Influences on

Many different influences

family, friends, teachers, the media and otherssurround you every day. At their best, these influences shape peoples lives and behaviors in a positive way. But some of these same influences can also have negative effects, pressuring people to behave in ways they later regret. This is especially true of the confusing messages about sexuality.

Sexual Choices
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Pressure to have sex can come from many different sources: Inside yourself: Sometimes pressure is internal. Romantic feelings, curiosity
or a desire to grow up might make a person more likely to start having sex. Everyone has a need to be loved and to express love to others. But a persons need for love, acceptance, intimacy, pleasure or excitement can be met in safer ways than sex. Internal influences that help support a choice to be abstinent might include a desire to please parents or family, a commitment to future goals and plans, or moral or religious beliefs.

partners. When people believe their friends are choosing to be abstinent, they are more likely to be abstinent themselves. When they believe their friends are having sex they are more likely to have sex. But no matter what your friends do (or say they do) its important to make up your own mind and make the choice thats right for you.
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Friends: Many teens say they feel a lot of pressure about sex from peers and

advertising often send messages that sex is a common, early part of a romantic relationship and has few physical or emotional consequences. The problems sex can cause rarely show up in the unrealistic world of media images. When was the last time you saw teen parents who had to drop out of school, or someone with an STD in an advertisement or TV show? The media seldom offers positive messages about abstinence. Influences are a part of daily life and always will be. Recognizing these influences can help you decide how to respond to them and can help you make better choices about whats right for you.

The media: Magazines, TV shows, movies, radio programs, music videos and

High School: Activities in Sexual Health, Abstinence & Relationships

Abstinence Choice
Directions
In column 1 list the factors that could possibly influence your sexual decisions. In column 2 indicate whether these factors are Positive or Negative. In column 3 identify strategies to overcome the negative influences to help you remain abstinent.

Protecting My

Master

Factors
Example: Planning to attend college Example: Pressure from partner to have sex

Positive or Negative
Positive Negative

Strategies
Use resistance skills. Find another partner who respects my abstinence choice.

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What is abstinence choice?

1 strategy you intend to use in the next 2 weeks to protect your

Self-Check
My work is complete and well-organized.

High School: Activities in Sexual Health, Abstinence & Relationships

I was thoughtful in my work.

Directions
dia for The teacher will assign a type of me your group to analyze. Your group will gather evidence of: sex How the media uses and portrays ce teens uen How those media messages infl

Media Analysis

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Form of media we will analyze:

______________________________________________________________

Step 1

Assign Roles

I Organizer Will organize the groups research and collect the results. (Every team member will be responsible for contributing evidence and examples.) Name: _________________________________________________ I Art Director Will create the poster showing your groups evidence and conclusions. Name: _________________________________________________ I Writer Will create a brief written report about your groups work. Name: _________________________________________________
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I Reporter Will present your groups research poster, and report to the class. Name: _________________________________________________

High School: Activities in Sexual Health, Abstinence & Relationships

(continued)

Master

Media Analysis

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(continued)

Step 2 Collect Evidence and Examples

I Each team member will complete a Media Observation Report. I Each team member also will collect images or words that the Art Director can use to create a poster.These might be advertisements for TV shows, copies of CD covers, magazine articles, song lyrics, etc. Be sure these are appropriate to share in school. I The Organizer will make sure everyone is collecting different data.

Step 3 Create Your Poster, Report and Presentation

During the next class, your group will meet to go over each team members research and decide what you want to include in your teams poster, report and presentation. Bring your completed Media Observation Report to the class along with your examples for the Art Director.

During this class:

I The Organizer will guide the group through a discussion of what each person observed and concluded. I With the groups help, the Art Director will create a poster. I The Writer will summarize the groups Media Influence Reports into a final report. Remember this is a team effort.Your presentation depends on every team members participation.
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Step 4 Present Your Media Analysis to the Class

The Reporter will use the poster and final report to make a 5-minute presentation of your groups findings to the class.

Self-Check
I worked cooperatively to complete this activity.

High School: Activities in Sexual Health, Abstinence & Relationships

Everyone contributed in the group.

Media Observation Report

Name Date
Type of Media (TV, movies, etc.): ______________________________________ Observation of: (Name of TV show, song, magazine, video, etc.)

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Who is the target audience?

Describe what you observed.

How was sex included in what you observed?

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Does this contribute to any myths or stereotypes about sex? How?

High School: Activities in Sexual Health, Abstinence & Relationships

(continued)

Master

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Media Observation Report

What message about sex is being communicated?

(continued)

What information about sex is not being communicated?

How do you think this message could affect teens attitudes and sexual behaviors?

Conclusion
Write a statement about how much influence you think this form of media has on teens attitudes and sexual behaviors.
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Self-Check
I am proud of my work. I gave 100% effort in my work.

High School: Activities in Sexual Health, Abstinence & Relationships

I reviewed and corrected my work.