Influence of Sex in Media
Autor: novaminaj • July 3, 2015 • Research Paper • 1,995 Words (8 Pages) • 1,169 Views
Sex in the Media
By: Nova Minaj
Sex. One word, three letters, thousands of meaning.
Parental guidance, rated X, XXX, for adult viewing only, for 18 +, are you familiar with these words? If yes, continue reading. If not, still continue reading, the following might interest you.
It is not a surprise that mass media is the most powerful source of information today. But what is being broadcast and printed today affects the society, especially the teens negatively. One of this is the portrait of sex in the media. Before we cite the different effects of the portrayal of sex to teens, let us first discuss the meaning of sex. The answer actually to the question “what is sex” depends on who you ask. In dictionary definition, sex refers to an intercourse; an act which results in reproduction. Some say it is a way of distinguishing male from female basing to their reproductive function (http://what-is-what.com/what_is/sex.htm). But according to Freud (1982), sex is something you do, sexuality is something you are. This explanation says clearly the difference between the act of sex and the experience of sex which is part of who we are.
In media, when we say sex, it is the intercourse that is being shown not gender or any other. However, according toReichert (2002) sex in the media is defined as the sexuality in the form of nudity, sexual imagery, innuendos, and double entendres employed as an advertising tool for a wide variety of products.
For thousands of years, sex has been considered tempting. Everybody dreams of experiencing it someday. Traditionally, sex is performed only by those people who are married. However, mass media already broke this kind of tradition. Long before people marries, media already introduce to the public images and videos engaged in sexual acts. These representation of sexual acts (e.g. sexual intercourse, oral sex) and exposure of body parts (e.g. vagina, breast, anus and penis) are termed in media as “sexually explicit”.
The topic of sex seems to be very uncomfortable for families or even partners to talk to each other about, but is all over modern day media. Sex sells. This is true. Mass media are business enterprises not supported by taxpayers and not subsidized by the government. They need to sell to make profit to stay in business and sex became their number one ingredient in order to gain and hold audience at the same time to earn profits (Hiebert, 1988). Sex causes feelings of excitement and satisfaction this is why it produces many audiences. However, the media available to the youths today are filled with information and misinformation about sex and sexuality. Studies show that the different forms of media have contents of it. Here are some of them.
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