Punish First, Educate Later: South Carolina Lawmakers’ Approach to Teen Sexting is Backwards at Best
South Carolina lawmakers are set to look at laws that make sexting between minors a crime and they are not alone; 21 states took up sexting laws in 2011. But in their rush to address this issue, too many states are punishing first and asking questions later.
In the last few weeks, I learned that Bristol Palin was on the pill and all of the stars of 16 and Pregnant used condoms. I find this slightly curious because, as we know, all of them ended up parents before they graduated from high school. If I didn’t know any better, I would start to wonder if contraception just doesn’t work. But since I do know better, I am instead left wondering if the media is letting our most famous teen get one over on us and in the process perpetuating myths and misunderstandings about birth control.
Efforts in the United States to address adolescent sex have been directed toward preventing teenage sex as opposed to preventing its adverse consequences. These efforts probably have been unsuccessful in stemming sexual activity because teenagers have a hormonal imperative to explore their sexuality.
Is MTV’s new show a “gritty” look at teens’ lives without moralizing, or is it an overhyped remake looking for scandal to drive ratings?
Sex really is a lot like dancing. We move together, trying to gauge and flow with each other’s rhythms, following or mirroring each others’ steps.
Recent reactions to Miley Cyrus’s evolving persona stem from a media climate that doesn’t know whether to treat teenagers like smaller replicas of grown women to be monitored for dangerous sexuality, or sensitive virgins who need protection.
Abortion is a safe, legal medical procedure, and there is no reason for school health centers not to refer patients to providers if those patients want it.
Toe to Toe, Emily Abt’s independent feminist feature film premiering this week in New York, is one of the most painfully, beautifully accurate looks at being a high school girl I’ve seen in years.
We know, unfortunately, that the younger the intended audience the more likely it is that there will be disagreements over whether they should learn about sex and sexuality at all.
The real goal of abstinence-only programs is not to prevent teen pregnancies or STDs and or even to prevent premarital sex – it’s to make sure that all people get married.
