Chlamydia,+MTV+and+Pornography+–+Generation+Y’s+Sexual+Revolution

Name - Samuel Kevin Bianchi Student Number - N8097844 Tutor - Emily Mann, Thursday 10am-11am

= Artefact =

The cultural artefact is an example of a recent advertising campaign rolled out by Tom Ford in support of a new fragrance for men. This advertising campaign consisted of highly sexualized images of women. In the differing images included in these advertisements the product was strategically placed in sexual positions e.g. between the breasts and covering the female genitalia. This advertising campaign gathered considerable criticism for its blatant female objectification and highly sexualized nature. Due to the controversial nature of the images the campaign attracted considerable public attention and became significantly well publicized across a number of countries.

Public Health Issue
The public health issue central to this analysis is the alarmingly increasing rates of STIs (specifically Chlamydia and Gonorrhea) across Generation Y in Australia, the UK and the USA. Australian data shows that, since 1991, the number of diagnosed cases of chlamydia has more than tripled and the number of diagnosed cases of gonorrhoea has increased by 20%. These data accompany a marked change in the sexual behavior of Generation Y. This analysis will discuss this STI increase in more detail whilst also examining the sudden changes in sexual behaviour. Finally, this analysis will discuss sociological reasons as to why these changes in behaviour have occurred.

 Literature Review
The increase in the prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI’s) in young people in Australia (and other developed countries) has been well documented in the media ( Engle, 2009; Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 2009; Hall, 2009). International governmental research supports these warnings from the media; it is clear that the rates of STI’s (most notably Chlamydia) are significantly increasing in the younger populous in many developed countries. Data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare displays marked increases in chlamydia and gonorrhoea infection over a number of years. The rate of chlamydia infection (per 100,000 population) in 1997 was less than 100. This figure began to rise sharply in the late 1990’s and increased significantly from the year 2000 onwards. Between 2003 and 2008 the rate of infection nearly doubled. Currently the rate of chlamydia infection (per 100,000 population) sits at nearly 300.

While the incidence of gonorrhoea has not risen as spectacularly as chlamydia in Australia, there has been a marked plateau of infection across the population. Since 1997, the rate has remained at approximately 30 per 100,000 population. Interestingly, in AIHW data from 2001 which focused on infection rates in //young// Australians, the rate of gonorrhoea infection in 1993 was approximately 40 per 100,000 young people. Over 8 years this infection rate rose steadily to a peak in 2001, where the rate of gonorrhoea infection per 100,000 young people was approximately 75.

This phenomenon has been witnessed in a number of developed countries including the USA (Centre for Disease control and Prevention, 2010), the UK (HPA, 2008) and New Zealand (Perkins, 2004). There is a solid body of research across developed nations that acknowledge an increase in STI’s (most notably chlamydia) in young people.

While these are worrisome figures, there is a good chance that they are a considerable under-estimation (AIHW, 2010). Chlamydia will often present without any clinical symptoms, therefore the infected person will not receive a diagnosis from a general practitioner (AIHW, 2010). Currently, the data collated on chlamydia infection rates has been synthesised based on diagnoses from GP’s. This is a severe limitation in this data collection, as the true number of infected persons may be well in excess of the data gathered from general practitioners’ diagnoses.

Some researchers have suggested that this increase in infection rate can be attributed to a decrease in condom usage in young people (Heldman & Wade, 2010). While this could explain the rising rates of STI transmission, data collected pertaining to young people’s usage of condoms suggests that condom usage has not decreased and has, in some cases, increased. AIHW data suggests that, among adolescent Australians, condom usage increased steadily from 1992 (condom utilisation rate of approximately 50% of Australian adolescents) to 2008 (condom usage of approximately 70% of Australian adolescents). US research displays a similar pattern of steadily increasing condom usage amongst adolescent Americans (Roberts, 2005).

