I'm sure I'll get a lot of laughs and a lot of grief for this post, but I am honestly so curious about this topic that I can't be silenced. I would also like to add as a disclaimer that I think my Twilight saga obsession has passed and that I won't be offended by any sort of comment.
So, my question is, is Breaking Dawn (or any of the Twilight books for that matter) too sexual in content for teenagers? At first, I would have said no. To me, the books do nothing but reinforce the LDS point of view on chastity. In a way, I feel like the books serve as the "chastity lesson" for the rest of the world; thank goodness they were written by a Mormon author. On the other hand, after Clark finished reading Breaking Dawn, the first comment he made was that it was really sexual and that he wouldn't want his teenage daughter to read it. At first, I disagreed with Clark. I know for a fact that I would have been absolutely okay reading these books as a teenager, granted I was a pretty "good" teenager. I would question 12 and 13 year-olds reading them, but by age 15, I think that would be fine. But again, at the same time, I have heard of so many people comment about how sexual they are that I question my original thinking. Perhaps I'm just terribly desensitized.
I'm sure I'll just have to wait until I have a teenager to know how I really feel, but I'm curious to know what everyone else thinks. Where do we draw the line? Leave me a comment or take my poll.
9 years ago
6 comments:
I think I'd be concerned about a 12 or 13 year old girl reading it, but I think it would be a good way to open the conversation with a 16+ girl. I'd make sure I'd talk about it with her. But I think 16 year old girls are already talking about or around sex with their friends.
But I think you bring up a good point. I don't really know how I'll feel until I have a teenage girl.
I don't think you think that rationally about some stuff when you DO have girl. Or perhaps, Reagan is just too young for me to know. I know you have this overwhelming desire to just want to protect their innocence.
I do know my two neices read the series and they are some of the best teenage girls I know. Sometimes when you shelter your child, it almost makes what you're sheltering them from MORE appealing.
It's sort of like my 15 mo. old, Cole. Every chance he gets he runs into the middle of the street. Reagan (my 5 yr. old) asked why Cole does that. After thinking about it I said, "probably because he knows he's not supposed to." Reagan instantly understood and replied, "I like doing stuff you and daddy tell me not to also."
Oh boy do I have a scary road ahead of me!
I guess you just have to KNOW your child. You can't make a decision about what literature they can handle until you know them.
(soo so lengthy)
I talked to my younger sister Leslie (age 11) who has read the book. I asked her your question. She said that it never really crossed her mind. She was more concentated on other parts that even when something might have crossed her mind as being sexual context she paid little attention to it because it wasn't as exciting as other parts (does that make sense?) I haven't read the books so I don't know. Maybe Leslie is too young also to recognize this kind of thing but that is what that 11 year old said.
I have to admit I agreed with Clark. I still liked the book but when I finished I told my husband I thought there was too much sexual content for younger girls.
Even Stephanie Meyer stated that Breaking Dawn was not as "chaste" but obviously still written for youth. After finishing the series, I realize there may be more sexual content in this last book, but they are married-doesn't that count for something? My niece is 13 and is reading the book and I don't see anything wrong with that, but we'll see if I change my mind when my daughter is 13!
of course you already know how I feel:) If people let their teens read them...even 16 year olds...hello the dating age!...they should definitely be discussing them together.
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