Melinda

Frankly you are over-reacting. Teenage girls are just as hormonally fuelled as teenage boys. When the human race can simply accept its sexuality as a normal part of life, there will be less need for the Miley Cyrus' to go to such extremes. While we continue to place such limitations and attitudes of avoidance on our sexuality, we will be confronted by those who either throw it back at us by exhibitionism or by those who can make a dollar out of it.

I don't deny the reality of sexual predators, exploitation and objectification of sex - particularly of females. However, articles like yours only cause the issue to turn on itself, brings out those who see you as a 'wowser' and does nothing to place our sexuality as a part of normal human behaviour.

Melinda,

My advice is that you may be too old for the sub culture you seem to be immersing yourself in. The target audience is a much younger and less cynical demographic.

In summary: It's not for you. I know you want to dance around on your bed singing into your hair brush, and relate with your burgeoning sexuality to the sexual excitement and interest in sex expressed by Top 40 divas. But really, at 40-odd years old, you should be looking for something more sophisticated. I know you want to pour over the lyrics of your idols and search for meaning in their words, but those words are aimed at less world weary young girls.

Now female soloists aren't really my taste, but I suggest perhaps you look into artists such as Aimee Mann, Norah Jones, Regina Spektor, Emilíana Torrini or Sarah Blasko, or any artist making music (rather than videos) for an older, more sophisticated audience.

So, turn off E! Network and put down your CelbrityMania, and maybe pick up NME or Drum Media and go and see a few gigs.

Let it also be whispered, Melinda, you are also "conforming to the script" with this article.

When females get to a certain age, they start to notice that the next generation is letting the side down badly.

Many forests have been sacrificed over the centuries to bring us articles along the lines "kids these days". Fortunately, blogging is more eco-friendly, because I'm pretty certain that future generations will be saying exactly the same thing.

Severin

I thought that Melinda was spot-on. There are many ways of conducting one's sex-life. At the moment, all female pop stars are clones of each other, all with a quite similar sexuality. A big part of this fad is to brag about how they don't let others tell them what to do.

However, it is hard to see these women as non-conformists when they are all so similar. There is no reason to assume that, given complete freedom to choose any model of sexuality, all women will adopt the same sexuality (one that was originally designed to suit men).

It is also strange that all of these women have "chosen" to create a type of soft-porn that most men happen to enjoy. Record companies are on a winner. Men have always enjoyed a bit of a perv, but traditionally, women disliked stripper wanabees. Having convinced many women that this sexuality is feminism, the companies can profit from producing product that appeals to both genders.

The are only two parts of the formula that Melinda neglected to mention. One is the hypocracy exhibited by these singers when they release a "my ex should feel so guilty about how he conducted his sex life when he dumped me" type ballad. The other ingredient is the stories in the women's magazines about how they battled low self-esteem or bullying in their teenaged years.

Houllie

So you are a teenager then?

Pynchme

Melinda probably is following a script. So are teenagers, when they demand the freedom to slavishly follow fashion.

Most generations conform to a script, the script being a malleable one between the ages of 14 - 18.

Cyrus is conforming to the current script which is about consumerism and commercialisation of sex. The mere act of trying to be more outrageous, more sexy than the last teen rock star, seeing how far it can be pushed before there is a backlash, and extra publicity to go with it.

Pushing the boundaries is becoming so passe' so last century. Like any group, the Goths, the Hippies, the Indy trend (what is that about?) all conforming to be 'different'.

The inter-generational essentials have not changed but it does not mean we cannot speak out about that which we feel uncomfortable. Discomfort leads to exploration and examination of our own views and values.

Personally I don't think the current trend is healthy, but neither was the dope trend or the street racing trend for different reasons.

It is sad that kids are more cynical and more 'aware' but not in a good way necessarily and often before they have the maturity to process what they see and experience, and to make rational choices. Most 16 year olds will know a sell job when they see one, but not a 10 year old nor a 14 year old in most cases.

I am tempted to suggest that maybe if we become so cynical and so bored...yawn...with another overtly sexual video clip that it will cease to be a problem or an influence. However, it just does not feel right - the target market group is getting younger.

Does this modern cyncism protect our kids from sexual abuse. It does not seem to.

I cannot see a positive in sexualising music aimed at young audiences. When did music stop being about musical talent and more about gyration and sex simulation. If you want that go rent a porn DVD.

But kids aren't allowed to watch porn pelican. What are they to do? It's for them, not us. They're the consumers. And they like sex. And why not too.

I think adults overestimate the effect pop music has on teenagers. It's just one of many avenues of entertainment.

Now,

You sound like the people upset about Elvis thrusting his hips.

'Does this modern cyncism protect our kids from sexual abuse. It does not seem to'

No, but censorship and guilt about sex and the body doesn't either.

benk,

'given complete freedom to choose any model of sexuality, all women will adopt the same sexuality (one that was originally designed to suit men).'

What model do you propose? How do you know that this model doesn't suit women? When you're using sex to sell, and who wouldn't, why would you have modesty and chastity as a model? You're warped! I think you're all showing your age.

Houllie

"What model do you propose?"

Any sexuality that suits the person without hurting others too much.

