08-07-2006, 10:45 AM | #1 (permalink) | |
<3 TFP
Location: 17TLH2445607250
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Teens and music and sex, oh my!
Article on CNN
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08-07-2006, 12:35 PM | #2 (permalink) |
Yo dawg, I herd u like...
Location: memes.
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That's a very interesting article.At first, I took at a look at myself, and a couple girlfriends I've had.I realized the type of music they listened to, the type that I did and examined the differences in personalities and sexual experiences.
So far the article seems right on track.The girls that listened to hip-hop, and music like Nickleback(the worst band in history, but I digress)seemed more open to sex, talking about sex and generally had sex at a much younger age than those who didn't. In the end though, there were too many exceptions to be able to say that it was definately the music.There were some wild cards like the Beetles, or Weezer(more about losing relationships, being a loser etc.) that throw it off completely for me. I vote casual, or at the very least, teens that involve themselves in sex at earlier ages are just more likely to enjoy music with sexual overtones. |
08-07-2006, 01:13 PM | #4 (permalink) |
Location: Iceland
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Hmm. Makes me reflect on my own music-listening/sex-indulging history:
At puberty/14, I was really into Janet Jackson's semi-dirty new album (the self-titled one, in the early 90s) and was thinking all kinds of sexual thoughts. But I had been thinking sexual thoughts for a long time, long before I hit puberty. Had things continued on that path, who knows... I probably would have been barefoot and pregnant within a few years. At 14, though, an evangelical Christian friend told me that it was bad to listen to that kind of music... and that friend ended up converting me. I guess I felt guilty at some level, since she hit a nerve there. It was Christian music (with a smattering of classic rock) from that point until I was well into my college years... at an evangelical university, where everyone listened to Christian music anyway. Very few of us were having sex, I can tell you that. But the music only enhanced the effect of the social rules... that was the whole point of the music. To keep us from "going astray" and thinking about bad things like sex. Classic rock grew on me, but due to my engagement with evangelicalism, I never really thought about sex until my early 20s. Around that time, I started rocking out to more sexual classic rock songs that amused me and also made me... think about sex. (e.g. You shook me all night long, Feel like makin' love, etc.) But it would be hard to say what influenced what... I mean, once I got out from the oppression of Christianity on my sexuality, I was more open in general to listening to sexual music and thinking about having sex. I wouldn't say one was a direct cause of the other. In any case, by my mid-20s I was having sex and enjoying it. And still enjoying sexual music. But I think that had more to do with my personality and stage in life than anything else... the music complimented where I was at. All that said, having spent most of this summer listening to the top-40 hip-hop and urban music channels... I'm actually pretty shocked by how blatantly sexual the lyrics are (especially by men). I mean, it doesn't offend me, and I'm quite happy in my monogamous relationship and it gets me horny when I'm at work listening to it. But... if I was 14 again, not religious, not in a committed relationship, had hormones raging through my body, and everyone around me was doing it... shit, the music would push me right over the edge. This stuff makes Bad Company sound like Sesame Street. So, the music is an influence, definitely. A cause? Probably not. There isn't a lot of direct causality in social science, anyway. But I don't think the music helps teens make responsible sexual decisions, fo' shizzle.
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08-07-2006, 01:20 PM | #5 (permalink) |
Junkie
Moderator Emeritus
Location: Chicago
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Billy Joel sang about Catholic Girls Starting Much too late, Meatloaf sang about Paradise by the dashboard light, Cyndi Lauper was all about the She bop... Every generation has something to get their knickers in a wad about musically...
Teens are having sex earlier than in my day... and long before they are ready but that's another discussion... it's not the music that makes a person want to jump another's bones...
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08-07-2006, 01:24 PM | #6 (permalink) |
Fledgling Dead Head
Location: Clarkson U.
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I gotta think it isnt the music... And if there is a strong correlation, who's to say that kids more prone to risky behavior early also tend to like the music that uses sexually explicit lyrics... rather than vice versa?
To me, this proves nothing. |
08-07-2006, 01:30 PM | #7 (permalink) | |
<3 TFP
Location: 17TLH2445607250
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08-07-2006, 01:33 PM | #8 (permalink) | |
Banned
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So...
50% of kids who listen to "sexually degrading" music have sex earlier, and 30% of kids who don't listen to that music have sex earlier? That doesn't sound like an astonishingly huge number. 30% compared to 50%? Does it show a possible correlation? Maybe, but the numbers aren't really that dramatic. To begin with, only HALF the kids listening to this "sexually degrading" music are having sex earlier- and a full 30% of those who don't listen to it are having sex earlier too. I think this is more "coincidence as causation" than anything else. They don't at all take into account a myriad of other factors that lead young people to engage in sexual activities at earlier ages. For example, children who have been sexually abused in the past are more likely to start having sex earlier, and typically go through a period of hypersexuality when that happens, meaning they'd almost certainly latch onto any and all sexually charged music. That's just one example. I think when all the other factors are accounted for, the numbers would be much closer- not that they're all that far away to begin with. Quote:
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08-07-2006, 01:33 PM | #9 (permalink) | |
Location: Iceland
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But then the real question is, what makes kids more prone to risky behavior early on? I agree that music is only a complement or catalyst at best... but there is something else going on in the culture to make sex seem okay at 13, 14, if not younger. I think music is only a reflection of what's already there in the culture... if the music doesn't jive with a kid's understanding of the world, they probably won't tune in to the music in the first place. For me, my "culture" included a fairly strict Thai mother and my commitment to evangelicalism. That's most of what kept me from having sex as a teenager. I am not sure what exactly is in the "culture" of teens (or lacking from, perhaps) to be having sex practically before puberty... I would be interested to hear others' opinions.
