Sexual & Pornography Addiction Resources

A summary on a study of the sexual behavior of church-active youth.

OVERVIEW

A central Illinois Methodist minister researched the sexual behavior of church-active youth in the Midwest. The study includes youth opinions on dating, marriage, homosexuality, and sources of sexual information for teens. The study probes implications of poor communicational sexual values to youth and suggests methods of better communication.

PURPOSE

This research responded to previous studies which revealed a surprisingly high level of sexual activity among U.S. high school students. Of particular interest was the 1980 study of Aaron Hass; it reported that 56% of males and 44% of females had experienced sexual intercourse before high school graduation. Clapp believed that a secular study of a sample taken largely from California and New York would not reflect the behavior of church-active youth in the Midwest. Thus, he produced his own study.

DESIGN

Clapp used camp and retreat settings to survey church-active youth. He distributed 988 surveys, receiving 511 responses representing 48 church congregations. He reports that 8l of his respondents were United Methodists.

RESULTS

Clapp’s research produced the following matrix of teen sexual behavior:

Clapp’s findings indicate high levels of reported sexual behavior for church-active youth. Their sexual behavior is not significantly different from the general teen population as studied by Aaron Hass.

SUMMARY

As the sexual behavior of church youth appears to mirror that of most adolescents, the results suggest that the church may be poorly communicating the sexual ideals of the gospel to young people. Clapp also notes the roles of the media and age discrepancy in dating as key factors in current behaviorial trends.

IMPLICATIONS

Considering the importance of sexuality to teens, the church’s apparent irrelevance to youth on this subject may indicate a rejection of the faith on other issues. Clapp recommends sweeping communication changes. He encourages churches to present a threefold approach regarding sexual behavior: teach the positive, biblical view of sex; show the interrelatedness of physical and spiritual lives; and train students in a decision-making ethic that focuses on people instead of rules. Concurrently, educate parents with the same approach.

Final report of the attorney general’s commission on pornography. (1986). Nashville, TN: Rutledge Hill Press.

OVERVIEW

This lengthy report is the result of over one year’s work by a board-based group of U.S. citizens. Though some argued that the committee was selectively chosen to develop an anti-pornography stance, the commission was composed of many moderates and individuals from both sides of the issue.

The report reflects the exhaustive work of the commission. Though the purpose of the commission was to recommend proper action against the spread of pornography without encroaching First Amendment rights, the document delivers much more. The recommendations to various federal, state, and local law enforcement and legislative organizations provide a solid set of ideas. Commissioner Dr. James Dobson stated that "America could rid itself of hard core pornography in 18 months if the recommendations offered in the report are implemented." (p. 509)

Chapter five, "A Question of Harm" excellently summarizes the commission’s interaction with the volumes of testimony and research presented to them. Within this chapter they describe five classes of pornography and the effects that each has on individuals. Class I, sexually violent, material was found to be the most harmful, as it fostered attitudes that force was an acceptable part of sexuality. The effects of the other classes of pornography were less clear because of minimal research yet conducted. The exception to this was Class V, child pornography. It was felt that child pornography was totally unacceptable because it involved child sexual abuse in its production and was used by child sexual abusers as a tool to entice other children into sexual relations.

Chapter eighteen, "Social and Behavior Science Research Analysis" provides an excellent place to begin if one is interested in finding out what researchers have determined. It includes all major works on the subject. The works of well-known researchers including Donnerstein, Malamuth, Resin, Linz, and Mosher are analyzed.

Chapter 24 summarizes numerous pornographic works that the commission observed during their investigations. The chapter explicitly describes the contents of many movies, books, and magazines, and of the stores and movie houses in which they were exposed. This chapter is appropriate only for mature adults. Only a brief reading of this chapter is necessary to gain an understanding of the deep perversion available commercially today.

IMPLICATIONS

• Violent pornography negatively affects its viewers. Though everyone viewing it will not commit rape or participate in other violence depicted, one’s attitudes about women and sexuality are affected. The acceptance of rape myths, degradation of women, and a breakdown in the traditional family and social structure coincides with viewing this material. Youth need to understand that "slasher" and other violent, pornographic movies affect them.
• Non-violent pornography depicting women or men in degrading situations has the same negative effects as the violent pornography.
• Though the commissioners were not in total agreement, research shows that there is harm in viewing of any type of pornography, even simple nudity. It affects one’s attitudes about sexuality. In an age of casual premarital sexuality, youth do not need any other promiscuous influences. Youth involvement with any kind of pornography is harmful.
• The chapters discussing harm and research are excellent resources for anyone who teaches youth about pornography, or for someone attempting to inform parents about the dangers.
• The bibliography of research is invaluable for anyone doing serious study on this subject.

cCYS

Ryan, S.C. (1999, July 20). Cosmo’s little sister downplays s-e-x. The Boston Globe, pp. E1, 6.

