Sexuality

1) Has teen pregnancy rate been rising or declining over the past few years? What do the latest figures indicate?
Teen pregnancy has been on the rise since 2005 by 3 percent per year. It was on the decline from 1991-2005 by 30 percent. The pregnancy rate increased in women of all ages and races but unfortunately increased the most among blacks.

2) What are some of the theories for the change according to expert interview?
They didn't really give a clear cut answer as to why the pregnancy rate increased so much but they did discuss the abstinent only curriculum's at school, Sex education which teaches about forms of contraception as well as other different programs that focus on meeting the needs of teenagers. To me those were the main points that the experts referenced concerning change.

3) What situations influence teen pregnancy?
The lack of a close caring relationship with a trusted adult, Lack of proper health care, Positive outlook on life, Success in school and a scenes of belonging. All of theses situation increase the chances for teens to become pregnant.

4) If I were running a center for teens I would design a hands on in your face program that would prevent teen pregnancy. I would have something similar to scared straight only a little bit less harsh. I would have single mothers come in to talk with girls about the pro's and con's of teen pregnancies. I would also have the teens shadow a single mother for a day so they can see how life is as a single parent. I wouldn't focus on abstinence because I believe it would be a waist of time. I would show the students how to protect themselves and warn them of the dangers that can occur if they don't. In addition to that I would have people with AIDS and other sexually transmitted disease come in to offer testimony for the students in order to expose the reality and seriousness of sex. I would have male figures come to the center to talk to the male students about responsibility and family structure. In conclusion I would have males that are involved with in the child support system come and offer testimony about the ways child support can effect ones life. My program would work to the fullest I think it is a shame that society can promote sex in so many ways but when it's time to prevent and educate there seems to be only one way. The stats show those old ways are not working

LGBT & Q Families

1) In the piece Dan describes the stereotypical gay male that is portrayed on television. He describes the feminine ways and styles associated with gay men like the classic hand bag. He also touches on the point that on television they always make the gay man seem like sex is the only thing on his mind at all times. He talked about how the media makes gay man seem like they are the only ones that have sexual fantasies. He finished it off by talking about the gay man with the poodle but not just any poodle a pink poodle. Television makes gay people look like they all fit into a universal category. From watching television I noticed that gay men are portrayed as professional men, usually wealthy and living in suburban settings. There is no illustration on television of poor or working class gay men from urban environments I wonder why that is?

2) Honestly I don't watch a lot of television and when I do it is usually sports center or animal planet but I can recall a movie called Remember the Titans which illustrated a gay male that went against stereotypical norms. In the movie there was a quarterback named William who came from California. Williams father was in the army therefore had to move around a lot. When his father became stationed in Virginia he brought his son to try out for the high school football team. The country boys from Virginia made the assumption that he was gay before they even meet due to his long blond hair and feminine swagger. As time went one and William got to know the team he shocked everyone by kissing the captain Gary Berdet on the lips after practice. From that point on everyone new he was gay and gave him the nick name "sunshine". The team accepted him and treated him like the other players. Sunshine didn't go around slapping his team mates butts while in the showers, or fantasizing about his team mates. Sunshine didn't carry a purse around and didn't own a pink poodle. The movie portrayed sunshine in a non stereotypical way and showed viewers that gay men don't all fit into that universal box.

3) Adopting a child is a touchy matter I don't agree or disagree I'm in the middle. I think that gay men should be able to adopt a child because I would much rather see a child go into a loving home oppose to living in an orphanage any day. Regardless if the parents are gay men the life in a orphanage and the life provided in a loving and stable home are night and day. On the other hand from a religious stand point I am against homosexuality. I feel like it is wrong and unnatural for two men or two women to be together intimately. I believe man and women is the natural way and what is right. Don't get me wrong I am not homophobic (anymore) and I don't hate gay people I just don't think that that life style is right. I have gay family members, Friend and customers and treat them with the same leave of respect as I do toward my straight Friends , family members and customers. When A child becomes involved in that type of environment I think a lot of complications can occur. ( Hopefully we can discuss those complications in class)

4) After reading I wasn't really shocked I had learned about some of these statistics in other classes so it wasn't very new to me. At the end of the day family is family whether it is two moms or two dads or a mom and a dad, if a child has a support system and a loving environment anything is possible. I am for families, the lack of the family structure is partly to blame for societal problems we are faced with today. People will always be different and see things different no matter what. The reading didn't falter my expectations or surprise me.

Gender Blog

Gender and Paid Work Based on personal experience I believe that children learn how to behave based on societal norms. Boys are taught to like sports, trucks and dirt while girls are taught to be prissy,timid and clean. Males as well as females look to up to and emulate what is accepted in society for the most part. From a early age males are taught not to cry, be tough and show no emotion. Girls are taught to be expressive in their feelings as well as in their words. I have a son that is four years old and a daughter that is nineteen months old I can recall the amount of times I have caught him in their room playing with doll babies. I tell him not to play with the dolls because they are for girls but still he plays with them. I also see my daughter playing with his trucks and video games. For now this behavior is some what acceptable inside my household but is defiantly looked down upon by society Their is a double standard when it comes to societal norms because a girl can be feminine at times and masculine at times and be accepted in society. If a males is feminine in anyway he is considered sweet. With that being said men across the country are telling their sons to stop crying and be tough while allowing their daughters to cry over the smallest thing . Boys like blue because we are taught to like blue trust me if the Dallas cowboys wore all pink boys would have no problem coming to school wearing a pink jersey. Everything children do is decided by what is acceptable by society.