"Oral Sex is the New Goodnight Kiss" by Canadian author Sharlene Azam explores the world of preteen and teen sexuality. Azam posits that many young girls are using sex as currency.
16-year-old Rachel explains in "Oral Sex is the New Goodnight Kiss" that she began having threesomes at a very young age to gain drugs and clothes from her sexual partners.
"Girls are surrounded by a hyper-sexualized culture where they are being groomed and encouraged to think of themselves as: Hooter’s Girl, Stripper, Porn Star. Exposure affects behaviour," says Sharlene Azam of her book and documentary, "Oral Sex is the New Goodnight Kiss."
Sex as Currency
“Oral Sex is the New Goodnight Kiss” Explores Preteen Sexcapades
Trend Themes
1. Hyper-sexualization of Preteens and Teens - Opportunities to create awareness and educational campaigns targeting parents, educators, and youth to promote healthy self-image and de-normalize early sexual behavior.
2. Sexual Exploitation as a Form of Currency - Opportunities for advocacy groups and lawmakers to encourage legislation and policies that address exploitation and protect vulnerable youth.
3. Impact of Pornography on Youth Behavior - Opportunities for technology and media companies to develop age-appropriate content filters and monitor online behavior to reduce exposure to explicit content.
Industry Implications
1. Education - Opportunities for educators to incorporate gender equality and healthy relationship curriculum into sex education programs for preteens and teens.
2. Advocacy and Nonprofit - Opportunities for advocacy groups and nonprofits to provide resources, counseling, and legal support for survivors of sexual exploitation.
3. Technology and Media - Opportunities for technology and media companies to develop responsible advertising campaigns, age verification systems, and content filters to prevent exploitation and reduce exposure to explicit content.