Oh, they are sooo innocent, our children. They watch “Glee” or reruns of “3 and a Half Men” and all the innuendo, flirting, sexual references and outright sexual content goes right over their heads. Don’t ya think?
It’s totally fine to learn about teen pregnancy, “lady kisses,” being bullied for being gay, getting drunk at parties, and the demise of marriage from television shows. Prostitution? Objectification of women? One night stands? All important topics for kids to learn about and TV is a great teacher!
Television is powerful. I want to tell you to quit letting your kids watch shows that aren’t age appropriate, but I’m pretty sure you won’t. They are your kids, it’s your choice how you raise them up and communicate with them about sex.
However, when you don’t explain what they are watching and what you think about the various themes that develop in these shows, they are left to their own immature devices to make meaning of this information.
Here’s what I think they learn:
– Sex is both secret and shameful AND everywhere all the time. Can you say “confusing?” I can.
– Sex is fun and funny and easy and normal and everyone does it, talks about it, and thinks about it! It’s really important!
– Sex is a commodity. They see it exchanged on these shows and they see it used to sell things in commercials. And they learn this is one of the main reasons people have sex or are sexual with each other.
Ultimately, they will make their own decisions about where and when to be sexual with someone. And as they’ve learned from TV, whatever goes is fine. Everyone else is doing it, so they should too. It’ll all work out. Right?