One of the most dangerous limitations in Australian governmental data on adolescent condom usage is the absence of situational specificity with regards to condom usage. For example, AIHW adolescent sexual health data refers to ‘condom usage by sexually active adolescents’. ‘Sexual activity’ may encompass any number of types of intercourse including vaginal, oral and anal. As current Australian Governmental data does not distinguish between these different types of intercourse, there is a very real possibility that, although 70% of adolescents report using condoms in ‘sexual intercourse’, a vastly different percentage of the population may report using condoms in vaginal, oral or anal intercourse. This hypothesis has been investigated in US research, and it has been found that the rates of unprotected oral and anal intercourse in adolescents have increased (Heldman & Wade, 2010). While, in Australia, there has been little conclusive research undertaken to investigate this phenomenon, this conclusion has been used to explain the rising STI infection rates accompanied with rising condom usage amongst sexually active adolescents in the USA (Heldman & Wade, 2010).

 Another issue that is vital to this discussion of rising rates of STI infection is the changing sexual behaviour of Generation Y. AIHW data from 2008 does present data pertaining to one aspect of the changing sexual behaviour of Generation Y. It suggests that in the early 1990’s, the percentage of Australian adolescents who has engaged in sexual behaviour with three of more sexual partners was approximately 18%. This figure increased over the next two decades, and in a 2008 AIHW health survey this figure was placed at 30% and rising. These figures show an increase in the number of Australian adolescents with multiple sexual partners. This data correlates with more detailed research undertaken in the USA ( Heldman & Wade, 2010).

While detailed Australian research into this changing behaviour is lacking, US research looks further into this issue. It has been found that, in adolescent Americans, there has been a marked shift away from traditional vaginal intercourse coupled with an increase in both oral and anal intercourse. Rates of anal sex in adolescents have jumped from 13% to nearly 30% from 1992 to 2002 (Heldman & Wade, 2010). In a 2008 study conducted by Gindi, Ghanem & Erbelding in Baltimore, it was found that the rate of oral sex in adolescents jumped from 13% to 40% from 1994 to 2004. These data indicate a significant shift in the sexual behaviour of Generation Y. It has been suggested that rising rates of STI transmission as seen in developed nations such as Australia, the USA, the UK and New Zealand may be attributed to a lack of condom usage in oral and anal intercourse among adolescents combined with a significant increase in both oral and anal intercourse as well as an increase in the incidence of multiple sexual partners (Heldman & Wade, 2010).

 Cultural and Social Analysis
There are many theories in circulation attempting to explain the dramatic change in the sexual behaviour (and associated rise in STI transmission) of Generation Y. One of these theories is that this marked change in behaviour coincides with the advent of the ‘hook up culture’ which surfaced in the 1990’s (Owen, Rhoades, Stanley & Fincham, 2010). One of the key characteristics that defines this culture is the ‘normalisation of casual sex’ ( Heldman & Wade, 2010 ). Researches stress that this theory does not suggest that casual sex was absent before the 1990’s. To the contrary, casual sex was a noted feature of a number of sub-cultures in existence in the second half of the twentieth century e.g. Woodstock 1969 and the Anti-Vietnam War Peace Movement of the 1960’s/1970’s. However, the advent of the ‘hook up culture’ in the early 1990’s saw casual sex shift from an alternative sub-culture into mainstream culture ( Heldman & Wade, 2010).

