YOUTH FORUM

~ spark a connection ~

towards understanding the issues of

hypersexualization, media messaging, sex ed,
and sexual violence in todays pop culture!

What We Heard
from

220

YOUTH
representing 11
schools, across
Shelburne,
Yarmouth &
Digby Counties.

December 10, 2014

Including 40 Youth Truth Matters Leaders and 12 NSCC Students of the Mental Health Recovery & Promotion Program

Talking about porn is still taboo.

Sex-Ed: Start with the biology of sex
but work up to the real world. Offer
Theres a lot of pressure to have
sex, its normal now, some girls are
ok with it, its what they see
everywhere.

healthy relationships and sexuality.

Parents dont understand
what its like to live in this
day and age

This is affecting everyone, its

promoting violence in our community.

Start worrying about what kind of world your children are growing up in.

When we asked youth about

porn culture, this is what they said
How is porn culture impacting your community, your relationships, your family, your school and YOU?

Community

Relationships

Family

School

YOU

It defines what is normal and

how youth should act.

Creates unrealistic views of

what is expected sexually.

Students openly share stories

and sexual experiences.

It affects my self- image.

Our childhood and our lives

change.

People are desensitized to

pornography.

Families should worry about

the world children are
growing up in.

Technology makes porn

available everywhere.

People become objects.

Porn is all over social media.

Exposure to porn is
everywhere, we cant get
away from it.
People are not informed.
Rape has become
normalized.
It changes how you view
women by sexualizing them.
It promotes violence.
Hypersexualization is
normalized in media.
Its changing social norms,
our view of what is right and
wrong.
Most people in our
community are taking part.
It increases sexual violence
and crime.
It promotes gender
inequality.
Porn is not talked about, its
still taboo.
It makes people think
violence is okay.

Things that used to gross you

out have become normal or
arousing.

More sexual harassment.

Disappointment.

More bullying.

Divorce, Break-ups, and

Cheating.

Porn use affects grades.

Creates pressure to act a

certain way.

Can result in missing school

or work.

Impacts your ability to

function.

Unhealthy relationships.

When you grow up in places

At school, when you go off
where your father beats your with a girl, everyone is asking
mom, you tend to be more
if you got any skin Porn makes it difficult to have violent and think violence is
pressure to have sex is
normal.
normal relationships.
coming from everywhere.
Hurt feelings.
It creates unhealthy and
Not enough sex education on
unrealistic expectations.
If you tell a family member
whats healthy, normal and
you
watch
porn
they
might
harmful.
It impacts our understanding
disown you.
of consent.
Judgement.
Theres a lot of pressure to
have sex.

It encourages abuse.
It creates pressure to be
doing certain sex acts.

Lowers self-esteem and

confidence.

This topic is difficult to

discuss with family.

More name calling, it makes

women feel and look bad.

Addiction, Depression,
PTSD.
Isolates you from family
and friends.
You become more selfconscious.
Feel ashamed.
Creates health problems.
You lose interest in things
you once liked.

You feel trapped.

Its important for fathers to
Loss of focus, more stress.
It changes your moral
lead by example. They hold
Relationships wont be based
Anger and violence increases.
limits.
greater influence in shaming.
on love.
Predatory behaviour.
Feelings of guilt.
Family doesnt understand
Porn is being chosen over
Gender roles are more
what its like to live in today's
Trust issues.
relationships.
defined in rural schools.
culture.
Violence and physical harm.
People think its important to
Students have to grow up
Talking about porn is still
Fear and Shame.
have sex like a porn star.
faster than before.
taboo.
As harming as it may be,
Women cant say no, they
Sexting and sending nude
Feel isolated from family and
what we see in the media
always have to be willing and
pictures has become normal.
friends.
has become normal.
ready at all times.
Creates embarrassment.
Its destroying morals and
Women and girls are called
Girls feel they must give up
values.
names for not wanting to
their bodies to keep a
put out, dress provocatively
relationship.
or perform sexual acts.
Youll need rougher and
different things to be
aroused.

What can we do about it?

In breakout sessions led by Youth Truth Matters

Youth have lots of power - lets use it!

Have advocacy groups change policies.

leaders, students had the opportunity to discuss

Mixed gender discussion groups, to avoid

We need to do things differently,

what they thought they could do about the

pitting them against each other.

sexualized culture they are growing up in.

Media literacy.

Through the Youth Truth Matters initiative,

More family time.

supports will be available to assist youth in

Start a group.

making positive changes. Youth need your

Involve youth.

support too; get informed and involved in your

Limit access to technology.

Support groups.

Build self-esteem.

Know your values and limits.

Recognize your strengths.

Work together.

Educate parents and teachers - they

Use social media to leverage change.

didnt grow up with it.

Dont buy what the media is advertising.

Spread the word - Dont be so afraid to

Make it part of the curriculum.

talk about it. Were seeing it everywhere.

Start conversations.

Better Sex Education: Start with

Stop the stigma.

biology, but work up to the real world.

Stop the cycle.

Stop promoting hypersexualized culture.

Pick better role models.

Make interventions available.

Pay attention to your relationships.

Get help if you need it.

T-Shirts and logos.

Eliminate shaming language.

Start a feminist group.

Start a school movement against porn.

Understand the harms.

Address name calling and understand

Get magazines out of general view.

the implications.

Increase regulations to limit the impacts.

Understand different perspectives.

community.
Here are some of the ideas youth identified:

Educate and inform youth about the

harms of pornography and how our
culture is promoting hypersexualization.

Offer information on healthy

relationships and sexuality.

Lend more voice to the issue.

Stop watching porn.
Make it less accessible. Ban it.
Change the laws and policies.
Regulate media better.
Be the change in the world.
Stop shaming, dont judge, stand up!

starting with our own decisions.

Understand how sex-trafficking is

connected to the porn industry.

Fathers need to lead by example.

Local support services are available by
contacting: Tri-County Women's Centre
(1-877-742-0085); Mental Health and
Addiction Services; or your nearest
RCMP detachment.

Hosted by Alberta
Health Services

PORN HARMS IN 3 WAYS: For more information visit http://fightthenewdrug.org

Fortify Program: The Fortify Program is a video-based online recovery program. It is free for teens and available to anyone that needs help.

PARENTS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS: Get more info at http://stoppornculture.org/

Gail Dines and Cordelia Anderson at STOP PORN CULTURE are working on a parent
program which they hope to have available in 2015. In the meantime, their
website is dedicated to challenging the porn industry and the harmful culture it
perpetuates. There is an information and resource section currently available to
help you educate yourself. We encourage you to talk to your children and help
them understand the pornified culture we live in.

Local 835

Tri-County Womens Health Coalition

Tri-County Womens Centre
Womens Committee

Spears & MacLeod Pharmasave

YOUTH FORUM funded by:

Chris dEntremont, MLA , Argyle-Barrington Greg Kerr, MP, West Nova

Gordon Wilson, MLA, Clare-Digby Zach Churchill, MLA, Yarmouth
In-Kind Contributions:

NS Department of Health and Wellness

Southwest Nova Scotia

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