CATEGORIES: Books Current Affairs Logan Levkoff Politics Sex Sexual Language Teen Pregnancy Television Weblogs
July 25, 2008
New Book Project for Females - Do You Want to Participate?
Thank you for your interest in this project. We are working on a book that explores how women experienced sex during their adolescence and whether historical and cultural perceptions of teen sexuality actually impact who we as women become as adults. Forgive us as the questions may seem fairly invasive, but we are looking to conduct a thorough and meaningful exploration of teen sexuality through the eyes of adult women. Please know that for publication, all personal identifiers will be removed; we are committed to keeping your identity anonymous.
Demographics
Date of Birth:
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Religion:
Marital Status:
Marital Status of Parents:
Sexual Orientation:
Hometown:
Highest Academic Degree Achieved (location and date):
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CATEGORIES: Abstinence Only Bloggers Books Condoms Current Affairs Logan Levkoff Politics Sex Sexual Language Sexuality Education Teen Pregnancy Weblogs
July 15, 2008
Teens and Sex Book: Call for Submissions
I am at it again. Time for a new book project (or two). But now I need your help. My friend and colleague, Martha Kempner, and I are working on a book about women’s experiences with sex during their teenage years. We are looking to explore how women experience sex during their adolescence and whether historical and cultural perceptions of teen sexuality actually impact who we as women become as adults. If you would like to participate and fill out the questionnaire, please let me know. Forgive us (in advance) as the questions may seem fairly invasive, but we are looking to conduct a thorough and meaningful exploration of teen sexuality through the eyes of adult women. Please know that for publication, all personal identifiers will be removed; we are committed to keeping your identity anonymous. Martha and I look forward to hearing from you!!!
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CATEGORIES: Current Affairs Logan Levkoff Politics Religion Sex Sexuality Education Teen Pregnancy Television
June 23, 2008
Teen Sex - What are We Going to Do About It?
So did you know that some teens have sex? I know, it’s shocking, but there seems to be a lot of this going on. Take the 17 pregnant teens in Gloucester, MA. They had sex (one of them had sex with a homeless man). Jamie Lynn Spears had sex. And now, it seems that there is a JC Penney ad that uses teen sex to sell clothing. (Whether this is real or not remains to be seen.) There is no doubt that we as a society are not dealing with sexuality the right way. 1 in 4 teen girls in the U.S. has at least one major STI. (And a conservative media blogger misquoted me this week and said that I claimed 1 in 14 were infected. That’s a significant difference, don’t you think?) We have the worst sexual health of any developed nation, and for the first time in 15 years our teen birth rates are going up.
But I’m not a pessimist. This is an opportunity. This is the time to do better - to be better.
Here’s the thing: in my book (both literally and figuratively), if we started talking about the role that sexuality plays in our lives and discuss the importance of sexuality, we would be less likely to engage in unhealthy and premature sexual relationships. And we certainly wouldn’t be getting pregnant as a means of validating ourselves.
For the Gloucester girls, it’s not just about sex ed. It’s about a larger cultural change. That means parents, the school system, the sexuality education program, reproductive health services, and the community at large need to rethink their priorities. Girls (and boys for that matter) need to know that their potential for success isn’t wrapped up in their ability to reproduce at a young age. They need to know that seeking unconditional love from a newborn is just not the way to feel better about oneself. And for a 15 or 16 year old to be so desperate to conceive that she would have unprotected sex with a homeless man proves that this is a girl who doesn’t care about herself.
Sexuality isn’t a bad thing. It’s a innate thing. And it isn’t just about having sex. It’s about feeling good in your skin, feeling comfortable with your gender and your body, and about being able to speak up for yourself. (And part of a good sexuality education program also means that students learn that the best decisions are those that are well-thought out.)
As for teenagers, let’s be clear. Age has never been a determinant of whether someone makes a good decision about sex. There are plenty of adults that make poor decisions about sex. But no matter what your values are, now is the time to start talking to your children, your partners, and your friends about sexual health. We are given opportunities every day. Every story (positive or negative) that comes out in the news is a gift. If we don’t start using them to teach and to learn...well shame on us.
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CATEGORIES: Celebrity Current Affairs Politics
April 11, 2008
Client #9 - The Downfall of Spitzer
Okay, so here’s the thing. I couldn’t care less that Governor Spitzer sought out prostitutes. Technically, it’s not my business. And technically, do we really know that he and his wife didn’t have some sort of arrangement? I am so very tired of everyone imposing our personal values on everyone else’s relationship.
Now, that being said...what the hell? I mean what makes me crazy (about this or any other supposed “sex scandal") is the hubris. (My eighth grade English teacher would be so very proud. I applied “hubris” to a current event.) But it’s true, right? Spitzer thought he was above the law. But that’s not just it for me. It’s the total hypocrisy that exists for people in our culture today.
David Vitter (staunch conservative Republican senator from Louisiana) was involved with prostitutes.
Larry Craig (anti-gay Republican senator) “accidentally” toe-tapped his way into a gay scandal.
Ted Haggard (evangelical and anti-gay crusader) had relations with a man and dabbled in cocaine (allegedly).
The list goes on and on.
When are we going to stop being so afraid of our own sexuality? When will we stop barking so loudly in an effort to hide who we are?
Spitzer is the latest in a long line of hypocrites. And I am over it.
