Research Proposal:
Relationships are a part of belonging in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and technology has given easier access for people to connect and participate in non-demanding, online relationships. As a society, the perception of our peers has led to a desensitization of the topic of sex and the idea of promiscuity. Research has proven that adolescent use of technology has led to an increase in sexual behaviors, in everything from the easy access to pornography to the influence of images over social media. When students are exposed to raunchy images of peers, they are more likely to admit to their own promiscuity In The Influence of Social Networking Photos on Social Norms and Sexual Health Risks, Sean Young explains the images have an a “potential power… to affect health behaviors by altering perceptions of peer norms” . According to The Influence of Technology on Sexual Content in Mass Media in the United States, China, and India, a culture barrier also influences the ideas about the distribution of porn. For example, the United States has almost no limitations when it comes to distribution; while Chinese and Indian governments have made a large attempt to control the media distributed over the internet. In terms of relationships, technology can be seen as having both a positive and negative effects. When the couple is apart, they report that technology is beneficial for communication. However, The Impact of Technology on Couple Relationships states that “The Internet has the potential to blur the boundaries between online social relationships and face-to-face relationships” which can reduce the significance of personal relationships. It is also reported that when significant others are together, it is reported that technology can actually be damaging to a relationship through a lack of interpersonal relationships. The idea of online relationships can directly influence a person’s concept of self and their idea of courtship and intimacy. As it relates to Brave New World, technology has eliminated the need to procreate, and therefore the need for marriage. The wide access to technology to be used for pleasure, such as the feelies, has also increased the sexuality of the society. The World State uses sex as a way to create stability in the society, with the Elementary Sex classes and the Solidarity Service. This concept comes as a huge struggle for John, who still dreams about the ideas of love and marriage that he saw others feeling on the Savage Reservation. His feelings for Lenina cannot be reciprocated due to her hypnopaedic conditioning and the notion that “everyone belongs to everyone else”. The use of media to change perspectives on relationships and sex is becoming more prevalent in today’s society, but also in the World State.
How has technology led to a decrease in monogamous relationships as it relates to sex?
How has technology changed societies view on sex?
Annotated Bibliography:
Adeyemi, Adeyeye. "Influence Of Globalisation On Sexual Behaviours Of Adolescents In Nigeria." Researchgate. N.p., 23 May 2014. Web. 25 Mar. 2015.
Dr. Adeyemi studied how in Nigeria, the increasing amount of technology has immensely changed the concept of sex in the past 30 years. Before the globalization of the country, many people in Nigeria had very little notions about sex other than the common belief system passed down through generations and the strong concept of marriage. But with the introduction of television and the internet, the importance of virginity before marriage has dropped immensely. He explains how self image has also led to an increase in sexual behaviors. With Brave New World, the idea of engaging in sexual activity was directly related to a citizen’s duty and their image in the society. Lenina felt pressured to sleep with more than just Henry because she did not want to appear attached.
Collins, Rebecca L., Steven C. Martino, and Rebecca Shaw. "Influence of New Media on Adolescent Sexual Health: Evidence and Opportunities."Influence of New Media on Adolescent Sexual Health: Evidence and Opportunities: Main Page. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Apr. 2011. Web. 23 Mar. 2015.
This source provides detail of how different aspects of the internet has affected adolescents and young adults and their sexual behavior. With the wider scale of the internet, people have easier access to pornography and online chat rooms where they can meet people to engage in sexual activities. Simple things such as seeing sexual references on television can alter an adolescent’s perspective on sex. With this generation having the largest percent of the population online, the risk for being exposed to sexual content is even higher. This relates to Brave New World with the idea of the feelies and the constant access to technology, and applying the concept of sex as something that is now easily accessible through technology.
Cunningham-Engram, Vanessa G., Gary C. Guffey, and Kim C. Smith. "The Influence of Technology on Sexual Content in Mass Media in the United States, China, and India." Intercultural Communication Studies XVII.2 (2009): n. pag. Web. 25 Mar. 2015.
This source discusses the increased availability of pornography and sexualized media in high population countries had directly affected the increase in the sexual activities of its citizens. In the United States alone, $13 Billion a year is spent on sexual entertainment. This readily available content again alters the perspective of the viewers and implements the idea of instant gratification, which is a huge topic for discussion in relation to Brave New World. It also displays the difference in cultures on the basis of pornography. In countries like India, they try to limit the amount of porn available on the internet, while the United States has almost no limitations. It also discusses the advantages and disadvantages to allowing children to view pornography as the enter puberty. In Brave New World, the children are conditioned at a very young age to view sex as a casual thing.
Leggett, Christina, and Pieter Rossouw. "The Impact of Technology Use on Couple Relationships." Neuropsychotherapist. N.p., 4 Nov. 2014. Web. 25 Mar. 2015.
This source studied both the positive and negative influences of technology when it came to relationships. It examined the positive effects that technology had, allowing the couple to still engage while they are apart, or various activities that they can engage in together. This help to strengthen a relationship. However, using technology when they were together, but not using the same technology, they reporting having a negative image of their relationship. For example, using a laptop while with a significant other made them feel a disconnect with their partner. This relates to Brave New World because John feels disconnected from Lenina, despite the technology that is around them.
Young, Sean D., and Alexander D. Jordan. "The Influence of Social Networking Photos on Social Norms and Sexual Health Behaviors."Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking. Pubmed Central, 16 Apr. 2013. Web. 25 Mar. 2015.
This source explains various studies on the influence of social media on student ideas of sexuality in peers. When students view peers engaging in promiscuous activities in photos on websites like Facebook or Instagram, they are more likely to admit to their own sexual activities as well as saying they view sex as more socially acceptable. This relates to Brave New World with hypnopaedia and the Solidarity Service, where the ideas of sexual behaviors being socially acceptable are being ingrain in the minds of the people in the World State.
