Sexing Up Abstinence

[ccharles000]

by lisa

Dmitriy sent us a link to the Candies Foundation, a non-profit organization that wants teenage girls to avoid pregnancy by abstaining from sex. So they’re going to make abstinence as sexy as possible! The slogan: “I’m SEXY enough… to keep you waiting”:



I noticed also that the message is aimed exclusively at girls. “You” is implicitly a guy.



The responsibility for keeping teens abstinent and for preventing teen pregnancy, then, falls solely on girls.

Dmitriy also points out that the campaign promotes abstinence, but not the use of birth control. He adds: “we do not combat auto accidents by not driving. we prevent them through driving and safety ed.”


http://contexts.org/socimages/2009/08/08/sexing-up-abstinence/

[Cant trust em]

1. This sends a mixed message at best.

I can just hear the logic of young girls now.

"I know what will make this guy not want to have sex with me. I'll wear a skin-tight t-shirt. That will surely turn him off."

[reflection]

36. I think you nailed it. n/t

[noamnety]

2. they show it on the cosmogirl cover

where one of the articles is "Be a Guy Magnet."

[cynatnite]

3. I have no problem with women using their sexuality to empower themselves...

They've taken control of their sexuality and can flaunt it or not.

It shouldn't cheapen them...no more than it should for women who have healthy sex lives.

[omega minimo]

8. That is disempowerment. Totally subjugated to the Male Gaze and approval. Empowerment doesn't pander

to males.

[cynatnite]

14. Just because a woman wants to be sexy doesn't mean she is pandering to males...

I know plenty of women who like feeling sexy...me included.

[omega minimo]

16. Agreed. However, every one of those images is pandering to the Male Gaze, to sell something

It's not about empowerment. It's not empowerment. It's advertising, which panders to the male gaze.

[redqueen]

24. How is it so easy to conflate personal sexiness with sex used as a marketing tool?

It seems so distinct to me... but so many here seem to have the two mixed up somehow.

[omega minimo]

28. I looked at the photos again before replying to that post, to try to get that, too......

Some may not notice the homogeneity of the photos or they may accept that only That Look is sexy or only That Look deserves to wear the shirts....

Conventionality, conformity... honest "sexiness" for these young women would be natural, not a self parody, with a message of "The Meat Market is closed boys; you can drool but you can't touch........"

Could that be part of it?

[redqueen]

35. Yeah, I still don't get it.

It's something very basic... not about just this story. In nearly every thread about this kind of issue... sexuality in the media... there are a large number of people who seem to honestly not notice the difference between sexuality for its own sake and sexuality as a marketing tool. It's kind of disturbing... but only because it seems so very obvious a distinction to me.

[omega minimo]

45. back to that misogynist fishbowl, the medium we're swimming in

that some don't notice. The media poop in the water has gotten quite thick; people are not as sensitized as in past decades to imagery in general or educated generally about media effects; desensitized to graphic, disgusting violence against women portrayed as entertainment; barbie bots of both sexes catapulting the "news;" the standardized styles for women are highly sexualized, uniform, generic and fake looking.................. I'll be glad when 70's hookers fashion make room for the next trend.

:eyes: what else?

No one talks about "subliminal advertising" any more.

"there are a large number of people who seem to honestly not notice the difference between sexuality for its own sake and sexuality as a marketing tool. It's kind of disturbing..."

Those who see the difference may honor real individual style -- non conformist and otherwise. Something that reveals a real person there and isn't just a costume or shield. That may depend on where we live.

The Dove ads attempt to show that, not just different body types but real people, not clones. Then they got all quick edit/subliminal sexifying with their TV ads.

Another thing folks may overlook is how seriously ANOREXIC many of the models and movie stars look. Giant heads on toothpick bodies.

[omega minimo]

17. .

[Scout]

33. define sexy

is it what "most men" think is sexy? is it what "most women" think is sexy? is it what the individual woman thinks is sexy? what makes "it" sexy? why do you like to feel sexy? what do you look like and what are you doing when you feel sexy?

