Dialogue over discipline
Parents as sexually explicit media literacy educators
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 12522014 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Marc Zen (0000-0003-1323-6154, Curtin University, corresponding author), Jan Hendriks (0000-0002-1177-8980, Curtin University), Jacqueline Hendriks (Curtin University), Sharyn Burns (0000-0002-1551-2805, Curtin University) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Publication date | 2026-03-30 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Media International Australia (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1329-878X • E-ISSN: 2200-467X |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1177/1329878x261436443 |
| OpenAlex | W7143335373 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 38 |
Parents are important sexuality educators for their children; however, report challenges navigating contemporary sexually explicit media (SEM). Age appropriateness of discussions about SEM is a common concern. Twenty parents/carers of secondary school-aged children were interviewed to explore their experiences discussing SEM with their children, with data analysed within a social constructionist framework. SEM denotes all media containing representations of sex, including pornography. Parents perceived newer SEM where they lacked familiarity as threatening, but were comfortable discussing SEM with their children to establish open dialogue, rather than imposing consequences. Genuine occurrences of open-dialogue discussions were rare. Parents supported some SEM for adolescent sexual exploration, provided critical thinking and values were applied. Findings suggest willingness to view their adolescent children as emerging adults, ready for information about sexuality and relationships. Parents could be supported with education helping them conduct open, sex-positive discussions centring their children's values and experiences with SEM
Human sexuality · Literacy · Media literacy · Sexuality education · Social constructionism · Social media · Strict constructionism · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Gender, Feminism, and Media · Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology
Social Constructionism
An Interdisciplinary Definition of Pornography
What do young people think about their school-based sex and relationship education? A qualitative synthesis of young people's views and experiences
Thematic Analysis
A worked example of Braun and Clarke’s approach to reflexive thematic analysis
Beyond “Media Panics”
Popular culture and moral panics about ‘children at risk’
Learning from pornography
Sexually explicit media literacy education
‘Everywhere they say that it’s harmful but they don’t say how, so I’m asking here’
Australian students’ experiences of sexuality education at school
Support for school-based relationships and sexual health education
“Without Porn … I Wouldn't Know Half the Things I Know Now”
What does it mean to be ‘porn literate’
Effects of violent and nonviolent sexualized media on aggression‐related thoughts, feelings, attitudes, and behaviors
Adolescents and Pornography
Father-son sex communication in Australian adolescent males
Porn literacy and young people’s digital cultures
Porn and sex education, porn as sex education
Barriers and recommendations for parent–child conversations about pornography
Not my child’
Reading for Realness
Parental Mediation Regarding Children’s Pornography Exposure
Young people and sexually explicit content online
Young people’s perceptions of harm from accessing online sexual content
Critical young consumers
Send Nudes
| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |