Sorry I haven’t posted in a while; I was sick all last weekend, I’m moving this weekend, and I have an AP history exam on Friday. So this will be brief.
I’ve heard a lot lately about the so-called “sexualization of children”. Believe me, I think thongs made for 10-year-olds are creepy. But, a lot of the time, when people talk about “sexualization”, they’re talking about the condition of teenagers (usually older ones) being sexual.
Adolescents are sexual beings. Almost all of them, (unless they’re asexual), have sexual thoughts and urges from time to time; a good number of them actually do sexual things with other people. I’m pretty sure it’s been this way for ages; I don’t think rap music/the internet/whatever the scapegoat of the month is suddenly introduced this concept. It’s just the way we are. I think there is a difference between being sexual and being sexualized; one is not necessarily the result of the other. I think teens need to take more ownership of their sexuality, not just supress it because the powers that be feel it’s “inappropriate.” Because it’s natural. I don’t think it makes one a victim of media brainwashing or peer pressure; I think it just is what it is.
What are your thoughts on this?
