CCF Speaker Series Monique Ward Ph.D. 11-7-2014

The Sea They Swim In: Mass Media and Sexual Learning among American Youth Monique Ward, Ph.D. The mainstream media have emerged as a prominent force in the sexual socialization of American youth, with teens consuming nearly 7.5 hours of media a day. Yet relying on media models of courtship can be problematic because media content often conveys rigid messages about sexuality that center on traditional gender roles and sexual scripts. In addition, media often feature a hyper-sexualized feminine ideal that may encourage women to see and value themselves mainly for their beauty and sexual appeal. In this talk, I present findings from several studies that investigate how regular exposure to mainstream media affects young peoples’ sexual attitudes, expectations, and experiences.

Monique Ward Ph.D., Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Michigan

11/7/2014 5:00:00 PM