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">There have been many published attempts to explain the emergence of this cultural phenomenon. There are three particular cultural changes that are most pertinent to this discussion. They are; the ‘pornification’ of mass media, access to and consumption of online pornography and the rise of female objectification in mainstream media.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">One major cultural change that has been attributed to the encouragement of the ‘hook up culture’ has been the increasing sexual content in mainstream media (Brown, L’Engle, Pardun, Gui, Kenneavy & Jackson, 2006). US research that has been undertaken in order to investigate this has found that contemporary primetime television is of a highly sexualised nature, with 90.5% of programming containing sexualised content (Aubrey, 2004). Similarly, in 2006 Brown, et. al. found a correlation between adolescents who consume a high amount of sexualised media and entering into sexual experiences earlier in life.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">The second major cultural shift has been Generation Y’s access to, and consumption of online pornography (Dines, 2010). With 90% of contemporary adolescents today having access to online pornography due to the proliferation of technology, theorists have speculated that pornography may be the primary influence on the sexual attitudes and behaviours of Generation Y, especially Generation Y males ( Heldman & Wade, 2010). It has been further suggested that the influence of pornography has re-written the Generation Y ‘sex script’ to include increasing amounts of oral and anal intercourse (Dines, 2010).

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">The third marked cultural change has been the rise of female objectification in mainstream media ( Heldman & Wade, 2010). This change involves young females considering their bodies as the objects of desire of others. This change has been linked to the widespread ‘normalisation of casual sex’ that has defined this ‘hook up culture’ (Owen, Rhoades, Stanley & Fincham, 2010). It has also been suggested that there is a strong correlation between increasing female objectification and the ‘pornfication’ of mass media that has been discussed previously (Dines, 2010).

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">The public health implications of this phenomeno <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">n are significant. As has been discussed earlier, in Australia there has been little research into the detailed sexual behaviour of Generation Y. Due to the sensitive nature of the proposed research, it is understandable that researchers may be initially apprehensive, however it is imperative that Australian public health professionals are provided with this data so that appropriate public health interventions can be implemented. This STI epidemic in the youth of many developed nations seems to defy logic by occurring whilst condom utilisation rates are at an all-time high. However, progressive US research reveals that condom use in non-traditional forms of intercourse has decreased. If data gathered pertaining to adolescent Australians follows this trend seen in the USA it is vital that Australian sexual education is drastically updated in order to shift the focus away from traditional intercourse and to encompass the health risks associated with all forms of intercourse.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 19px; line-height: 23px;"> Analysis of the Artefact
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">This advertisement by Tom Ford epitomises the changes in cultural and social sexual attitudes that began to shift in the 1990’s. Notice how the model’s face is conveniently left out of the photograph, the focal points of the photograph being her mouth and breasts. This advertisement conveys the ideas of ‘pornification’ of mass media, blatant female objectification, the influence of pornography and the propagation of the ‘hook up culture’ as effectively as any study or scholarly publication.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">It seems a tenuous link to draw at first, however the rising rates of STI transmission amongst the younger population of many developed nations are absolutely linked to these cultural and social shifts. There has been a marked change in the sexual behaviours of Generation Y when compared to Generation X. While sexual education has effectively addressed the health issues surrounding traditional intercourse, non-traditional intercourse has been somewhat neglected. The rising rates of STI transmission may be attributed to a lack of education surrounding the types of intercourse that Generation Y are engaging in. It is imperative that Australian public health professionals are provided with accurate and detailed data so that sexual education and other public health interventions can be appropriately targeted.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> This issue is a clear cut example of a public health issue that has been brought a <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">bout by social and cultural changes. This reminds us that no issue is confined to the parameters in which it is presented to us and that there are always unseen social and cultural forces that strongly influence human behaviour.

=<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 23px;">Reflection and Learning Task =

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Wiki Title: **The Perversion of the Pap Smear** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Comment Title : **Pap Smear Discussion** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">'Challen, a very interesting assignment! As a male myself I was unaware of the extent of fear and trepidation associated with the pap smear process. This influence of culture, religion, tradition and upbringing (especially in this twenty-first century multi-cultural Australia) on the female patients’ perspective is equally thought provoking. Your proposed idea of restricting Pap smear performing physicians to female only is a bold one. I have no doubt that this decision is a step in the right direction in relation to quelling the fears of some female patients. In saying this, I suspect that some bodies of medical professionals may take issue with such radical changes. However, as you pointed out, the comfort and well-being of the patient should be considered top priority.'

