Long Post 2/22

Sex R Us
This chapter from Douglas explores sexuality in the media from the 90’s to today. She focuses first on advertisements like Calvin Klein underwear ads. Here is one example of an ad that happens to feature Mark Wahlberg.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJXvHGgNZEo
I was so shocked that the woman in the ad is completely topless and only covering herself with her arms. That is the most blatant utilization of sex appeal that I have ever seen on television ever I think. Clearly the ad is targeting young men to buy the underwear and what better to get their attention than a beautiful topless woman?
Next Douglas discusses popular magazines that transformed from giving lifestyle advice to sex advice like Cosmo and Maxim. Douglas gives a lot of examples of phrases used on the covers to attract readers attention. She seems kind of obsessed with that idea. Like we get it, we have all seen those magazines, just make your point. The problem I have with Douglas is that she usually does not make a clear point at the end of her rants. She just shows you what she thinks is wrong with any form of media and then moves on.
Her next target is prime time television. Because the major networks were competing against fox’s hits 90210 and Melrose place, other networks started making tv shows that had high sex appeal to attract teenagers. Douglas argues that the increase in sex on tv influenced teens to be more open to sex and be more sexually active. I don’t know if there is an actual causal relationship between teen sexual activity and what they watch on television. I can see how there would be, but I also think that there are a lot of teens who watch those shows on tv but don’t follow the characters footsteps. I also think that teens learn a lot about sex from tv. Some might say that’s bad because tv shows don’t accurately portray sex in a good way to educate teens. But on the other hand, it is much less awkward for teens to watch their favorite character on a show go through an experience that teaches them a lesson about sex rather than have to go through awkward conversations with their parents.
Next Douglas tackles the sensation of Sex and the City. She says that the show portrays the main characters as women who only think about sex and nothing else. I would say that from watching this show, yes they talk and think about sex a lot but not 100% of the time. And they talk about sex because that is the focus of the show. That is why women watch the show, to watch the characters juicy sex stories.
Douglas discusses the Janet Jackson wardrobe malfunction, and female rappers. Then she starts a discussion of how the United States has a very high teenage pregnancy rate. She says that “34% of young women become pregnant at least once before they reach the age of 20” (184). I am skeptical about this figure and I would like to know where she found that statistic. Does she mean 34% of young women in the united states? Or in one specific state? As a girl nearing the age off 20, one third of my friends certainly have not been pregnant, at least that I know of.
Finally Douglas discusses child beauty pageants like the ones featured on Toddlers and Tiaras and in Little Miss Sunshine. I personally think that TLC should not have a full blown tv show about that, but they should do periodic exposés or documentaries to educated people about the pageants. Instead, they are making a spectacle out of something that is already ridiculous.