A recent study conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation found 70 percent of TV shows include some sexual content, with an average of five sex scenes per hour, according to a report in the New York Post. On the top ten shows, the number was roughly 6.7 scenes per hour. Shows like "Desperate Housewives" and "Nip/Tuck" were examples of shows cited for having hot and heavy sex scenes. We were not really surprised at the study data because we know sex sells and we are becoming a more open society with taboos and stigmas falling by the wayside. We don't think it's necessarily a bad thing as long as the sex scenes reflect reality.
Many other countries show explicit sexual content in everything from commercial advertisements to television shows.
Ironically enough, many of their STD and unwanted pregnancy rates are lower than the United States. The way people are having sex and trying to keep it quiet and suppress it through abstinence slogans and other means, is not effective enough. The natural concern is the likelihood of young children to see sex scenes before they are mature enough to handle the content. Exposure is unavoidable, so parents need to educate and prepare their children, even if it means having a "birds and bees" dialogue.
Instead of showing a soft porno during primetime hours, there should be a point behind the sex scenes. Real life situations like unwanted pregnancies, abortions, STDs, HIV/AIDS and emotional consequences should be portrayed instead of just making sex look glamorous.
Television could be a real medium for education for people who are curious about sex or unable to talk about it with others. They should be able to see their favorite characters experience and learn from thought-provoking episodes.
People can try to keep sex out of the media but it will still be coming out of people's mouths. It's the year 2005 and we need to be realistic, resourceful and responsible when it comes to sexual coverage in the media.