[abumbyanyothername]

59. Do you have a problem with men who

use their muscle or money to empower themselves?

[TlalocW]

4. I hate to say it but...

As a former teenage boy, I know the response to that from a lot of guys will be, "Uh, no, you're not," before they move on to someone more willing.

TlalocW

[XemaSab]

5. I am pro-abstinence

I am also VERY pro sex ed.

If you give kids enough sex ed, they'll be little conservatives all on their own. :P

[Monk06]

6. How about, "BLUE BALLS FOR CHRIST" or "COMPULSIVE MASTERBATORS FOR ABSTINENCE"

[omega minimo]

30. or a Carl's Jr. logo: 'EAT A SEXUALIZED BURGER INSTEAD'

:bounce: :bounce:

[deaniac21]

55. Mrs. Elders, so good to know you are on DU!

[omega minimo]

7. "Sexy enough" to be a male dominated tool, objectified, subjugated, fucked up.

[anonymous171]

26. What are you getting at? It is her choice isn't it? nt

[omega minimo]

27. No

[orleans]

9. maybe i'm old fashioned but

i don't believe teenagers having sex is bad/wrong/unnatural

i don't think teen pregnancy is a good thing. that is why they need to be educated on various methods of birth control and be responsible enough to use it.

but to tell them not to have sex? because it's cool/"sexy" not to have sex?

um...good luck with that.

[Chemisse]

10. Indeed.

How many of these abstinence-only freaks were themselves abstinent as teens?

Adults have been trying to keep teens from having sex for quite a long time. It doesn't really work.

[orleans]

54. no, it doesn't work. or it works for awhile with major consequences: ala bristol palin.

(her pic is on this website page--twice)
http://www.candiesfoundation.org/default.html

edit: my mistake--3 times

[Maru Kitteh]

56. +1

[comtec]

11. I'd bet cash money not ONE of those models is abstinent

like EVER in her life!

what a sick fucking joke this all is.

Countries with education about sex have LOW teen birth rates.

Here in holland there is a girl's mag (and i mean literally 11-18) that talks to girls about sex.
IIRC it's written by women with submission by teens.
Holland has a very low teen birth rate. The age of consent is 16, and BC is available from the Doc whenever the girl asks.
oh yeah and this is not a atheist haven by any stretch.

there's at least 1+ Church in E V E R Y quite often the largest, tallest is the center of town.

[armyowalgreens]

12. Thanks for taunting me assholes...

Like walking around on campus isn't painful enough.

[omega minimo]

29. What?

Can't walk with three legs? :spray: :spank:

[Scout]

34. i need a new keyboard, you stinker!! :-) n/t

[omega minimo]

40. LOL

Well I'm glad it didn't get a :boring: cuz it's been said a million times... whadda I know about boys having trouble walking across the quad..... :shrug:

[lukasahero]

37. And so the George Sodini's are born eom

[redqueen]

38. Born? Huh?

[lukasahero]

41. You're going to argue semantics?

Do you get the reference? The point was the only thing that will come of this campaign is a bunch of frustrated young men who think women are just a tease.

Good grief, redqueen - I'm on your side.

[redqueen]

42. I didn't want to get the reference...

cause it seemed like you were saying women's actions somehow cause people like that sick fuck to become sick fuckers.

That hardly seems fair to me.

[lukasahero]

44. Just the opposite

I was chiding the poster who called 'whoever' (the girls? the folks who came up with the idea?) assholes and complaining about how hard he had it trying to get through college with all the hot babes around him that he isn't allowed to fuck.

I'm not criticizing the girls, I'm criticizing the campaign for it's mixed message and especially the poster who thinks his woody is the real story here.

[redqueen]

46. Ah, ok...

I was pretty sure I had to be misreading that. :hi:

[lukasahero]

48. Yeah, sorry

My snark isn't what is used to be. I think my disgust has finally gotten the bette of me. :(

[redqueen]

49. Ah no... of course not...

just a simple misunderstanding. :hug:

[omega minimo]

57. Maybe it is "all about the woody"

The big head gets its blood supply cut off and the little head forks over the dough. :think: D'Oh!

