Comments on: Stuff I have pinned in Bloglines http://www.beingamberrhea.com/2008/05/10/stuff-i-have-pinned-in-bloglines/ Making the baby Jesus cry since 2002. Tue, 14 Oct 2008 13:08:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Amber http://www.beingamberrhea.com/2008/05/10/stuff-i-have-pinned-in-bloglines/#comment-19971 Amber Sun, 11 May 2008 16:44:10 +0000 http://www.beingamberrhea.com/2008/05/10/stuff-i-have-pinned-in-bloglines/#comment-19971 Judith, Agreed, with all of that. Re: positive images of teens who don't have sex: my impression is that currently, with the atrocious "abstinence-only education" that's so prevalent, those are not lacking - but unfortunately they are <a href="http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/news/article.cfm?id=1746" rel="nofollow">at the expense</a> of teens who <em>do</em> have sex. What we need instead, IMNSHO, is messages that make it clear that your entire self-worth is not based on what you do or don't do sexually. Teenagers aren't stupid. When I was a teenager, I resented being treated as if I could only see things in black and white, as if there were only two choices I could make: no sex at all, or fuck anything that moves. Judith,
Agreed, with all of that. Re: positive images of teens who don’t have sex: my impression is that currently, with the atrocious “abstinence-only education” that’s so prevalent, those are not lacking - but unfortunately they are at the expense of teens who do have sex. What we need instead, IMNSHO, is messages that make it clear that your entire self-worth is not based on what you do or don’t do sexually.

Teenagers aren’t stupid. When I was a teenager, I resented being treated as if I could only see things in black and white, as if there were only two choices I could make: no sex at all, or fuck anything that moves.

]]> By: Judith http://www.beingamberrhea.com/2008/05/10/stuff-i-have-pinned-in-bloglines/#comment-19969 Judith Sun, 11 May 2008 16:36:37 +0000 http://www.beingamberrhea.com/2008/05/10/stuff-i-have-pinned-in-bloglines/#comment-19969 Hmm. Regarding the teenagers as sexual beings post, I think what the OP said is right in terms of not ignoring teenagers as being human beings with sexual thoughts. I think we should have sex ed in the schools, which I never had, and education about contraception. I think teenagers should be able to learn about STIs and the fact that you can get them from things other than intercourse, because most of us don't find that out till we're 21 or 22, or only have a vague inkling. I read an essay in a collection recently on teen pregnancy and how teen mothers are treated as adults (which seems good) but this is done in order to remove them from asexual childhood, and they're encouraged to leave school where they're no longer welcome (bad). So yes, all that I agree with. I do think, however, that positive images of teens who don't have sex would be good as well. I know several 21-year-old women who feel dirty, unwanted, frigid, etc, because they <i>haven't</i> had sex. I remember thinking at 13 "of course I'll have sex when I'm 16 or so!" and I'm glad that I was enough of a geek not to have had the opportunity. I'm not saying teenagers shouldn't have sex, but I don't think they should be pressured into it. It's a fine line, because you have to respect the choices of those who don't do it while affirming the positive womanhood of those who do (i.e., no "slut" or "whore" depictions.) Hmm. Regarding the teenagers as sexual beings post, I think what the OP said is right in terms of not ignoring teenagers as being human beings with sexual thoughts. I think we should have sex ed in the schools, which I never had, and education about contraception. I think teenagers should be able to learn about STIs and the fact that you can get them from things other than intercourse, because most of us don’t find that out till we’re 21 or 22, or only have a vague inkling. I read an essay in a collection recently on teen pregnancy and how teen mothers are treated as adults (which seems good) but this is done in order to remove them from asexual childhood, and they’re encouraged to leave school where they’re no longer welcome (bad). So yes, all that I agree with. I do think, however, that positive images of teens who don’t have sex would be good as well. I know several 21-year-old women who feel dirty, unwanted, frigid, etc, because they haven’t had sex. I remember thinking at 13 “of course I’ll have sex when I’m 16 or so!” and I’m glad that I was enough of a geek not to have had the opportunity. I’m not saying teenagers shouldn’t have sex, but I don’t think they should be pressured into it. It’s a fine line, because you have to respect the choices of those who don’t do it while affirming the positive womanhood of those who do (i.e., no “slut” or “whore” depictions.)

]]> By: Miss Nomered http://www.beingamberrhea.com/2008/05/10/stuff-i-have-pinned-in-bloglines/#comment-19963 Miss Nomered Sun, 11 May 2008 11:44:16 +0000 http://www.beingamberrhea.com/2008/05/10/stuff-i-have-pinned-in-bloglines/#comment-19963 Thank you for the link love, dear! That entry would have been longer.... except I've had a crazy week (conference on Wedensday, big doctor's appointment thursday, 4-hour exam friday, moving today). But thank you for linking me. Thank you for the link love, dear!

That entry would have been longer…. except I’ve had a crazy week (conference on Wedensday, big doctor’s appointment thursday, 4-hour exam friday, moving today). But thank you for linking me.

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