C. Lacy Thompson
LBM Associate Editor
It used to be that the scary question for parents was – “Its 11
oclock – do you know where your children are?”
It is time to amend the thought.
Now, it seems the question should read – “The television
is on – do you know what your children are watching?”
Chances are, sex is involved, a new study indicates.
It used to be that the scary question for parents was – “Its 11
oclock – do you know where your children are?”
It is time to amend the thought.
Now, it seems the question should read – “The television
is on – do you know what your children are watching?”
Chances are, sex is involved, a new study indicates.
Indeed, there has been a significant increase in the number
of television shows with sexual content during the last two years, the “Sex
on TV: Content and Context” study shows.
And in case anyone thinks to argue that the content may be
positive, the study also shows that just one in ten of the shows in question
includes a reference to safer sex or to the possible risks and responsibilities
of sex.
In other words, television is selling a different message.
And the kids are listening – and watching.
“In survey after survey, teens and young adults tell researchers
that television is one of their top sources of information and ideas about sex,”
the Sex on TV study points out.
Indeed, many teenagers report they do not get adequate information
about sex from parents or school.
Guess what fills the gap? Right. Media portrayals – especially
television, which remains the predominant media influence in young peoples
lives.
Young people are learning about sex – getting their early
opinions about sex – from television. How frightening is that?
Just consider the findings of the Sex on TV study by the Henry
J. Kaiser Foundation, a national group committed to providing information and
analysis on health issues.
The study reviewed hundreds of programs on public and cable
television, including the major networks. It is the largest study ever of sexual
content on television – and its findings are sure to be disturbing to many
parents. They include:
The number of programs with sexual content rose from
56 percent of all shows in the 1997/98 television season to 68 percent in the
1999/2000 season. When it comes to primetime shows, sexual content is
even more common. Two years ago, two out of three (67 percent) primetime
network programs included sexual content. Two years later, three out of
four (75 percent) do. The study cites this as a “significant” increase,
noting that “sexual messages are increasing in frequency across the overall
television landscape.”
The proportion of shows that include safer sex messages
stood at 10 percent of all shows with sexual content, about the same as two
years ago. In other words, television is depicting sex – but not the risks
and responsibilities of sex.
Movies were the most likely type of television show
to contain sexual content (89 percent), followed by sitcoms (84 percent) and
soap operas (80 percent). The largest increase during the last two years occurred
in situation comedies, which went from 56 percent to 84 percent of all episodes.
Sexual intercourse is depicted or strongly implied
in 10 percent of shows, up from 7 percent in the 1997/98 season. Nearly one-fourth
(23 percent) of couples in intercourse scenes appeared to be young adults (age
18 to 24), while 9 percent appeared to be under the age of 18. In 16 percent
of all intercourse scenes, the couples had just met.
Overall, 9 percent of all shows on television include
sexual content involving teenagers, up slightly from 8 percent two years ago.
In addition, more teenage characters were involved in sexual intercourse.
Two years ago, 3 percent of all television characters involved in intercourse
were teenagers. The figure now stands at 9 percent.
Programs with teenage characters in sexual situations
are more likely than others to include references to the risks and responsibilities
of sex. Even so, just 17 percent of shows with sexual content involving
teenagers included a reference to sexual risks or responsibilities, and only
32 percent of shows with teenagers talking about or engaging in sexual intercourse
included a reference to risks and responsibilities.
Anyway one looks at it, it adds up to more television sex and
continued neglect of the re-sponsible messages about sex.
As the recent study notes, “As teens are grappling with
questions such as When should I start having sex? and What
will my friends think of me if I do or if I dont?, they inevitably
encounter stories on television that speak to these issues.”
And as the statistics indicate, the stories they encounter
are not encouraging – and not realistic, many insist.
Indeed, televisions preoccupation with sex offers a skewed
view of reality, says Bill Tillman, professor of Christian ethics at the Logsdon
School of Theology in Abilene, Texas.
“Sexuality is a major part of life, one of the major shapers
of each of our personalities,” he said. “Still, we are more than sexual
beings. Thus, (television) media content proclaims life in an out-of-balanced
kind of way. … Sexual content is being used increasingly to draw an audience
and at an increasingly lowest-common denominator.”
The results confirm the truism that “sex sells,”
said Joe Haag, associate with the Christian Life Commission at the Baptist General
Convention of Texas. “Sex is front and center in television programming
and cinematic production because sex attracts viewers, and viewers attract advertisers
and investors,” Haag pointed out.
However, while the findings are disturbing, Haag emphasized
that Christians are not powerless to respond to objectionable programming. “We
can compliment and support the television programs and movies which rise above
sexploitation to give a more truthful account of life. We can express our views
to advertisers and producers,” he said.
Indeed, the Parents Television Council offers addresses of
major networks and of major advertisers on its Web site at www.parentstv.org.
“Television is the most powerful medium in the world,” a council statement
notes. “It can be a wonderful way to educate, inspire and entertain Americas
children. Sadly, its doing the opposite and undermining the positive values
parents are trying to instill in their young ones.”
In response, parents should monitor and influence their childrens
television viewing – even as they grow older – and use available technology
to lock out some harmful programming, observers note.
They also can take the simplest action of all, newspaper columnist
Bill Johnson advises. “While waiting for corrective measures from Congress
and the (television) industry, parents still have an obligation to provide alternatives
to the electronic baby-sitter,” he writes.
“When all else fails, pull the plug.”
(This article includes information from an Associated Baptist Press release.
The “Sex on TV: Content and Context” study may be viewed via the Internet
at www.kff.org. Parents Television Council
is a national group seeking “to restore television to its roots as an independent
and socially-responsible entertainment medium.”)