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Jennifer Stevens Aubrey, PhD (Professor of Communication, University of Arizona) discusses norms portrayed in heterosexual teen media—and how they might influence characterizations of LGBTQIA+ relationships–at the #AskTheExperts webinar “The New Sex Educator? Online Sexual Content and Today’s Youth on May 22, 2024.
Read the Video Transcript
[Dr. Jennifer Stevens Aubrey] Heterosexuality is still assumed and naturalized in youth media, and this is evidenced by the portrayal of LGBTQ+ sexual relationships as being still quite rare, and LGBTQ+ characters acting as sources of humor and derision in sexual contexts. The third conclusion I can make kind of furthers that idea, and that the pervasive theme about sexuality conforms to a heterosexual script, and this largely overlaps with the sexual double standard. And so, according to this script, sex is portrayed as risky for girls, both emotionally and physically, and as such, they are more likely to receive negative consequences or punishments for sex than boy or male characters. In addition, boys are portrayed as being obsessed with sex, driven by sex, and this is mostly portrayed as a way for boys and men to demonstrate their masculinity to others.
View the full webinar
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The New Sex Educator? Online Sexual Content and Today’s Youth
How much and how easily are youth accessing sexual content online? How does what they view shape their perception of “normal” in romantic and sexual relationships? Is the increasing prevalence of AI playing a role?
Carolyn West, PhD
Professor of Clinical Psychology, University of Washington
Elizabeth Englander, PhD
Director, Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center; Professor of Psychology, Bridgewater State University
Debra Herbenick, PhD, MPH
Provost Professor, Director of the Center for Sexual Health Promotion, Indiana University School of Public Health
Amy Lang, MA
Sexual Health Educator, Birds & Bees & Kids
Jennifer Stevens Aubrey, PhD
Professor of Communication, University of Arizona