Question 2:
Most of you seem to agree that child sexuality is natural and normal on its own, but becomes problematic in the context of our culture. Do late-twentieth-century images (e.g. Calvin Klein ads, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Barbie, etc.), books (most famously, Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, Forever and other books by Judy Blume), and films (Kids, the new Lolita, PG-rated movies with sex and nudity) involving child/adolescent sexuality promote or encourage kids to become sexually active before their time? Do they influence the rates of teen pregnancy and STDs, and the age at which kids lose their virginity today? Or, could it be argued that they promote positive sexual identities, comfort with one's own changing body, better gender/sexual relations and a freedom to ask questions?




Naomi Wolf


Dear Nerve.com and My Fellow Contributors to This Discussion:

I've read now everyone's responses to the first question, and I'm about to do something which no doubt will generate some censure -- but it feels to me like the most appropriate thing for me to do. I was eager to join this debate -- and glad Nerve was sponsoring it -- because of the very strong feelings I have, both as a mother and as an ex-girl-child, about the violence we do to children by exploiting them sexually in this culture. I appreciate the importance of open debate, but I am also beginning to feel that some of the responses have crossed over what I believe all children are entitled to -- a zone of privacy and dignity -- and have begun to treat children's sexuality in an exploitative way even while decrying the use of children in this manner. As I've said publicly, I am a free-speech feminist; but even the First Amendment demands that we exercise some ethical restraints on ourselves, as adults, when it comes to how our sexual culture harms or disregards the rights of children. For that reason, I am no longer comfortable continuing to be a part of this roundtable, and must withdraw. Thank you.


A. M. Homes, Judith Levine and Stephen Schiff respond
Question 1
A. M. Homes
James Kincaid
Judith Levine
Michael Medved
Stephen Schiff
Celine Texier-Rose
Naomi Wolf


Question 2
A. M. Homes
James Kincaid
Judith Levine
Michael Medved
Stephen Schiff
Celine Texier-Rose
Naomi Wolf


Question 3
A. M. Homes
James Kincaid
Judith Levine
Michael Medved
Stephen Schiff
Celine Texier-Rose
Sally Mann


Question 4
A. M. Homes
James Kincaid
Judith Levine
Michael Medved
Stephen Schiff
Celine Texier-Rose



©1998 Naomi Wolf and Nerve.com