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Sex has become an integral part of advertising. To the point where it makes you want to say, "enough already!" We are all aware sex is very capable of pushing products, but it seems in today's day and age it is inescapable. I recall one time when my live-in boyfriend and I were driving down the freeway, and we passed a billboard proudly displaying a young, very attractive woman in a very provocative pose. I sighed to myself and thought; jeez, another one of those "dating" services. You can imagine how surprised I was when I continued scanning the billboard, and discovered it was an advertisement for an upscale suburban housing development project. I certainly noticed the advertisement, but I found it obscure and highly unnecessary. Really, what does one have to do with the other? When I am looking for a nice neighborhood to buy into, I want parks, trees, nice houses, and abnormally blue water dancing at the entrance gates.

Don't get me wrong sex is a very natural and necessary part of being human; however, I believe the problem is our children are being pushed into sex prematurely as a result of the inappropriate images surrounding them. Whether or not it is degrading is a matter of personal opinion. In my own, I believe it is degrading for both men and women. To presume we are incapable of focusing our attention on anything other than sexual implications is highly offensive. I consider myself an intellectual, and as one I can say; I'm tired of seeing SEX just show me a good product.

As I previously stated, my concern lies with the affects of advertising on children. This is a generation of technological advances, and children are surrounding themselves with televisions, video games and Internet. I can imagine how it would be frustrating for a parent to try and save their children from being exposed to all the sex in advertising. You can turn off the television, but the computer will undoubtedly have the same, if not more implicit, images as soon as the search pages opens. Even driving down the freeway will not free you from advertisers and their obsession with sex. Soon the birds and bees talk will be as easy as waiting for a commercial.

Many young women and men my age are now finding fame in exposing their bodies to countless numbers of strangers in order to sell a certain product. I myself have considered "selling out" in order to make some money and gain fame; however, my strong opposition to this idea of using my sexuality as a marketing tool makes me cringe. Besides the fact of compromising my morals and values, I think of how I would be able to explain to my children they were not mindless sex tools when mommy's naked self was once used to sell a petty product.

Sex certainly grabs the attention of everyone, whether you are shaking your finger or raising your eye brows, but so do happy families and cute puppy dogs. As a young woman, being comfortable with sex and sexuality is important to me. The idea it has to be thrown at me in order to gain my attention and interest is highly offensive. I like to think I have more depth than that!

Learn more about this author, Jamie Mandel.
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