It is true that children learn from their teachers; however, parents are the primary example setters for children. Children create ideas, morals and values from the standards that their parents set. These ideas that children attain are brought into the classroom, where children discuss events or beliefs with their peers. Children often return home and ask their parents an inappropriate question relating to a topic that their peer may have brought up in the classroom. In many instances, these topics refer to sex.
Recently, schools have been funding sexual education programs in order to expose children to the acts of sex, but furthermore to promote abstinence. However, in Texas, parents are permitted to show their children pornography in order to educate their youngsters about sexual acts.
Although I grew up in a household where the word “sex” was never said nor discussed; I plan on changing the role of the word when I am a mother. I am open to talking about sexual related ideas and I am not opposed to children knowing what sex is from a young age. Sex is a natural part of human interactions, and it is the way humans are reproduced. However, parents need not show their children pornography in order to educate kids on sexual encounters. There are many books that are appropriate, and even educational films. In many pornographies, sexual encounters are for lack of a better term, “dirty”. Many times inappropriate names are said and children do not need to watch such encounters in order to understand what the word “sex” means.
Children can learn about their sexuality and the sexuality of the opposite gender in many other ways than explicit actions. In the article, a father showed his daughter a three-way sexual encounter. Children do not need to be exposed to three-way encounters in order to learn about sex, this was merely for the father’s pleasure. Furthermore, these explicit videos spur ideas within children, who ultimately bring these ideas with them to the classroom. Children learn from their parents, and if their parents are watching such videos, children will think it is appropriate to partake in such acts. This idea that children learn from their parents directly correlates with John Dewey’s philosophy on imitation. Dewey believes that children do not imitate all adults actions, they select. Children select to imitate certain action depending on construction, inquiry, artistic expression and communication. Children may decide to use this four-fold interests of children in order to imitate pornography, which may result in unlawful acts.
The video I have attached is a fox news interview with a teenager who sent naked pictures of his ex-girlfriend to the contacts in his phonebook. The teenage boy is now identified as a sex offender. Although there is no direct correlation between the teenage sex offender and the Texas law allowing parents to show their children porn, this demonstrates the world we live in. Children are exposed to sexual encounters in ways that are inappropriate and this results in their misusage of sex, hence the naked pictures. Being exposed to pornography at a young age may lead to sexual violence and child molestation. If a child watches pornography, they may create their own pornographies in order to mimic what their parents have exposed them to.
As a young child, I cannot imagine my father, nevertheless my mother, watching pornography with me. I think this exploits the minds of young children, and can lead to unlawful acts. The law in Texas should be changed immediately, because it is negatively affecting young children and the environment they grow up in. Children can still learn about the natural act of sex without watching pornography.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation/AP/story/1307210.html
Related articles:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1156136/Children-exposed-pornography-prostitution-drugs-Twitter.html
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/119/2/247
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1622610
Related Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mEky0KdHPk
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I completely agree with Laura. Learning about sex is incredibly important for children and it is a topic that parents should not feel uncomfortable talking to their children about. But comfort should not turn into a perverse setting in which a father shows his daughter a pornographic film. As we discussed in class sex as portrayed in pornography is often violent or demeaning toward women. Pornographic films depict women as objects of pleasure for men. In these videos the women always succumb and give into the desires of men. Would this father want to tell his daughter that she must submit to any man that approaches her? I would certainly hope not. As children learn about sex I believe they should learn about the biological aspects related sexual intercourse. They should be educated about the male and female anatomy, regardless of their own sex, and they should be taught about the consequences of sex and the precautionary measures that should be used in order to protect both of the people involved. Pornography is no way to teach children anything beneficial. If a parent shows their child such a video to teach them about sex they will most likely end up using such an image as an example. This example often involves objectification and complete disrespect to women. Regardless of how uncomfortable it may be for parents need to discuss sex with their children, not just pop in a video and let them watch and figure things out for themselves.
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