Most teenagers are interested in sex. Some teenagers genuinely don't care. Ariel Levy cited American research that suggested that, for most women, their early sexual experiences were consentual but unwanted. They had sex to please others and prove that they aren't a prude or frigid. Whatever the case, some people want to have sex with as many people as possible. Some people aren't into casual sex. Some women like to look sexy. Some aren't comfortable with their boobs half out. Some like the attention that a short skirt and a reputation will give them. Some hate going to parties and having to endure sleazy men and their well rehearsed routine.

No matter which sexuality genuinely suits women, they are under pressure to have the same type of sexuality as these popstars, because it is the fashion. Ironically, much of the peer pressure to have this sexuality is assuming that those who don't are letting others tell them what to do. Why assume that all women, given complete freedom, will choose the same sexuality?

I think that's the closest I've come to agreeing with one Melinda's articles. The script does look very much the same and I have no doubts that it's all down to nature.

On the other hand as others have pointed out Melinda is not in the target audience for this stuff (nor am I) and kid's in general may be somewhat more robust than some give them credit for. For the most part they get that most of what they see is staged, they enjoy the fantasy but that does not mean they run their own lives to the same script.

R0bert

So benk given that kids choose to conform to peer pressure by your rationale there can only be one model, i.e. the model the kids choose as the coolest. So no matter what 'diversity' is shown in the media, kids will pick one. I'll bet you're 'rooting' for the chastity model.

There are many sub-cultures that kids have. The recycled Goth culture of emo has the kiddies wearing dark make-up and predominately black clothes, more often than not showing any flesh, even at the beach. Some marketeers have responded to this by giving them My Chemical Romance and Placebo etc. See, the kids are driving this stuff. It just so happens there are more American Teen Cheerleader disciples than Goths.

There is also a quite prominent Hillsong feel good nice Christian sub-culture where they go to raves to get high on the Lord! I'm sure that would have been your cup of tea when you were at school.

See, the consumer makes the market. The market feeds on the pulse of the consumer. Why do you think they are obsessed with researching us so much on Facebook. Kids join whatever sub culture that suits them. The marketeers respond to the culture that is most popular as it makes the most money. Always on a winner with sex and teenagers.

I agree with Houllie's last post.

We are underestimating our teens yet again. For example, there are still those who have their knickers in a knot over Jessica Watson's successful voyage and clear maturity with which she handles an over excited media. I love how she countered Rudd's "you are a hero" B/S.

So Miley Cyrus gets it on all sexy.

I have more problems with Rap videos where the women are depicted as "bitches" and the men clearly in control.

Melinda what do you think of Justin Beiber? Too sexy for ya?

Severin
I agree those rap songs are degrading to women and feed into America's gang culture - more extreme = more profit.

Houlley
"No, but censorship and guilt about sex and the body doesn't either"

Not arguing for more guilt - evidence shows that did just as much harm and certainly did not stop unplanned pregnancy.

Is there no middle ground? It is possible to allow the natural progress of childhood and the need to be informed about sex. The music industry's new raunch culture targets very much the tweens. Do corporate interests always have to outweigh other factors in the age of anything goes - justified only by warped and self-interested interpretations of freedoms?

My feelings about this come purely from watching my kids and their peers face the pressure of issues like "who can lose their virginity first", drugs and sex and the pressures to be sexually attractive (overt sexuality not the usual I am a girl and want to be attractive).

While I have faith in some kids to discern the rubbish from the real, not all kids are sufficiently mature or have the support at home. My daughters got through it albeit with some mistakes made along the way but now very wise in hindsight.

Maybe older teens (16+) do need to make some mistakes to understand themselves. However the same does not apply to a tween who is still finding their way and where maturity is sometimes non-existent. Have you ever tried to reason using logic with a 13 year old?

As a parent you hope the mistakes are not long-lasting or dangerous, or in rare cases life-threatening. Parents don't want to wrap their kids in cotton wool but there seems to be no packing material at all as far as the interests of consumerism is concerned.

Certainly the pressure to conform to whatever is the norms of the day is no different to any generation. The older generation has always criticised some aspects of the up and coming ones. Nothing new there, however that in itself does not make the concerns invalid.

Houllie

I would prefer that teenagers didn't conform so much to peer pressure. The only exceptions are pressuring people to think of others and pointing out the consequences of people's choices. If there were more types of sexuality on display, then teenagers might feel more freedom to make a personal choice. If they must follow fashion, the least they could do is to stop pretending that others don't influence their choices.

BTW My Christian fad lasted about a month, twenty years ago. I have never advocated chastity, just criticised the highly promiscuous. I have never known anyone who conducted their sex life in this way without hurting others and themselves.

Pelican

There is much wisdom in what you have to say.

Where is the middle ground? I honestly don't know. I loathe the objectification of women and children. I despair that many of the targets aimed at by the MTR's are frequently inappropriate. The true targets are those who have the most to gain from such exploitation. Despairing that teenagers are ruled more by their hormones is not solving any problems. Aim at those making a profit from using children.

Apologies. I wish very much to make cogent comment here, but not too well ATM.

Thanks Severin, I don't know about wisdom. You always manage to make a cogent argument even if we don't always arrive at the same place.

Like you, I don't like extremism on either side of this sort of debate and hope that common sense prevails.

I am not sure how old you are but we got through the 70s with platform shoes and flares - anything is possible. :)

Sorry you are not well. Spoil yourself.