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TV Can Be a Catalyst for Parents and Teens to Talk About Sexuality
Adults and Teens Join Television Professionals to Watch “Moesha” and Learn the Importance of “Getting Real”
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA., June 2000 — A unique event that brought together television industry professionals, adolescent health experts, educators, parents and their children to discuss how families can use television as a springboard for communication about teen sexuality was the focus of a Family Screening Event held at the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences’ (ATAS) Leonard H. Goldenson Theatre.
Middle-school students, parents and educators viewed segments of “Moesha’s” award-winning Birth Control and Not My Pumpkin episodes, which explore teen attitudes and family communication about adolescent sexuality.
“Television is a major part of daily life,” said Dawn Wilcox, public education director of the Get Real About Pregnancy Campaign, the event sponsor. “We believe shows directed at teens can be a catalyst for parents and teens to have an open dialogue about critical issues.”
“The Academy and its Foundation recognize the prominent role television plays in the lives of young people. Our S.T.A.R.T. Communications program encourages youth to take a more constructive role in their television viewing,” commented Meryl Marshall, ATAS Chairman and CEO. “S.T.A.R.T.’s Family Screening Event extends the message into the home, inviting parents and their children to engage in important conversations about youth-relevant issues they see on television.”
After viewing the segments, guests heard from cast and creative team members of “Moesha,” including co-creator Ralph Farquhar and Moesha on-screen parents, Sheryl Lee Ralph and William Allen Young. They discussed the creative process that brought about the acclaimed story line, and spoke about the importance of exploring issues like teen sexuality responsibly.
“We know how important this issue is to the real-life girls who watch our show,” said Ralph Farquhar, executive producer of “Moesha.” “In order to keep it real on our show, we had to deal with this subject.”
According to the Get Real campaign, “keeping it real” means more than just discussing the merits of abstinence. “We must provide sexuality education that focuses on the whole person,” Wilcox said. The event’s participating experts in adolescent and youth adult health provided the audience with tools for family communication, emphasizing that the best people to provide information to teens about sexuality are parents.
“We know that many parents don’t know how to begin the dialogue, and that’s where programming like ‘Moesha,’ ‘7th Heaven,’ ‘The Hughleys’ and others can help,” Marshall stated. “We want parents and youth to see how these programs can be used as a stepping stone toward family communication.”
Dr. Drew Pinsky, host of “Loveline,” the popular television and radio call-in program, moderated the interactive event, which included audience role-playing with panelists and lively Q&A discussions.
The Family Screening Event is part of the ATAS Foundation’s S.T.A.R.T. Communications program, which promotes personal, social and achievement in young people. It encourages young people to take a more active and informed role in their television viewing experience.
The Family Screening Event was presented by the ATAS Foundation, and underwritten by the Get Real About Teen Pregnancy campaign.
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