This article on the BBC News site today details how a Christian couple were denied the opportunity to foster children because they didn’t believe that homosexuality was right (read full article here).
Ignoring the pro or anti homosexuality debate this court ruling is ridiculous!
In this country we are short of people willing to adopt or foster children by tens of thousands and here is a council turning down a couple based on one view that they have.
In my work as a youth worker I’ve met broken young people…young people beaten by their parents, young people introduced to drugs by their parents, young people who’ve stole (as taught by their parents) and plenty more bad habits picked up from their parents which they believe is okay.
To top that off some of those young people have children and you’ve only got to watch the Jeremy Kyle show to see that the cycle keeps on going.
Yet here we have a respectable couple with experience of looking after children being they can’t foster because they don’t agree with homosexuality…seriously if we put the best interest of these children in place rather than calling the thought police then perhaps we’d have more people fostering, more happy children and a few less problems in the world.
Rant over!
So tonight whilst out Benvolio has been busy flicking through my picasa and editing a photo which really made me laugh…so here is the Ben edit!
Upon the recommendation of youth work magazine I’ve been tuning in to several episodes of Channel 4′s ‘The Joy of Teen Sex’; a TV show which aims to discuss teen sex problems and experiences using a team of experts in an open an honest way using their ‘sex shop’.
If you haven’t seen it then the chances are as you watch it you’ll suddenly feel like you’ve become Jeremy Kyle and be shocked at it…that or you’ll wonder why your teenage life wasn’t like that!
Statistics
The statistics on the show feel very biased. As a youth worker I know that a lot of the stats they use have probably been produced by asking a very select group of young people. To top that off if you apply the American Pie ‘rule of 3′ to the statistics then I suspect you’re far closer to the facts.
Approach Of The Show
To an extent I think it’s important that we’re coming out and saying ‘yes teenagers are having sex’ and addressing some of the issues in the show such as being uncomfortable with aspects of your body and practicing safe sex…addressing the issue of drugs and alcohol in sex are also important however I can’t help but feel the show is a little to flippant and casual.
The general feeling of the show is that young people are taking part in sex…but not just sex but in drugs and alcohol around sex and also having multiple partners, threesomes etc. My problem with this is that it feels like it’s just too accepting and in particular for ordinary teenagers watching I think it can create an unrealistic expectation of sex and also encourage young people to feel pressured into having sex earlier on and with more people.
Teen Journalist ‘Billie’
One aspect of the show which I think has been positive is features with teen journalist Billie who whilst isn’t a gifted interviewer (or especially engaging for that matter) is very honest and perhaps more realistic in her approach. For example Billie has explored glamor modeling, pole dancing and drugs, alcohol and sex. Unlike the rest of the show the young journalist has talked to people who use them, had some experiences (where appropriate) and made a very honest and open opinion about them…often saying that she wouldn’t do it or just doesn’t get it and in my opinion for young people watching the show this is the most useful section…Billie makes it acceptable to not like what everyone else is doing.
Overall…
Overall I think ‘The Joy of Teen Sex’ is a scary programme. I think it’s a risky and potentially damaging programme for young people to watch and probably scary for parents. As a youth worker it does make me aware of some issues facing young people and is certainly worth watching from an informative perspective but the attitude it promotes towards sex is just that little bit too accepting and encouraging for my liking.
Have you seen it? Thoughts? Comments?
Originally born in East Sussex Mark is a 25 year old youth and schools worker based in East Yorkshire just outside of Hull.
