Sexually explicit media literacy education
A scoping review of parental perspectives and relevant resources
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 19515596 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Marc Zen (0000-0003-1323-6154, Curtin University, corresponding author), Jan Hendriks (0000-0002-1177-8980, Curtin University), Sharyn Burns (0000-0002-1551-2805, Curtin University) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 25 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 359-375 |
| Publication date | 2025-05-04 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Sex Education (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1468-1811 • E-ISSN: 1472-0825 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/14681811.2024.2338275 |
| OpenAlex | W4395013185 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 4 |
| References cited | 43 |
Viewing sexually explicit media (SEM) can influence young people's sexual attitudes and behaviours. Media literacy education can help young people navigate this, yet parental opposition is sometimes cited as a barrier to the implementation of comprehensive school programmes. A scoping review explored parent perspectives towards and comfort with SEM literacy education, parent-focused resources, and the level of parental engagement in resource development. An expansive view of SEM included pornography alongside sexually explicit content in movies, television shows, video games, or other online spaces. Collectively, a focused search of five academic databases, an online search for grey literature and resources from non-governmental and government organisations, and interviews (n = 7) with key stakeholders were undertaken. Screening reduced 4,745 peer-reviewed records to seven. The online search located 35 resources from 28 organisations. While parents support SEM literacy education for their children, other sexuality education topics (e.g. contraception and the prevention of sexually transmitted infections) were more widely endorsed. Parental comfort in providing such education was variable. Online resources vary in type and content, with limited information available about development processes or evaluation. Further research and co-design are needed to ascertain parent needs to support their children's SEM literacy knowledge and understanding
Developmental psychology · Human sexuality · Literacy · Media literacy · Pedagogy · Sex education · Sexuality education · Sociology · Gender Studies · Gender, Feminism, and Media · LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy · Psychology · Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology
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Scoping studies
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| Citations per year | 4 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2025 - 2026 (2) |
| Highly cited | No |