[redqueen]

39. Are you dating one of these women?

How is this about you?

[Scout]

47. he's a boy, with a penis! OF COURSE it's about him, silly

:sarcasm:

[Realityhack]

13. This is what confuses the heck out of me:

"Dmitriy also points out that the campaign promotes abstinence, but not the use of birth control. He adds: “we do not combat auto accidents by not driving. we prevent them through driving and safety ed.”"

Anyone else see a major disconnect here? Abstinence would be um... not driving. Where as birth control/sex ed would be like a safe driving class/practicing safe driving.

I don't get WTF they are thinking with this analogy, though I like that they proved the opposite point.

[ieoeja]

18. That jumped out at me too. But then it occurred to me ...

... that Dimitriy is criticizing the campaign, not speaking for the campaign. Then his comment makes sense.

[Realityhack]

20. Ahhhhh....

now I understand.

[TokenQueer]

15. Candie's Foundation? Non-profit?

This is the corporate sponsor that funded Bristol Palin's "abstinence tour." Candie's (the for-profit part of the company) makes a fortune marketing prostitute clothing to tweens. Check out their line of Juniors' Intimates...what parent thinks their 12 year old daughter needs to be dressing in this manner?

http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStore/landingpages/candies/juniorintimates/panties.jsp?bmForm=guided_nav_search&SubcatFolderID=2534374753785343

They also have a lovely selection of shoes for girls... dominatrix boots, fuck-me pumps...

http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStore/landingpages/candies/juniorshoes/juniors.jsp?ENDECA_SEARCH_INPUT%3C%3ENe=&ENDECA_SEARCH_INPUT%3C%3ENo=12&ENDECA_SEARCH_INPUT%3C%3ENs=p_Product_Total_Inventory%7C1&ENDECA_SEARCH_INPUT%3C%3ENtt=&ENDECA_SEARCH_INPUT%3C%3Erecs=12&ENDECA_SEARCH_INPUT%3C%3EN=4294914531&ENDECA_SEARCH_INPUT%3C%3Etype=2&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374754028860&bmForm=guided_nav_search&bmFormID=1249990097738&bmUID=1249990097738

Let's prematurely sex up young girls, objectifying them in the most base manner imaginable, then preach abstinence. What could possibly go wrong?



Seeing Britney Spears on the Candie's homepage made me think of this hilarious MadTV sketch...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkJXuckuJ0w

[chatnoir]

19. Yep, this Candie's

[redqueen]

21. WTF?!

[TokenQueer]

50. I had forgotten about that ad!

:rofl:

[Iris]

25. hey! you can be sexy and not have sex? dontcha know?

That's just want I wanted at that age. All dressed up with no place to go. Nice.

[TokenQueer]

51. Lol

:spray:

[krabigirl]

22. Bleh. Not sexy at all. Plastic, future Stepford wives.

[omega minimo]

31. who talk in voices like they're being strangled or have throat cancer. VERY sexy & empowered

:puke::sarcasm:

[Evoman]

23. Someone should start christianizing birth control.

[BlueIdaho]

32. I'll see your slick ad campaign and raise you raging teen hormones...

Yeah - like that's gonna work.

[BlooInBloo]

43. Gee - I can't foresee anything going wrong with that...

:rofl:

[Manifestor_of_Light]

52. Typical double standard -- same old ancient bullshit.

Girls are not supposed to want sex. Girls are supposed to be angelic and not lustful.

This is totally at odds with reality, although the bible-thumpers wish it were not that way.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

53. because clearly women never want to have sex

[omega minimo]

58. just want to be objectified and used as dehumanized props for marketing and trophy purposes.

clearly

[Xenotime]

60. Abstinence is over rated.

Who really wants to wait? What's the point?