Teenagers want sex in their magazines, say publishers

Courier Mail, 3 May 2008
Rival teen magazines Dolly and Girlfriend have joined forces to defend their sex-related content, saying they are giving readers information they want and need. The magazines' publishers made a joint submission at a federal government inquiry in Sydney today to reject suggestions they should carry audience age recommendations. ACP Magazines, which publishes Dolly, and Pacific Magazines, which publishes Girlfriend, said there were important health reasons to ensure young people have access to responsible information on sexual development. more...

The magazines argue that they are simply responding to questions young people are asking in their letters to the editor section. That's true, although it is magazines like these that contribute to the questions being asked at younger ages. As youth workers we will not stop the questions being asked but need to reflect on the extent to which we provide answers to real questions young people are asking. Sex education is primarily the parents' responsibility yet we still have a role to play by consulting parents and providing answers that are biblically sound reinforce the message parents are giving.