Imagine this: A little girl and boy living in the 1950s decide to watch TV with their parents after dinner. Since TV sitcoms were prohibited to show a couple sleeping in the same bed, or even revealing a woman’s navel, these children are oblivious to anything sexual on television, and expect nothing but clean entertainment.
However, the TV couple is placed in a situation where sharing a bed is the only option due to a pivotal plot point. Although the couple is not committing any act except sleeping under the same blanket, the mother of the two children gets up and quickly shuts off the television; the smallest hint to anything sexual is considered inappropriate.
In comparison, many agree that current television programs consist a lot of what cautious viewers refer to as “sexually suggestive scenes.” Although the TV industry is presently banned from exposing either gender’s “private parts,” the act of having sex is often reenacted or condoned in many popular sitcoms.
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, a Children Now national poll of parents released in September 2004, reports that six in ten parents are concerned that their children are exposed to too much sexual content on television.
Toluna, an online community, dedicated to expressing the opinions of its frequent users, has posed the question whether the media affects teen morals. Seventy-five % of the responses say that sexuality on television is brainwashing the youth, and continues to influence them to engage in underaged sexual activity.
Acknowledging that sexuality on television increases each year, Austin Rurik, ’12, says he is lenient towards the media’s habit of encouraging suggestive content.
“I think that there is way too much sexual content on TV,” Rurik said. “Regarding older TV shows, like from the 50s, I think that the limitations about not showing a couple sharing the same bed was too strict. However, I also think that the media has gone way over the top in what they currently allow to be shown for millions to see.”
Despite his disgust towards the over-use of sexuality in the media, Rurik admits to partaking in watching certain shows that contain indecent material.
“There are a few shows that I do watch that has some sexual content in them,” Rurik said. “I know that they are not the best shows to watch, but I still enjoy them because they make me laugh. My mom thinks a lot of TV shows are “garbage” because of the amount of sexuality. However, I think that if there is a scene where a couple is touching or making out, than it’s okay. But anything other than that which alludes to sex is not appropriate.”
In contrast with Rurik’s tolerance of sexual material, Olyvia Franklin, ’10, says she wants to avoid it and find wholesome shows to watch with her family.
“I don’t understand why people think TV shows have to have sex in them in order to be entertaining,” Franklin said. “Shows can be funny or dramatic without all of the sexuality. It’s just not necessary. Sometimes television previews make a show seem okay to watch, but then you watch it with your family, and it turns out to be inappropriate. It’s just awkward.”
In addition to Franklin’s outlook, youth pastor Brett Nelson at Northwest Church of Fresno says past restrictions have been lifted over time.
“I think that sexual content has increased a lot since the earlier years of television,” Nelson said. “From what I know, Fred and Wilma Flintstone was one of the first couples to ever be shown sharing a bed together. Women were not even allowed to mention the word “pregnant” on a sitcom. Now, sex is glorified all over TV even on channels that are supposedly “family oriented”. I can legitimately say that even some current commercials contain more sex in them than any TV shows from earlier decades.”
Although the progression can be argued as natural, Nelson says it will have harmful effects on teen viewers.
“I think that teenagers should avoid watching sensual shows due to the constant promotion and influence of underage sexual activity,” Nelson said. “Teenagers already struggle with temptation, and the way the media is escalating just makes the impulses harder to resist.”
For more information, read the Feb. 23, 2009, article, Sexual content invades teen paradigms.
