I just finished the book, harmful to minors by judith levine and all i can say is wow. The perils of protecting children from sex, she looks at children and sexuality. Apr, 2002 when the university of minnesota press agreed more than a year ago to publish a book called harmful to minors. Levine spends a large portion of harmful to minors advocating for candid, comprehensive sex education in schools. In a time of increasing social and economic anxiety, feminist concerns about pornography and child abuse meshed with. Harmful to minors is unapologetic in its argument that our intentions are grounded on facts that have been manipulated and ignores desire and sexual exploration children do experience at a young age.
Virginia seeks to reinstate internet harmful to minors. Jan 26, 2019 in this important and controversial book, judith levine makes this argument and goes further, asserting that americas attempts to protect children from sex are worse than ineffectual. The book harmful on minors by judith levine 966 words. The perils of protecting children from sex by judith levine online at alibris. It is important to note that the standard for what is harmful to minors may be different than the standard for adults, and offenders convicted of obscenity crimes involving minors face harsher penalties than if the crimes involved only adults for more information, see citizens guide to federal law on obscenity. The work is wellresearched and i agree with many of the authors theses, though it doesnt attempt or pretend to be unbiased. Levine is an author, journalist, and cofounder of the national writers union.
Crimes of passion, which is about agegap relationships. Log in you must be logged into bookshare to access this title. In america today, it is nearly impossible to publish a book that says children and teenagers can have sexual pleas ure and be safe too. At almost 300 pages, harmful to minors is full of interesting facts and anecdotes.
Since it is pornographic in description, then it could be. Harmful to minors is a potent challenge to conventional wisdom about sex, sexuality, and sex education. In the book harmful to minors, the author judith levine asserts that the consensus regarding childrens sexual experiences arose out of a growing fear during the 1970s and 80s. That description applies to judith levines harmful to minors. In summary, harmful to minors is an interesting and very readable book that raises important issues that might otherwise be left to the sidelines. Renegade view on child sex causes a storm the new york times. The perils of protecting children from sex was published in 2002, a massive campaign by fundamentalist christian groups, including concerned women for america, attacked the publisher, the university of minnesota press. Compare corruption of a minor, children forced to kill and what do you mean, its not for kidscontrast corruption by a minor, troubling unchildlike behavior, and bloodbath villain origin. Harmful to minors is a unique book advocating a different approach to sex education and childrens sexuality. It is sensible, concise and intelligent from cover to cover, and is a must read for any parent suffering anxiety over raising a child in the current alarmist atmosphere surrounding child sexuality. But the spirit that animates the book is a less programmatic, polymorphous appreciation of the sights and smells, the sounds and language and tactile delights that make a personadult or childfeel alive in her skin.
Joycelyn elders, who was bill clintons surgeon general, wrote the foreword for this evil tome, knight says. Why is pornographic material considered to be harmful to. Harmfultominors laws seek to protect minors, generally considered those seventeen and younger, from pornography, obscenity, and other material that may bring harm to them. The perils of protecting children from sex isbn 0816640068 hardcover, isbn 1560255161 paperback is a 2002 book by judith levine. Judith levines controversial book challenges american attitudes towards child and adolescent. And were going to write a separate post on chapter 4. The perils of protecting kids from sex has been condemned by those who say she excuses sexual abuse of children a charge she strongly denies. The perils of protecting children from sex is a 2002 book by judith levine. There are a lot of things moral guardians believe kids should not be exposed to, and that doesnt. But well end this post with some examples of nymphet sexuality. It is sensible, concise and intelligent from cover to cover, and is a must read for any parent suffering anxiety over raising a child in the current alarmist atmosphere surrounding child. Mar 04, 2012 harmful to minors was written by judith levine. And so, in the second part of the book, sense and sexuality, levine turns reflective and personal.
For example, a bookstore might not wish to sell a sex education book on its web site for fear of being prosecuted. Child molesters are getting a big boost toward legitimacy with the university of minnesota press publication of a book advocating sex with children. In america today, it is nearly impossible to publish a book that says children and teenagers can have sexual pleasure and be safe too, writes journalist levine my enemy, my love. In this important and controversial book, judith levine makes this argument and goes further, asserting that americas attempts to protect children from sex are. The book cites a wide array of research in medical, psychological, historical, and criminological fields, along with many interviews to support its conclusions. Why is pornographic material considered to be harmful to minors. It is important to note that the standard for what is harmful to minors may be different than the standard for adults, and offenders convicted of obscenity.
