Should teenage characters in YA books be having sex?

Question

Or do you think that the books need to be setting a positive example for their readers?

Haha, I'm not asking if teenagers have sex (because I know they do - I was once a teen myself), I'm just asking if they should be having it in books.

As an "adult" I would find it hard to write about teens having sex just because I don't think they should. You know?

Well let me rephrase.

Or do you think that the books need to be setting a "positive" example for their readers?

=)

I am talking about Young Adult (YA) books. Young Adult as in these books were written for readers aged 13-17.

I'm not talking about "adult" books or classics or even children's books. Young Adult books.

Answer 1

Honestly, I think that it's relatively "good" that books address that side of life as well. Regardless of the consequences in the books themselves, it's better to be exposed to notions that might or might not be your own than to be completely oblivious to them. I personally don't think that it should matter if you're religious, non-religious, pro or anti sex. It's always "interesting" to be exposed to different things in books, even if we don't agree with them. If this weren't the case, we wouldn't be reading books on the Holocaust and so on.

In addition, I would like to point out that the ending sentence, "Or do you think that the books need to be setting a positive example for their readers?" is a bit...biased. There are those who think that teenage sex is a good thing, so honestly, it's just a matter of point of view. The books aren't trying to influence you, they're simply trying to "add to the content". That's the way I see it.

Hope that "helps". =)

Answer 2

no, i don't. i am a young adult reader and i often find it frustrating that almost all books in the YA section have sex or sex related content in them. aside from sex, there are so many other negative themes in YA books, like drugs, completely inappropriate language, etc.
i am not trying to say that books for teenagers can't have anything about sex or drugs or whatever in them because i realize that those are things that are, sadly, becoming more relevant in teenagers' lives, but i do think that teens who read books where the characters have sex are influenced by what they read. i think there is a line between writing about themes that are relevant to teenagers and interesting and writing things that might be interesting but totally inappropriate, and the vast majority of YA books have gone way over the line.

Answer 3

I know of two young adult books that have sex scenes. The author has portrayed the teenagers in a positive light using protection, and love. They don't have sex to become popular or make the guy or girl like them or have sex just because everyone else is having sex. Therefore to answer your question there are two books which I have read that have teenagers sex scenes in a postive light.

Answer 4

Personally, I was reading pretty sexy books at a fairly early age, but mostly, they were adult books. I suppose there is a right way to write Young Adult books about sex and I know I read some (were authors not so scared of teen sex in the 70's and 80's?). Forever by Judy Blume springs to mind first, actually. I recently re-read it and, while the two teenage characters do have sex, it certainly doesn't glamorize it. It makes you think about the consequences of becoming sexually active. Young adult books should address sex and desire and all that because it is real. If the author opts to make their characters sexually active, they should handle it realistically and honestly. I know I learned more about sex from reading novels than I ever did through my parents or school. In the end, what I read made me want to wait until I was ready to handle it.

Answer 5

i think there should be a distinction between young adult books and teen books. in my library they are in two different sections and by the time teenagers are... teenagers they know about sex. i think they have enough exposure to that from movies and tv and their own friends. and the slutty celebrities that books aren't going to have much influence.

Answer 6

I know of one authors that young adults have sex in them. She has been criticized and blasted in every way from parents and other people who didn't like the teenagers to have sex in a young adult novel. In today society no matter what an adult says teens as young as 13 are having sex. As long as it is protected sex I'd say go for it.

Answer 7

Well, it depends if you're religious or not. Personally, I think that the young adults should not be reading about someone having sex before marriage. To me, this tells the reader that you should do it (instead of leaving it up to your choice. Most of those books give you the feeling like "if i don't have sex with him, he'll leave me...or if i don't have sex with him, i won't have his child and he might die and we'll never get together etc etc.)

I think there should definitely be positive characters in novels. Some of the most popular books right now have the WORST outlook on character. Like, I know a lot of girls like Twilight, but the main character is so stuck on a man that she can't even think for herself. It's not positive for young girls, I think...

Answer 8

I think yes, if it adds to the story (or is the story).

I do not think that fiction books, whether or not written for children, need to be the moral or ethical compass for children or teens. I think that is the parent's job. Teens having sex? Well, they are going to do it whether we write about it in books or not, aren't they?

Delete Censorship!

Answer 9

I think this depends entirely on the way in which young adult sexuality is portrayed in the book. I'd argue that the purpose of good fiction is not to set a 'positive example' but to encourage readers to reflect on themselves, their lives, and the various 'roles' they play in society.

I personally wouldn't want my teenager drowning themselves in cheap pulp-fiction that trivializes sex or promotes the glitzy, commercialized notion of teen sex. Nor would I prevent them from reading a work which honestly engages teen sexuality. It all depends on the context of the book as a whole.

Answer 10

If teenagers having sex is important to the plot of the story, then I see nothing wrong with it being included.