Article content continued

I was just in Newark Airport, which might not sound like the acme of sensuality. But there were perfume ads featuring topless women with parted lips right where families go

Thus two weeks ago there was a big rhubarb online over promotional images for the parody “Red Shoes and the 7 Dwarfs.” They said “What if Snow White was no longer beautiful and the 7 dwarfs not so short?” with a classic Snow White next to a shorter, um, wider version. And people had fits along the lines of one “plus-size model” who tweeted, “Why is it okay to tell young kids being fat = ugly?”

So are you saying it’s OK to tell kids a plus-size model is beautiful, desirable, even a “sexual object” … if she wants to be? Does anybody know?

Students seem confused. Another story last Wednesday by a local radio station, “Prom poll puts students in hot water” described a survey by a Carleton Place Catholic high school prom committee that included not just “scariest driver” but “best breasts” and “best nudes.” The story said “Officials will meet with the students in the coming days to explain the seriousness of the situation.”

I wish them luck. When I was in high school I’m pretty sure the “best nudes” category would have been empty. And the others would only have been discussed privately. But today even fitness magazines parade glistening flesh on their covers and promise “(MUCH) HOTTER SEX THIS YEAR!” and “+ BOOST TESTOSTERONE” and (one expressly for women) “HEAD-TO-TOE HOT The One Move That Tones All Over” plus “Breakthrough Flu Fighter: Sex!”

When I was in high school I’m pretty sure the “best nudes” category would have been empty. But today even fitness magazines parade glistening flesh

It’s all at eye level in supermarkets. No wonder kids think you’re meant to notice it, flaunt it, drool over it and boast about it. Then when they do, someone comes along and pecks at them like a maiden aunt.

As I’ve noted before, part of it is the relativistic, narcissistic idea that you can turn other people’s reactions to you on and off at will, including teen boys’ reactions to skimpy outfits. But of course it doesn’t work that way. See “Reality is that which…” above.

So what are principals and officials to tell students? That it doesn’t work when you deliberately dress to impress? That we shouldn’t think about sex constantly? That we should? Or both?

The situation is indeed serious. And seriously confused.

National Post