One of my most embarrassing moments was during a lesson on human anatomy and physiology in high school.
Our biology teacher was extremely modest in her explanation, but the class was silent for the rest of the day. Adulthood, intimacy and relationships were not our cup of tea. Not once did my friends and I have a conversation about sexuality. Most of us were busy enjoying our innocence-filled teenage years.
It was also a time when the media played a pivotal role in shaping my personality. The pro-social message shows I watched on television definitely had a positive impact on my personality because all the characters were promoting morality.
The media were more lenient to my generation, though, because today it feels like we have done away with decency and modesty altogether. Even children’s cartoons are not spared.
I was watching the Cartoon Network with my niece and nephew the other day. The story revolved around a boy trying to get a girl. He tries to convince her father and, eventually, gets the green light. To me, the show seemed to be promoting sexuality indirectly and was silly and tastelessly done, and even used foul language.
How could a children’s channel resort to this? Did they run out of ideas?
My sister and I went to see Into the Woods, a Disney movie and, for me, there were many unnecessarily passionate kisses in what is, essentially, a children's movie. It seems it's difficult for a movie to win awards without sexual exploitation these days. Some actresses just compensate for their lack of talent with nudity.
Music is another victim of this negative cultural shift: it’s become like audio – and video – pornography these days. And what children see and hear will obviously have an impact on their views of life, and their choice of words and clothes.
Children are changing their attitudes, especially based on what they see and hear on television. Once my young nephew innocently approached me out of the blue and said: “Aunty, would you be my girlfriend?” It took me a while to regain my composure.
I did not know how to explain to him about relationships. In the Arab world, talking about sex and relationships can lead to family friction. But the reality is that we cannot hide our children or our young adults from the filth that they are exposed to on TV or smartphones or outside the home.
Such topics are uncomfortable, but eventually parents will have to speak to their children, and do it as early as possible before they end up turning to other dangerous sources.
aalhameli@thenational.ae
If you have a good story to tell or an interesting issue to debate, contact Shireena Al Nowais on salnuwais@thenational.ae.