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Wiki Title: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">'Raising Boys to Kill Themselves' - Socialisation Contributes to Male Suicide Rates ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Comment Title : **Male Suicide Discussion** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">'Jenna, congratulations on a highly thought provoking assignment! Those statistics are particularly worrisome, especially the one that details the relative plateau of suicide over such a long time span (over 100 years). The limitation in the data collection, acknowledged as recently as 2007, is a great point that you have raised; it is distressing that the actual number of suicides may be well in excess of the current data. Your public health intervention of the integration of social media is highly progressive and I love it! Utilising modern technology while simultaneously removing the socially stigmatised male from the socially stigmatising environment, this is a great idea! Well done!'

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** <span style="display: inline !important; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Reference List ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> AIHW. (2010). Australia's health 2010. Australia's health no. 12. Cat. no. AUS 122. Canberra: AIHW.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> Aubrey, J. S. (2004). Sex and punishment: An examination of sexual consequences and the sexual double standard in teen programming//. Sex Roles, 50 //, 505– 515.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Australian Broadcasting Corporation. (2009, May 4). STI increase sparks calls for mandatory sex ed. ABC News. Retrieved from http://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-05-04/sti-increase-sparks-calls-for-mandatory-sex-ed/1671898

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Australian Government, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2003). Australia’s Young People 2003. Retrieved from http://www.aihw.gov.au/publication-detail/?id=6442467534

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Australian Government, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2011). Young Australians. Retrieved from http://www.aihw.gov.au/publication- <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">detail/?id=10737419261

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Brown, J., L’Engle, K. L., Pardun, C. J., Gui, G., Kenneavy, K., & Jackson, C. (2006). Sexy media matter: Exposure to sexual content in music, movies, television, and magazines predicts Black and White adolescents' sexual behavior. Pediatrics, 117, 1018–1027.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (2010, November) 'Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance, 2009', Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Dines, G. (2010). Pornland: How porn has hijacked our sexuality. New York: Beacon (in press).

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> Engle, M. (2009, January 14). Rates of chlamydia, syphilis on the rise in U.S. //The// // Los Angeles Times. //

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Gindi, R. M., Ghanem, K. G., & Erbelding, E. J. (2008). Increases in oral and anal exposure among youth attending STD clinics in Baltimore, Maryland. The Journal of Adolescent Health, 42, 307–308.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Hall, L. (2009, August 30). Teens warned on safe sex as infections rise. The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved from http://www.smh.com.au/national/teens-warned-on-safe-sex-as-infections-rise-20090829-f3a5.html

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> Health Protection Agency (2008) '//Sexually transmitted infections and young people in the// //United Kingdom'.// Retrieved from <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">http://www.hpa.org.uk/Topics/InfectiousDiseases/InfectionsAZ/STIs/

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Heldman, C. & Wade, L. (2010). Hook-Up Culture: Setting a New Research Agenda. Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 7, 323-333. DOI 10.1007/s13178-010-0024-z

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> Kaiser Family Foundation (2006). //Sexual health statistics for teenagers and young adults in the// // United States //. Kaiser Family Foundation Publications, USA.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> Leichliter, J. S., Chandra, A., Liddon, N., Fenton, K. A., & Aral, S. O. (2007). Prevalence and correlates of heterosexual anal and oral sex in adolescents and adults in the United States. // The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 196 //, 1852–1859.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Owen, J. J., Rhoades, G. K., Stanley, S. M., & Fincham, F. D. (2010). “Hooking up” among college students: Demographic and psychosocial correlates. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 39, 653–663

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Perkins, N. (2004). The chlamydia problem in New Zealand. //Journal of the New Zealand// //Medical Association, Vol 117 No 1194.//

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> Roberts, C. M. (2005). Genital herpes in young adults: Changing sexual behaviors, epidemiology and management. // Herpes, 12 //, 9–14.