OVERVIEW

Helen Gurley Brown created the Cosmo Girl and the Cosmo formula in the liberated 1960s. That formula told "girls" they didn’t have to worry about husbands and children nor restrictive moral sanctions. They could work and have money and buy it all; they could enjoy sex with passion and freedom which would bring happiness and the good life. The message to women was "look great and enjoy sex." Helen Gurley Brown’s message to advertisers was "look at my girls; they have money and will buy."

The writer of this article notes how the "racy magazine" that presented "X-rated board games, man-melting sex moves" and instructions on "snagging a celebrity husband...is now targeting teenagers."

Hearst Magazines, Cosmo’s publisher, recently unveiled CosmoGIRL!, a ‘spunky kid sister magazine’ aimed at 12- to 17-year-olds. ‘We are taking the original Cosmo formula created by Helen Gurley Brown and adapting it for the teenage girl,’ says Cathleen P. Black, Hearst president.

What? A teen ‘zine version of headlines like July’s ‘Sex Tricks He’s Never Seen Before’ and ‘5 Perfect Pickup Lines’?

Relax. As a little sister, CosmoGIRL! is decidedly virginal. The first issue—for August/September 1999—features a modest cover girl (actress Melissa Joan Hart) in minimal makeup, a non-revealing tank top, and khakis. Even her bellybutton is covered up by a headline. The stories are no more daring. Consider: ‘Back-to-School Fashion Blitz,’ ‘The One Thing That Really Bugs Guys,’ and ‘How to Get an Easy A.’ The word ‘orgasm’ appears only once, in a Dr. Ruth column.

We are left to wonder: why another teen girls’ magazine—and why so sexually tame? Aren’t Seventeen, YM, Teen People, Twist, Girl, Jump, Teen, and others enough? According to Atoosa Rubenstein, 27 and editor of the new CosmoGIRL!, teenagers represent a growing age group and growing discretionary income. Teenagers have been an expanding demographic group for several years—have crossed the 30 million mark in the U.S. and will continue to grow until about 2010. They spent, or encouraged their parents to spend, "almost $125 billion in 1998. This is a growing market and the time is right for us to introduce this title," Rubenstein says.

But why is Cosmo toning down the sex? Again, it is a matter of research, according to Rubenstein:

When we did our research, we found out that girls are very embarrassed by sex stories. They don’t want to read about it. We certainly will cover sex as a health issue. But we’re not about advice or anything else on that topic.... I want it to be known that we are definitely Cosmo’s little sister but not in the way that some people assume.

The editor goes on to explain that Cosmo has always focused on the "inner girl."

A lot of other magazines focus on the outer girl—fashion and beauty. We talk to the reader about every relationship in her life. Her changing body. The new way boys might be treating her. Issues with her parents, other girls, popularity, self-esteem. I want to address the language barrier that comes between mom and daughter. When mom says she doesn’t like your pants, it’s not because she hates you. My goal is to step in there as a big sister and give them advice. I’m young enough to understand where they’re at.

Atoosa Rubenstein is amazed that she has this job, at 27, and as someone who never believed in herself. She writes about growing up on Long Island in her editor’s letter:

I was the biggest loser in high school...I had the hairiest legs (Mom wouldn’t let me shave), (bushy eyebrows), the worst skin...and a Pinocchio nose...I could barely get the crossing guard to be nice to me, much less a date!

High school was miserable (she told this writer)...I really felt it couldn’t have gotten any worse. At camp, boys beat me up. I didn’t go to my prom. I took a job at Carvel’s just because I needed something to do the night of the prom. My friends butted me out of conversations. Why? Because girls can be mean.

Coming out of Barnard College Rubenstein interned at Sassy magazine before joining Cosmopolitan. There she distinguished herself as a fashion editor. She works long days (up to 16 hours) and has surrounded herself with a staff of 20-somethings and a 30-year-old.

Under Rubenstein’s leadership, CosmoGIRL! is impressive. Its money page suggests adding Internet tutoring to make more money baby-sitting and how a sweet-16 $500. gift can be invested in mutual funds and bring back $1000. Articles about eating disorder activists, a teenage entrepreneur, and five girls who survived difficult times that changed their lives are found in the first issue (it hit the newsstands June 29, 1999). "These articles need to be heard," Rubenstein says. " ‘When things go bad, as we know they can in teen life, it’s good to have these role models.’ "

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION

1. What can you learn about teenagers and magazines from this article?
2. What specifically do marketers know about teenagers?
3. Are you surprised about the apparent quality of CosmoGIRL? Does it show that popular culture and the media do reflect where people are at? How important is research to marketing, education and youth work? Who uses research more effectively: youth workers, teachers, or publishers? Why?
4. How could you use this article for a discussion with young people?

IMPLICATIONS

1. We may decry pop culture and the media, and criticize magazines, but there is much to learn from them.
2. Magazines study young people, go to them, respect them, and learn from them. Failures in education and youth work often reflect a failure to do one of these.
3. Before we can understand and judge these magazines, we must bring in youthful consultants to help us read and interpret them. Such discussions are highly profitable for them and us adults.

Dean Borgman cCYS