Blog 2- Draft 3

                “Films present adolescents as dumb, sex-craved individuals who experiment with drugs and alcohol and take any opportunity they get to show their unique identity” (Faulkner par. 8). As a teen, I feel as though I can’t create my own identity because it has been created for me. I’m away at college, 400 miles away from any familiarity. My parents assume when I say “I went over my friend’s house last night,” that I was drinking or it was some party, when in reality it wasn’t. I’m in a sorority and the stereotype will never go away. I may be biased, but we do a great service to the community by working with our philanthropy and raising money constantly. When I wear letters, I get dirty looks, not only by students but by professors sometimes, “just another dumb sorority girl.” My identity as a teenager has been created for me as well as the billions of other teenagers in the United States and my identity as a sorority girl has been created for me, with no chance of changing it.

                “Teens who see and hear a lot about sex in the media may be more than twice as likely to have early sexual intercourse as those who are rarely exposed to sexual content” (Warner par. 1). Most movies now-a-days have some type of sexual content within; it’s unavoidable. Most teens see these acts on the screen or read about it in some magazine or hear it in the lyrics of a song almost on a regular basis. A study published by the American Association of Pediatrics showed that teens exposed to sexual content from ages 12 to 14 were more at risk for early teen sex despite the disapproval of their parents. This doesn’t only apply to sexual behavior. Children that are exposed to violence and drugs from an early age are also more likely to participate in this behavior.

                I hear parents say, “I remember when my daughter/son was a teenager. Never want to go back there!” Are teens really that bad? Does the media make adolescents act a certain way? Do parents see these things in the media and assume they’re child is doing it too? The media seems to be at fault, according to Teen Health and the Media. “Ads for alcohol run rampant during some of the television’s most popular programming.” Budweiser manufacturers spent over $20 million on commercials during the 2003 Super Bowl. A study found that 32% of 15 to 17 year olds sexual decisions were influenced by the media.

                “Because of the developing emotions of adolescents due to the onset of puberty, movies can have a huge effect…Teens are most likely to become emotionally invested and interested in the situations that pertain to their changing views of the world and growing status in society.  These issues include identity formation, high school graduation, college, moving away from home, sex, driving, and parental relationships” (Faulkner par. 2).