Miami University

SUSAN WEAVER

SHORT WRITING ASSIGNMENT FOR STUDENTS

SOC 203/WMS 203  

MINIPAPER / VOICES

(6 points)

Definition of the situation:

If we perceive a situation as real then it becomes real in it’s consequences

Goal

The goal of this assignment is to understand how prescribed role expectations affect one’s definition of the situation. 

This assignment meets the course goals of using the sociological imagination; developing meaningful conclusions; engaging in critical thinking; and engaging with other learners.

Instructions

1. Break into pairs. Each person in the pair takes the same role (as highlighted below) and reads the “fact sheet” on the reverse side of this paper from the perspective of the assigned role. 

Sexually active teen - male or female

Conservative religious person

Pop star blamed for bad example

Parent/Guardian

Educator/principal

Birth control advocate

2. Each person will write a statement indicating how s/he (in the assigned role) perceives the problems and how they should be addressed.

3. Trade your paragraphs with your partner and use them as the basis to formulate an approach to this issue for class discussion.

4. For class next Monday, type a 1-2 page paper about one of the following themes:

a. How would you personally address this issue?  What conflicts (if any) did you have when discussing from the other perspective?  

b. Is it possible for individuals to be objective about the effects of sexual activity among teens? Why do you feel this way? 

Evaluation criteria

Grading is based on fidelity to your assigned role, analysis of your context for understanding the issue, and creativity in developing approaches to the issue.   Participating is 1 point.  The follow-up paper will bring full credit (5 points) if it addresses the issue, shows insight, and includes reflection of both sexual assault and other behaviors that lead to spread of STI’s.

FACT SHEET—Sexual Assault and Teens

• About 44% of rape victims are under age 18. Three out of every twenty victims (15%) are under age 12. [Sex Offenses and Offenders. Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice, 1997.]

• Seven percent of girls in grades five to eight and twelve percent of girls in grades nine through twelve and said they had been sexually abused. [Commonwealth Fund Survey of the Health of Adolescent Girls, 1998.]

• Three percent of boys in grades five through eight and five percent of boys in grades nine through twelve said they had been sexually abused. [Commonwealth Fund Survey of the Health of Adolescent Boys, 1998.]

• There are no reliable annual surveys of sexual assaults on children.  The Justice Department estimates that one of six victims are under age 12. [Child Rape Victims, 1992]

• 93% of juvenile sexual assault victims knew their attacker; 34.2% were family members and 58.7% acquaintances. Only seven percent of the perpetrators were strangers to the victim. [Sexual Assault of Young Children as Reported to Law Enforcement. Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice, 2000]

Health Consequences of Youth Sexual Activity

Source: http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/sexualbehaviors/index.htm

• Unprotected sexual intercourse and multiple sex partners place young people at risk for HIV infection, other STI’s, and pregnancy. 

•  Each year approximately three million cases of STI’s occur among teenagers

• Each year approximately 860,000 teenagers become pregnant.

• In 2001, 46% of high school students had experienced sexual intercourse

• Fourteen percent of high school students had four or more sex partners during their lifetime.

• Forty-two percent of sexually active high school students did not use a condom at last sexual intercourse.

• Of females under age 15, most pregnancies, births, and abortions (97% of live births and 94% of legally induced abortions) occurred among 13--14-year-olds

• It has been estimated that at least half of all new HIV infections in the United States are among people under 25, and the majority of young people are infected sexually

• Sixty-one percent of HIV infections among young people between the ages of 13 and 19 are reported for females. Thirty-nine percent are among males.