The Gossip, the Girls, and OH, the Sex!
Gossip Girl: Unlike the rest of us, sex lies and scandal never take a vacation.
I will be the first to admit that although I am an over 30 female I absolutely love Gossip Girl I found the first season season to be utterly fascinating. Sure, it is all surreal…do 16-year-olds really have Serena-like summer sexcapades and socialite soirées in the Hamptons? Do they really drink in trendy nightclubs just like the Sex in the City 30+ year olds? And Chuck? Ah, Chuck…Are there really guys like him? He’s just the guy you don’t want to mess with..He’s all smarmy sex, money, and temptation (and yes…all decked out in plaid and a bow-tie).
But, do we really want our teenage children watching Gossip Girl? We all know that teens have sex. Hell, they even have multiple partners. But, do we really need to glorify it? From what I have read the books are loaded with sex, drugs, and alcohol but traditionally, kids watch television far more than they read, especially in middle school.
For all my love for the show it is, in my opinion, mind blowingly inappropriate for younger teen audiences. The writers have a different take on the show.
“When people say the show glamorizes teen drinking and sex, they aren’t really watching the episodes,” Savage said. “Not all the characters drink or have sex, and when they do, it’s always put in a context. Behaviors are rooted in character. There’s decision-making, regret and consequences involved.”
Despite it’s recent tawdry (and brilliant) advertising CW posted fabulous new ratings for its premiere episode. Aided by solid reviews, Gossip Girl 
And, amazingly, what CW did was fabulous…despite that tantalizing advertising they failed to deliver as much smut as I anticipated. Instead, the only one “getti’ some” was Nate and his down and dirty duchess. Of course, the innuendos were there, as was the drinking and backstabbing.
Do you let your children watch Gossip Girl
I’m glad my 17-year old granddaughter has no interest in these books.
My kids are not old enough to watch or read it, I personally love the show (I am also over 30). It’s funny I watched the premier of 90210 last week and it’s not the same 90210 I watched as a teen/college student…I liked it, but wow times have changed if you know what I mean.
I’m watching it right now!
Are these shows/books you’d want your children to watch or read and emulate?
If I had a teenage son/daughter I would want to watch the show with them. I know several families that do this so their kids know what is real and what isn’t.
I always recommend that kids read books like these so they are exposed to things like this before they head off to college. Being naive is worse than reading about it, IMO.
Oh, but I don’t want them emulating or thinking this behavior is appropriate.
I agree, we need to watch and read with our children and prepare them when they’re off on their own. When our daughter was a teen, I did watch TV shows with her (then it was Luke and Laura on General Hospital) and was aware of books she was reading, so we could discuss them.
Once I mentioned that as an author, I couldn’t live with myself if I wrote some types of books and we discussed why. I remember the comment, “Oh, Mom, you’re so Victorian.”
However, it’s interesting to hear my words repeated as my daughter now discusses with her 17-year old daughter. Mom’s “Victorian ideas” appear to be validated!
Thanks, everyone, for participating in this discussion. I think it helps all of us to get others’ ideas. We either solidify our ideas or find our minds expanded…perhaps a little of both. My husband and I were discussing with friends the other day how we can see a difference in dealing with youngsters from our generation to our daughter’s to our grandchildren. We can maintain our beliefs and morals, yet need to expand our ideas in order to help our youngsters cope with today’s world. I find this true, too, over the 30+ years I’ve been substitute teaching.
I’ve been very tempted to watch this show, but haven’t yet (heck, I didn’t even know there were Gossip Girl books). I’m sure as a 20-something female who loves juicy little breaks from my own reality, I’d relish in the scandals and gossip. But I’d probably also think twice about wanting my kid (if I had one) to watch it.