> On Thu, 11 Apr 1996, Jonathan Epstein wrote:
>
> > OK. Good question
> > Think about what feminism has
> > to say about the politics
> > of "identity."
> > Jon
> >
> > On Thu, 11 Apr 1996, elizabeth ann simmons
> > wrote:
> >
> > > Well, I'm here and I thought I'd get the ball rolling. Let's talk about
> > > this whole femenism thing. I didn't quite follow the train of thought
> > > past defining it in terms of postculturalism. Any takers?
> > >
> > > betsy
> > >
> >
> all right, i thought of another example of how medis is a political forum
> and this also has to do with changing view of women's roles.
>
> i don't know if any of you have seen that series of commercials where
> it's mostly a highschool aged girl talking about how she's so busy in
> school what with homework, and cheerleading, and student government and
> zits and stuff and that;s why she doesn't have time to worry about sex
> b/c she can do w/o the worries of teen pregnancies and stds. and the
> closing slogan on these commercials is "you're worth waiting for"
> anyway it;s interesting how media can number one: be a tool of resurgence
> for some political views that have been less popular for awhile until
> they get media support. my point is notice that for the last five years
> the focus has been sex ed a year younger up into junior high, the
> distribution of condoms and safe sex because it;s more realistic than
> absitnence and so on. but now there is a definite part of the population
> that's saing hey, this isn't working, we are going to offer the less
> popular opinion as a possible remedy and gain support through media. this
> leads to the next thing that media does... it lets people know how their
> views are in relationship to socitey, it;s almost like an account. the
> more support they realize the media gives their views, the more they feel
> that's what other people;s actual responses are, and the more they will
> feel comfortable vigorously supporting thier ideas. this is how entire
> national outlooks are changed.
> my next question is this however, are the producers of these
> commercials aware that they are implying that it is somehow a girl's
> responsibility to make the choice, define the stopping point, of sexual
> relations btw/ two individuals? that seems like a lot of pressure on a
> sixteen year old.
>
It is, too much I'd say. I want to know why there isn't an ad campaign
similar for boys that age, or even males in general. Listening to some
of my friends in high school, and the exaggerated stories of sexual
conquest, it can make you feel like you are a loser or something if you
acknowledge that sex may not be a great idea, or that there may be other
ways to gain "masculine" status.