Although parents and other adults often seek to shelter adolescents from sexuality, this approach typically backfires and causes adolescents to explore sexuality without knowing important information about the dangers of what they are doing. It also leads the adolescent into rebellion against their parents, usually in a sexual nature. An example of this situation can be seen in the American book Charlotte Temple.
However, parents who are open about sexuality seem to have children who grow up well rounded and without any major sexual or emotional issues. An example of this can be seen in the Judy Blume book, Forever.
The typical American teenager is a blending between the old school way of thinking and parenting and the more progressive way of parenting. With high school health class being of litter to no help what-so-ever.
Charlotte Temple: (The character of Charlotte)
Knows nothing about sex or relationships
Asks LaRue, the authority figure in her life
Explores sex without pertinent information and under false pretenses
Goes against parents wishes by leaving England
Gets pregnant
Dies
Forever: (The Character of Katherine)
Has parents who talk to her about sex
Strikes out in a responsible way to learn more information (planned parenthood)
Has a responsible sexual relationship with Michael
Eventually has feelings for another boy, and ends her current relationship
Moves on with life
Has no major emotional or physical scarring from her experience
Typical American Teenager:
Learns false information about sex from peers
Learns unrealistic information in high school health class
Has parents that wont talk about sex or relationships
OR
Has parents that wont allow ANY relationships
Child rebells against parents by moving to fast sexually
One of two outcomes presents itself:
Child gets through adolescence without any major problems
OR
Child gets pregnant, an STD, or somehow abused before the end of adolescence.
A good conclusion that wraps it all up.
You seem to have a very promising essay on your hands!!! I look forward to reading it. I like how you incorporated books that we have discussed throughout the semester. I totally agree with you. I think that a lot of teens have sex because of curiousity. There are so mant adults especially parents that run from the topic so that leaves teens with so many unanswered questions. In many schools health is not required so the the questions get "half" answered by peers or the media and by the time the subject is brought up its after the teen is infected with an STD or five months pregnant.
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