"Exposure to Degrading Versus Nondegrading Music Lyrics and Sexual Behavior Among Youth" by Steven C. Martino
Summary: This research piece is on the connection between the alleged correlation between lewd lyrical content in music and lewd behavior in youth. The article surveyed a large pool of youth and came to the conclusion that there did not appear to be any definable connection between highly sexual lyrical content and sexual activity in youth, however there did appear to be a higher rate of sexual activity in those who listened to music that was not only highly sexual, but degrading as well.
Analysis / Reflection: It is interesting to find out that there was no deep connection between those who listened to sexual lyrics more often (and thus, had sex on their minds more regularly), which I originally thought their would be. To find out that people who listen to sexually degrading lyrics more often do the dirty more often had me somewhat perturbed. To me it seems understandable that people with sex on their minds would be more interested in participating in sexual acts but to find out that those who idolize the objectifying of women are those who are breeding more often has me almost afraid for an Idiocracy-like future. Sure, sex sells, and sex often sells sex, but the objectifying of women should not sell sex. This study proves that sexually degrading lyrics inspire a decrease in morals and should fuel a fire that should try to bring an end to such an awful creation. One could argue that sexually degrading lyrics don't cause an increase in sexual behavior but rather the opposite, that those who are more sexually active are likely to consume music that is more sexually degrading, but if that is the case, why should it not be frowned upon that artists are marketing music that promotes the objectification of women to those who have more frequent sexual encounters with women?
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