Faith Meets Life: Sexual multi-awareness
I think it is safe to say that if you were raised in a Muslim home, your sexual awareness will be coloured by the teachings of Islam. Similarly for anyone who grew up in a Catholic, Protestant, Buddhist or strongly feminist environment.
The environments in which we spend our childhood and adolescence provide us with world-views. Those who think about this a lot often use the term narrative to identify the cultural, historical and religious ideas - the stories that shape our lives.
How are these differing stories, narratives, or world-views communicated to us? Parents, mostly, but also by churches, temples or the social group our parents connect with. In short, by the community that is most intimate to us in our early years.
During Sexual Awareness Week, it's worth noting that these differing communities have differing values about sexual behaviours and the differing community narratives transmit these values.
But, while their values about sexual behaviours may differ, there is one thing these communities have in common. And that is that a good deal of media challenges and undermines their respective sexual values. Avril Lavigne and Eminem, for example, are not frequently held up as role models by the region's imams or pastors.
As we move through childhood and adolescence, media and culture frequently challenge the sexual values our parents, or faith communities, or intimate social networks provided.
You may, for example, have been raised in one of the many Mennonite communities that are found throughout Southwestern Ontario. If so, you will have been encouraged to view sex as closely related to marriage where the formation of healthy family and social life is the goal. I'm not suggesting that this view of sex is without difficulty - though it is arguably a big improvement over much of what's on offer in the media. In any case, the views parents and church communicated to you will not go unchallenged.
In her book, Reviving Ophelia (Ballantine, 2001), Mary Piper directs attention to this issue as it relates to girls and young women. She writes that “our culture is deeply split about sexuality.”
Daughters are raised to value themselves as whole persons, but our media all too often reduces them to bodies. Media teach young people that coolness is about being sexually spontaneous and free. At the same time, our health care professionals warn us of the links between casual sex and sexually transmitted diseases. “We are trapped by double binds and impossible expectations” (from Chapter 11: “Sex and Violence”).
I'm not trying to play up the “big bad media” theme. There are many healthy messages about sexuality and relationships in the media, though such messages could be in the minority. But I am trying to encourage you, worthy reader, whoever you might be, to consider where your values regarding sexuality come from.
And if you find yourself questioning the values you grew up with, what is the source of those questions? Madonna or the latest Coor's commercial, for example, may or may not have something useful to communicate regarding sexuality. But, if they trash the views of your parents or childhood community, should that raise some questions for you?
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
The environments in which we spend our childhood and adolescence provide us with world-views. Those who think about this a lot often use the term narrative to identify the cultural, historical and religious ideas - the stories that shape our lives.
How are these differing stories, narratives, or world-views communicated to us? Parents, mostly, but also by churches, temples or the social group our parents connect with. In short, by the community that is most intimate to us in our early years.
During Sexual Awareness Week, it's worth noting that these differing communities have differing values about sexual behaviours and the differing community narratives transmit these values.
But, while their values about sexual behaviours may differ, there is one thing these communities have in common. And that is that a good deal of media challenges and undermines their respective sexual values. Avril Lavigne and Eminem, for example, are not frequently held up as role models by the region's imams or pastors.
As we move through childhood and adolescence, media and culture frequently challenge the sexual values our parents, or faith communities, or intimate social networks provided.
You may, for example, have been raised in one of the many Mennonite communities that are found throughout Southwestern Ontario. If so, you will have been encouraged to view sex as closely related to marriage where the formation of healthy family and social life is the goal. I'm not suggesting that this view of sex is without difficulty - though it is arguably a big improvement over much of what's on offer in the media. In any case, the views parents and church communicated to you will not go unchallenged.
In her book, Reviving Ophelia (Ballantine, 2001), Mary Piper directs attention to this issue as it relates to girls and young women. She writes that “our culture is deeply split about sexuality.”
Daughters are raised to value themselves as whole persons, but our media all too often reduces them to bodies. Media teach young people that coolness is about being sexually spontaneous and free. At the same time, our health care professionals warn us of the links between casual sex and sexually transmitted diseases. “We are trapped by double binds and impossible expectations” (from Chapter 11: “Sex and Violence”).
I'm not trying to play up the “big bad media” theme. There are many healthy messages about sexuality and relationships in the media, though such messages could be in the minority. But I am trying to encourage you, worthy reader, whoever you might be, to consider where your values regarding sexuality come from.
And if you find yourself questioning the values you grew up with, what is the source of those questions? Madonna or the latest Coor's commercial, for example, may or may not have something useful to communicate regarding sexuality. But, if they trash the views of your parents or childhood community, should that raise some questions for you?
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
