First Al Gore was right about the environment, and now Tipper Gore and her Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) may have been right about those explicit lyrics warning labels!?
A recent study by the Rand Corp. showed that “teens who said they listened to lots of music with degrading sexual messages were almost twice as likely to start having intercourse or other sexual activities within the following two years as were teens who listened to little or no sexually degrading music.”
And while much popular music is full of blatant sexuality, the songs depicting men as “sex-driven studs” and women as “sex objects” (a.k.a. bitches and hos) seem to have the most impact on teens’ sexual development.
“Exposure to lots of sexually degrading music ‘gives them a specific message about sex,’” lead author Steven Martino told the AP. “‘We think that really lowers kids’ inhibitions and makes them less thoughtful’ about sexual decisions and may influence them to make decisions they regret, he said.”
The report doesn’t mention if any of the songs used in the study are part the recent rash of euphemistic, yet still sexually explicit, songs from the female point of view, including such hits as Kellis’ “Milkshake” and The Black Eyed Peas’ “My Humps,” in which a girl uses a little T&A to get some Dolce & Gabbana.
Of course, other researchers felt “factors including peer pressure, self-esteem, and home environment are probably more influential than the research suggests.”
“When somebody has a healthy sense of themselves,” notes Yvonne K. Fulbright, a New York-based sex researcher and author, “they don’t take these lyrics too seriously.”
posted August 8, 2006 at 10:05 pm
“When somebody has a healthy sense of themselves,” notes Yvonne K. Fulbright, a New York-based sex researcher and author, “they don’t take these lyrics too seriously.” I agree with this. However, it totally does not surprise me that kids who listen to songs about screwing some “ho” in a bar aren’t exactly waiting until marriage. This research is useful, but at the same time, “duh.” God bless!>
posted August 9, 2006 at 2:02 am
This subject is very important especially as a Youth Pastor I would like more information on this matter in a biblical format or even materials that I could read off the internet>
posted August 9, 2006 at 5:20 am
I also agree with what Yvonne Fulbright said about “when someone has a healthy sense of themselves they don’t take these lyrics to seriously”. I do think that music plays some part in the premature sex, but its not the main reason why. I listened to degrading music as a teen, but the real reason why I had sexual intercourse at a young age was curiosity, peer pressure from other girls, and it was also my choice I don’t blame the music cause when I do listen to that kind of music it’s mostly for the beat and a good time I don’t go out and “screw some one in the bar” I listen to the music I don’t let the music have any kind of influence in my life decisions, because those decisions are mine only to make.>
posted August 10, 2006 at 5:38 pm
I agree with Yvonne as well, and I feel the in the U.S. we have such a charged attitude towards sex, sexuality, and sexual content on both sides of the issue, that we don’t give yound adults and children a fair chance. By this I mean on the one hand you have the extreme religous right who wants to keep sex and sexuaity a secret from children until they are married, however this goes against the survival instincts inherent in our genes. We feel that closing the eyes to children to what sex, sxuality, and morality are will help them to make decisions regarding their lives. The biggest problem with this view is that when you remove information, sexual education etc. from schools, the burden to educate children falls on the parents, who are hardly comfortable with their own sexuality, let alon being able to discuss it with their children. Informing children to wait, and telling them to respect sex, and the rights of other people, then telling them that they will find out when they’re older will only fuel the degridation of our youth. In other cultures areound the world, like Europe where sex is available and out in the open, they have fewer problems than we in the U.S., who are still trying to hold on to Puritanical views of the world, for which we were originally removed from Europe.>
posted August 11, 2006 at 12:57 am
It’s all well and good to talk of someone having a healthy sense of themselves, but let’s face it – many, many people don’t, and they act the life they see in the videos. I was in the parking lot of a wholesale store, and a woman was backing out with her car, blocking traffic. She just sat there. When I got angry, stepped out of my car and told her to move, she got out of her car, brushed up against me, got in my face, called me an “ofay” (what does that mean?), called my ignorant, threatened me personally, etc, etc. She sounded like she had just walked out of a rap video.>
posted August 11, 2006 at 8:47 pm
When you study words, and know that they can uplift or tear down a soul…you know that words are powerful. Haven’t you heard that saying “Words are cheap until you try to buy them back, then they are priceless.” I dare you to read, “The Hidden Message of Water” by Dr. Emoto..his research of scientific evidence shows how water reacts to words, might shock you since our bodies are made up mostly of water. blessings~>
posted August 12, 2006 at 12:52 pm
The problems with lyrics is some people cant differentiate between truth and fantasy. Part of the problem with kids and sex today is that as children ourselves, our parents felt that sex was a dirty, taboo subject. We only learned from school, music and other kids. I have chosen to break that cycle. My oldest child recently shared relationship problems with me and told me that it is embarrassing talking about sex to your parents. We as parents need to break that mentality in our teens. They should not be afraid to talk to us and we should answer them honestly. My kids know I wasnt perfect in the past, and that I speak from personal experience when I tell them what will hurt them.>
posted August 16, 2006 at 9:33 pm
Becky you hit this one right on the nose! I was uncomfortable talking to my mother about sex, as well as her, But your right she did answer me with honesty,and alot of good advice that it had a big impact on my way of thinking about sex and all it decisions. Also it made it even more easy to talk to my mother about this, it built alot of trust that most parents don’t have with thier childern. So just incase something like rapeing a teenage “HO” or Hoochie” happens that teen in not scared to tell his or her parents. Lyrics to a song is something that has very little influence on teen sexuality. Parents and good morals, and good upbringing is was influences a teen to know the difference between the truth and fantasy in valger rap or any music for that matter.>