In this important and controversial book, judith levine makes this argument and goes further, asserting that americas attempts to protect children from sex are worse than ineffectual. It is the assumption of danger and the exclusive focus on protectionwhat levine terms the sexual politics of fearthat are themselves harmful to minors. Unlike the cda, copa applies only to material displayed on the world wide web, covers only communications made for commercial purposes, and restricts only material that is harmful to minors, 47 u. As such, the law could restrict businesses from selling legitimate materials on the internet. It also brings one to question the motives behind someone who s. The foreword was written by former united states surgeon. Now available in paperback, judith levines controversial book challenges american attitudes towards child and adolescent sexualityespecially attitudes. She was a vice admiral in the public health service commissioned corps and the first african american appointed as surgeon general of the united states. Minors are by definition immature and cannot properly evaluate the material they are digesting and may well act out in a manner that is detrimental to themselves and society at large. See would hurt a child if some evildoer is specifically targeting a minor. In defining material that is harmful to minors, copa draws on the threepart obscenity test set forth in miller v. Harmful to minors laws seek to protect minors from pornography, obscenity and other material that may bring harm to them.
She has written for dozens of national magazines and newspapers on topics of sex, gender, aging, consumerism and more. The authora thoughtful and persuasive journalist and essayistexamines the consequences of abstinence only education and its. Harmful to minors journalist judith levine has written a wonderful new book, subtitled the perils of protecting children from sex. Review of harmful to minors the national center for. Harmful to minors the perils of protecting children from sex. Apr 04, 2002 harmful to minors in the introduction to her book she writes that harmful to minors launches from two negatives. The perils of protecting children from sex view larger image.
The book cites a wide array of research in medical, psychological. The book bases its theories out of extensive research and interviews with scores of sex therapists, educators, and counseling programs. Jan 06, 2006 april 15, 2002 in judith levines controversial book, harmful to minors. Mar 26, 2002 harmful to minors is a unique book advocating a different approach to sex education and childrens sexuality. The perils of protecting children from sex is every child molesters dream and every parents nightmare. If you sell harmful matter, you must use reasonable care in ascertaining the true age of a minor. Mar 26, 2002 harmful to minors by judith levine is an important title for educators on both sides of the sex ed issue. Judith levine, harmful for minors, the perils of protecting children from sex, 2001, university of minnesota press, minneapolis london. Now available in paperback, judith levines controversial book challenges american attitudes towards child and adolescent sexualityespecially attitudes promulgated by a christian right that has effectively seized control of how sex is taught in public schools. When the university of minnesota press agreed more than a year ago to publish a book called harmful to minors. Note that this isnt about what is or isnt harmful to minors in real life.
These laws are based on the concept of variable obscenity that is, material can be considered obscene when viewed by children and young people though not when viewed by adults. In america today, it is nearly impossible to publish a book that says children and teenagers can have sexual pleasure and be safe too, writes journalist levine. It is the assumption of danger and the exclusive focus on protection what levine terms the sexual politics of fear that are themselves harmful to minors. If anything is harmful to minors, it is surely mindless reactions like these. The perils of protecting children from sex, it was clear that it would be. Harmful to minors in the introduction to her book she writes that harmful to minors launches from two negatives. The harmful to minors trope as used in popular culture. And in an odyssey worthy of a david mamet script, americas reaction to this book has been a perfect reflection of the very panic, hostility, and ignorance the book. Judith levines controversial book challenges american attitudes towards child and adolescent sexualityespecially attitudes promulgated by a christian right that has effectively seized control of how sex is taught in public schools. The university of minnesota press, which published the book, has been the target of attack by republican state legislators. And i am convinced that the book is harmful matter to minors because of the description of incest and references to other sexual acts. Learn about membership options, or view our freely available titles. Review of harmful to minors the national center for reason. Virginia seeks to reinstate internet harmful to minors law.
She was a vice admiral in the public health service commissioned corps and the first african american appointed as. The virginia harmful to minors statute first went into effect in july 1999. Parents worry about their childrens sexual experiences, and for good reasondisease, pregnancy and abuse. The perils of protecting children from sex university of minnesota press, 2002. The foreword was written by former united states surgeon general joycelyn elders, who resigned after suggesting that masturbation be destigmatized as a means of preventing young people from engaging in riskier forms of sexual activity. As a promoter of abstinence education, i was prepared to hate this book as a minor popculture work that promotes sexual license and rooted in lessthan scientific source materials.
Harmful to minors laws the first amendment encyclopedia. Elders minnie joycelyn elders born minnie lee jones on august, 1933 is an american pediatrician and public health administrator. Feminist writer judith levines book harmful to minors. April 15, 2002 in judith levines controversial book, harmful to minors. Written with verve, humor, and wit, it is a trenchant look at americas failure to extol the erotic, and an insightful observation of our preoccupation with pedophilia, deviance, illness, and misconduct. Isbn 0816640068 hardcover, isbn 1560255161 paperback is a book written by judith levine which proposes that laws, programs and terminology aimed at protecting children from sex cause more damage than they prevent. Americas fears about child sexuality are both peculiarly contemporary i am certain i would not have had the same troubles twenty.
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