Sex - Book Report/Review Example

Let’s Talk about Sex Question The documentary presents differential attitudes towards adolescent sexuality in the US and Netherlands. In the United States, the parents emphasize on the danger of sex and fail to discuss the subject with the teens. In contrast, the Dutch talk openly about sex in relation to the relationships. Notably, the fear of embarrassment causes the Americans to limit any discussion about sex and attempt to direct their children towards autonomous adulthood (Houston). On the other hand, the Dutch parents exhibit composure while conversing with the adolescents regarding sexuality.

The Dutch parents practice the vigilant leniency, and allow the adolescents to make independent decisions. The parents have a strong familial bond. On the contrary, the Americans are strict and vigilant in matters involving sex, and curtail the freedom of the adolescents to decide about the issues of sexuality. The parents are very controlling and do not underpin the significance of the familial bond. Cultural and parenting styles might be attributable to the differences. The Netherlands appears to be lenient on parenting while the US is strict on directing children to be autonomous.

Question 2The teens from the US associate the tendency to carry condoms to the obsession with sex and promiscuity. In contrast, the Dutch teens view the possession of condoms as an expression of sexuality. The American culture does not promote the behavior that warrants teens to move around with the condom in their pockets. The inability of the Americans to discuss freely the issues of sex makes the teens view carrying condoms as a bizarre exercise. In contrast, the Dutch teens have a positive attitude towards condoms.

The parents allow the teens to bring their partners in the house and provide them with condoms to engage in sexual activities (Houston). Hence, the socialization explains the disparity in the attitude towards condoms. Question 3Virginity pledges refer to the commitment that partners make to abstain from sex until marriage. Abstinence promotes purity culture to be entrenched in the society. However, the pledges do not succeed to a significant extent. The media and pop culture tend to influence the teens to engage in sexual activities prior to marriage.

Work CitedHouston, James, dir. Let’s Talk About Sex. New Video, 2009. Film.