Sex VS. Violence?

Question

I just read a question about when should a child be allowed to see sex and kissing on television--I don‘t think there is anything wrong with that question, by the way. I have always questioned that and violence. It seems in America it is okay to watch violent things on the television. For God's sake--cartoons are more violent. Why do we take so much time and effort trying to shield our children from sex? In my eyes sex is natural. It is something people do--if you have talked to your kids about sex, explaining when two people love each other they have sex then why is it that big of a deal? Why do I see so many American children watching Pulp Fiction--before they are allowed to watch Titanic? If kids know they are just movies--not to get confused with real life--then why is sexual content so considered much worse then violence? Before you jump to conclusions--no I’m not talking about full fledged porn--just movies with sex scenes.

Answer 1

I'm a mother of a 4 year old little girl and I don't think it's a big deal for kids to see small amounts of either. Seeing a couple kiss on TV is nothing different than seeing their parents kiss. Even if it is a bit more sexual than that, it's fine to me.
In my opinion trying to hide things from your children will only make them more curious about them. When I was a kid, if I saw something like that on TV, I asked my mom about it. She explained to me that when ADULTS are in love they do those kinds of things. As a result of her openness and honesty about sex, I didn't actually experience it until I was 20 years old. I didn't feel the need to 'find out for myself', because I already knew what it was all about. That includes the dangers of it... pregnancy, STD's, and the way it changes relationships. I plan on being as open and honest with my daughter and am thankful everyday that my mom was with me. If it wasn't for that I wouldn't have enjoyed my innocence as long and as thoroughly as I did.

Answer 2

Movies are real life to kids. Real people are performing the actions. The television is just a medium of seeing how human beings behave in children's eyes. Sex might not be good for young ages speaking on how children are too immature to be able to properly handle the information of that bodily function. It could create perverse maladjusted humans. Simply put, To hold sex in that regard is to make sure that it is known as something sacred. Not a joke, or a regular occurance if you will. Sex is supposed to be when two people love each other, that's exactly right, and that's not the most common occurance if you're truly mature in your relationships. Be it as it may, parents will judge what they children are to watch and not to as they're around. ANd when they're not around. Then the kid will have to decide for themselves their course of action.

Answer 3

Well forget about Pulp fiction, I was watching Tom and Jerry the other day and Jerry shoved a stick of dynamite in Toms mouth and blew him up! I forgot how violent cartoons are lol. I think its just easier for parents to explain violence to kids than sex. It makes parents more uncomfortable to talk about sex. They just dont want to face the facts.

Answer 4

Good question. The answer is probably that most people think just because they see violence on television doesn't mean the child will go beat/rape/kill someone. However, the same parents worry that if the child sees a sex scene they will want to go try it out for themselves!

Answer 5

my kids are 4 and 5. And I swear and used to smoke, and they understand that there are sertain things they can and can not do, but as far as actual SEX, I think they are to young. Kissing and hugging is different than sex. I do not let my kids watch naked people on t.v. or even boobs and they are girls. But they can watch kissing. I dont care. As far as violence, They can watch some. This is the real world. Some people fight. But they can not watch brains being blown out. My husband is a cop and they understand alot about violence and bad people. But everyone has there own skills they want to teach there kids, and I can not be against how anyone would like to raise there kids.

Answer 6

Every child matures at a different age. I don't think they should be allowed to see either until they are at least in the double digits age wise. Then, the parent will just have to decide whether or not their child is mature enough to watch that type of television.

Answer 7

Because most Americans are prudes and uncomfortable with talking to their kids about sex. For some reason, the same can not be said about violence on TV in the States. I agree with you. Good Luck! :)

Answer 8

I definately think that watching violence is worse up until a certain age. When little kids see kissing and stuff it just seems like adult affection to them - they haven't developed a sense of sexuality yet, and they are not likely to want to act out these types of adult scenes. Violence, however, is black and white. You don't have to be aproaching maturation to "get" it.
However, once kids (especially girls) get towards their pre-teen years, I think shielding them from sexual images and messages is more important. Not so much explicitly sexual scenes, like adults making out on tv, but the more subtle, pervasive stuff, like sexuality used in advertising. Personally I worry about kids who watch sexualized commercials, where the women are objectified to sell alcohol or some other product. I think these types of things give our kids subconscious messages about women's roles, and before you know it your 10 year old daughter's begging you to buy her pants that say 'hottie" across the butt. To me, that's scary!

Answer 9

Depends on the age of the child. If they are very young, I would keep them away from both. Teenagers can cope with it a little better.

Answer 10

Violence is a way of life, while sex creates life, which creates more violence. America is a violent place, our history is marked by wars. The freedoms we have stolen from the ruling classes of old, are so precious to us that when they are REALLY threatened we will go to war over that. Without war, America will disappear.