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08-07-2006, 01:34 PM | #10 (permalink) | |
Kick Ass Kunoichi
Location: Oregon
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08-07-2006, 02:06 PM | #12 (permalink) |
Unencapsulated
Location: Kittyville
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I don't think it's the music, either. That's just silly. However, I do think that the media on the whole are presenting and selling a far more sexualized world to a younger audience than the one I grew up in, and mine was more sexualized than my mom's, and on down the line. As time goes by, the progression just continues.
I did things at 16 that my mother did at 21 (I assume, anyway). Now, 12 year olds are doing stuff that I did at 15. The whole system is just getting younger. There are a zillion factors into that, but I think the largest one is that this is what is selling. This is good business. This isn't about the music at all.
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08-07-2006, 02:49 PM | #13 (permalink) |
Junkie
Location: Fort Worth, TX
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*Sigh*
Correlation does not mean causation. What does that mean? These studies can not determine if people who are more open to sex listen to the music, or if the music makes people more open to sex. Until you can prove which comes first these studies are bunk. Besides, what no one seems to realize is that over 60% of the Puritan women gave birth within 6 months of marriage.... think about that. They weren't driven by sexual music (it wasn't allowed). |
08-07-2006, 02:54 PM | #14 (permalink) |
Easy Rider
Location: Moscow on the Ohio
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I agree that the music is probably not triggering teen sex.
It is kinda comical though to see gradeschool girls listening to their Ipods and bopping to the "Black Eyed Peas - My Humps". I can only guess that they are not really paying attention to the lyrics. |
08-08-2006, 03:04 AM | #18 (permalink) |
Too Awesome for Aardvarks
Location: Angloland
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It seems to me that kids who are more sexually charged at a younger age are going to listen to more music that reflects that?
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08-08-2006, 08:02 AM | #19 (permalink) |
Extreme moderation
Location: Kansas City, yo.
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Are kids really having sex at a younger age nowadays... or are they just admitting to it now?
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08-08-2006, 08:55 AM | #20 (permalink) | |
<3 TFP
Location: 17TLH2445607250
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08-08-2006, 09:09 AM | #21 (permalink) |
Unencapsulated
Location: Kittyville
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That's a very interesting point. I would consider that as the largest factor - we're beginning to be open enough to revert to our natural instincts. Society imposes rather arbitrary and artificial rules, and always has. It will be interesting to see if society allows this shift to natural instincts, or if they freak out ala prohibition.
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My heart knows me better than I know myself, so I'm gonna let it do all the talkin'. |
08-08-2006, 09:11 AM | #22 (permalink) |
Junkie
Moderator Emeritus
Location: Chicago
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people were dying a lot younger 100 years ago as well - it's not 100 years ago now - it'sa different time and place...
12 year olds in this day and age are not prepared for sex and all that it entails.
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Free your heart from hatred. Free your mind from worries. Live simply. Give more. Expect less.
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08-08-2006, 09:25 AM | #23 (permalink) | |
Addict
Location: In a State of Denial
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The researcher quoted at the end of the article was on the money.
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08-08-2006, 09:36 AM | #24 (permalink) |
Lover - Protector - Teacher
Location: Seattle, WA
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Correlation does not .. causation.. you can't link one cause.. too complex..
Ahh, damnit.. you all said it first. I don't think anyone here could defend this as being a legitimate study or "cause."
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08-08-2006, 12:47 PM | #25 (permalink) |
Evil Priest: The Devil Made Me Do It!
Location: Southern England
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Bunch.
Of. Arse.
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08-08-2006, 03:30 PM | #27 (permalink) | |
Fledgling Dead Head
Location: Clarkson U.
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Mentally, no perhaps they aren't ready, but that's purely suppositional as well. I'm not saying I disagree with you, but at the same time, there is that aspect, and it's not just going to disappear. 100 years ago kids wanted to fuck at 12 too... But they would have gotton in much more trouble, and they were taught that it was wrong to do so. Last edited by krwlz; 08-08-2006 at 03:35 PM.. |
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08-08-2006, 03:54 PM | #28 (permalink) |
Junkie
Location: Fort Worth, TX
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100 Years ago people were expected to wait until marriage. Most of the time they never made it.
This, however, is not equal to us. We are physically maturing much earlier than ever. Women are having their periods by age 12, 3-4 years earlier than back in the day. Coupled with that we are asking our children to wait even longer than ever. Marriages are now rarely before 25-30 now. So we expect them to wait for college. Now they used to wait mere years (and even then they couldnt make it). Puberty starting around 14-16, they rarely waited beyond 21, usually marrying in their teens. It's reasonable to ask kids to keep it in their pants for 4 years after puberty starts, that has been what historically people have to wait. This means, however, that the 4 years with the new-younger puberty age they're having sex at age 16. The people who are up in arms about sex don't take this into account. Yes they may be younger, but the hormones are still equally as strong as when they were having sex parties in college or already married. |
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music, sex, teens |
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