological trauma when they fail to live up to these expectations. In addition, there are cases where teens have developed sexual identity crisis as they struggle to determine who they want to be between male and female roles portrayed in movies or music videos.
The solution to reducing the impacts of sexualized media is through education, counseling, parental involvement, community outreach programs, and technology control measures. Parents should monitor their children's online activities and ensure that they only access appropriate content. Schools need to implement comprehensive sexuality education programs that promote healthy attitudes towards sexuality without promoting stereotypes or biases. Governments should regulate the production of sexualized materials and enforce age restrictions so that minors cannot access them easily.
Sexualized media has negative effects on teenage sexual behavior and expectations because it creates false expectations and distorts their view of reality.
In what ways does exposure to sexualized media content shape teen expectations of sexual performance?
Exposure to sexualized media content can shape teenagers' expectations of sexual performance by creating unrealistic standards for how they should look, act, and behave during sexual encounters. Teens may develop an overly positive view of themselves and their partners, leading them to believe that all encounters will be perfect and without issues.