Sex on TV: What Are We Learning? Why Does It Matter?

Mon, 02/01/2016 - 10:18am

When: January 26, 2016 at the Downtown Library Multi-Purpose Room

The mainstream media has emerged as a prominent force in the sexual education of American youth, with teens consuming nearly 7.5 hours of media a day. Yet relying on media models of sex and courtship can be problematic because portrayals are often narrow, unrealistic, and gender stereotypical. In addition, mainstream media often feature a hyper-sexualized ideal for women that may encourage young women to value themselves mainly for their beauty and sexual appeal. This lecture discusses several studies that investigate how regular exposure to mainstream media affects young peoples’ sexual attitudes, expectations, and experiences.

L. Monique Ward is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Michigan. She received her Ph.D. in developmental psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles. Her research examines how media use and parental messages contribute to gender and sexual socialization. This program was co-sponsored by the University of Michigan Department of Psychology.