What role has the media and technology had on shaping our cultural norms on sexuality and sex?
Address the impact of these forces on marriage.
The term Technical Determinism argues that improvements and changes in technology also drive
changes in society (Cunningham-Engram et al., 2009) We live in a world today where
technology is growing each and every day. It seems like every minute, there is a new
technological breakthrough. With this, the media has become more popular and it's stage of
power has become greater and greater as technology grows as well. It is inevitable to say that
media and technology have played a huge role in shaping our cultural norms on what sex and
sexuality should look like, but this leads to the question, just how big of an impact has the
influence of technology and media made on the cultural norms of sex and sexuality and how it
affect marriage? To answer this question we must take a look at two different stand points, the
negative impact and the positive impact.
When the terms internet and sex or sexuality are used together, one of the first things that is
thought of is pronography. As technology has advanced, so has the porn industry, and it is now
easier than ever for one to subject themselves to it. Pornography can not only lead down a road
or addiction, but also sets unrealistic expectation for what sex is supposed to be. Yet one of the
biggest reasons that porn is hurtful to a marriage is, though it may be performed by just one
person, it affects the whole family. The marriage relationship is the foundation of the social and
familial unit, as well as the sexual union that can become broken and desensitized by such acts
(Manning, 2006). Even outside of the realm of pornograpy, technology has had a negative
influence on sex and sexuality. Media has set the standard for what is physically attractive and
what relationships look like even before marriage. Media has sculpted this idea of what the
standard for male and female beauty is, and it has caused tremendous difficulty for many people
to meet that standard and even feel good enough to start a relationship. Yet while they feel
inadequate themselves, many other people expect their idea of a partner and/or future spouse to
meet that standard. The hookup culture has also become a popular way of avoiding longterm
relationships and marriage. This is largely due to the media, books, tv shows, and movies, that
portray the notion of “No Strings Attached” relationships, and it has become more desirable to
remain single (Garcia et al., 2012).
Aside from all the negative impacts of technology on sex and sexuality, there have been some
positive effects as well. According to Yarhouse and Tan, “The internet, smartphones, social
networks, and so many other advances have made an incredible mark on how people think,
behave, and relate to one another” (Yarhouse and Tan, 2014, pg. 65). People have become more
open to hearing and learning about things because of the internet and technology. We now live in
a world where christianity is more publicized than ever before, and it catches people's attention.
Technology can be used as a great resources to study further into topics such as what a healthy
marriage looks like and what does a specific passage in the bible mean. It also provides ways for
couples to stay in contact with each other and have intimacy without having to be physical. Long
distance relationships have become huge with the advancement of technology, and for many
couples, takes out an aspect of temptation in the premarital stages that better sets them up for
marriage.
Cunningham-Engram, V. G., Guffey, G. C., & Smith, K. C. (2009). The influence of technology
on sexual content in mass media in the United States, China, and India. Intercultural
Communication Studies, 18(2), 26.
Manning, J. C. (2006). The Impact of Internet Pornography on Marriage and the Family: A
Review of the Research. Null, 13(2-3), 131-165. 10.1080/10720160600870711
Garcia, J. R., Reiber, C., Massey, S. G., & Merriwether, A. M. (2012). Sexual Hookup Culture: A
Review. Review of general psychology : journal of Division 1, of the American Psychological
Association, 16(2), 161–176. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0027911
Yarhouse, M. A., & Tan, E. S. (2014). Sexuality and Sex Therapy: A Comprehensive Christian
Appraisal. Downers Grove, IL: Inter Varsity Press.
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