Underlying issues of why teenage girls are having sex so early - Research Paper Example

An issue that has come to a level of prominence within society of the current era is with regards to the fact that teenage girls are beginning to engage in sexual intercourse at very young ages. Scientific research into this issue has seen the average age of sexual relations drop from the high teens to the low-to-mid teens as early as 2002 (Wolleck, 2011 p. 17 para 2). Yet, beyond jus the average age of intercourse dropping, it has also been noted that the overall percentage of teen girls engaging in sexual relations has risen by over 33% since 2002 (Stubbs et all, 2013 p. 2 para. 1).

However, even though many factors have been blamed for this reality, it is the belief of this researcher that the media is ultimately to blame for the reality of the seemingly ever-increasing sexualization of young girls. Moreover, culture has shifted within society over the past several decades (Starr & Ferguson, 2012 p. 28 para 1). The sexual revolution allowed for a degree of moral relativism with regards to what can and cannot be considered as a healthful physical relationship. Likewise, as the children of the 1960’s grew into adulthood and had their own children who in turn had their own children, the approach that society has taken to adolescent sexuality has become more liberal than at any other time in the nation’s history (Kehily, 2012 p.

12 para 4). All of these factors are not necessarily bad; rather, understanding the causal factors of this reality and ascertaining that harm or trauma is not the result is the more pressing issue. ReferencesKehily, M. (2012). Contextualising the sexualisation of girls debate: innocence, experience and young female sexuality. Gender & Education, 24(3), 255-268. doi:10.1080/09540253.2012.670391Starr, C., & Ferguson, G. (2012). Sexy Dolls, Sexy Grade-Schoolers? Media & Maternal Influences on Young Girls Self-Sexualization.

Sex Roles, 67(7/8), 463-476. doi:10.1007/s11199-012-0183-xStubbs, M. L., & Johnston-Robledo, I. (2013). Kiddy thongs and menstrual pads: The sexualization of girls and early menstrual life. In E. L. Zurbriggen, T. Roberts (Eds.) , The sexualization of girls and girlhood: Causes, consequences, and resistance (pp. 213-234). New York, NY US: Oxford University Press.Wollek, T. (2011). M. Gigi durham: the lolita effect: the media sexualization of young girls and five keys to fixing it. Journal Of Youth & Adolescence, 40(1), 121-124. doi:10.1007/s10964-010-9592-8