Sex in Popular Culture

As most Americans are aware, sex sells just about anything from Pepsi to Victoria's Secret underwear. Perhaps the greatest argument of our time is the recent indictment of sex and violence on television. Political groups lined up to do battle over the salacious content on the television. Whether it's graphic violence, or steamy sex, the widest held opinion is that television in the last 10 years has increased the presence of violent criminals in America. Controversy erupted because of the amount of sexual activity and the way it is shown on prime time TV. Critics contend that there is too much skin shown in most daytime TV. They are also concerned that the exposure of sex might send the wrong message to its teenage viewers. Most channels such as: MTV, WB, and VH1 show a number of shows sending out the message it is ok to have sex. Critics are also very quick to point out that these shows don't discuss or show safe sex techniques. Sex in popular entertainment is sex without consequences or emotional impact, but teenager viewers do not see behind the lights and the cameras. Teenagers are having sex at younger ages and teen pregnancy is becoming a huge problem in the United States. Our society has become very dependent on popular culture without even thinking about the real messages that are displayed. Arnett 2 The average American teenager watches three hours of television a day. Typical teenage shows contain sexual content, ranging from touching, kissing, jokes, conversations about sexual activity and intercourse. Sex is often presented as a casual activity without risk or consequences. The messages young viewers absorb from television promote sexual activity. Young teenage couples think that sex is not a big deal. In an online study conducted by Concerned Women of America statistics show that around twenty percent of teenagers (13-16 years) are sexually active and are not using condoms. One-third of U.S. teens did not use birth control the first