In recent years, research focusing on the representation of youth and sexuality in the media has gained momentum. The sexual content in programmes can sometimes be characterized as hypersexual, and, according to Jacobson, we find such hypersexual representation in two-thirds of television programmes. Not only do the media offer teenagers more sexual content than previously, but the nature of the content itself has changed. Sexual acts are more explicitly depicted or referenced, the teenagers shown have their first sexual contact at an earlier age, and sexuality is no longer exclusively part of a committed relationship. We live in a mediated reality, and it is therefore necessary to study the content of contemporary media programmes directed at teenagers. This article examines the represented gender scripts in two popular US teen series (One Tree Hill and Gossip Girl) using a qualitative textual film analysis. Specifically, it focuses on the relation between gender and sexuality. Several stereotypical gender scripts are revealed, although more positive and emancipative discourses are found as well. A tendency to casualize sexuality is noticed, which pinpoints the possibility that it may be time to reconsider sexual licence in the twenty-first century as part of youth-as-fun instead of youth-as-trouble.

This paper studies television-viewing adolescents within their spatial and social context, using the Uses and Gratifications approach as a typology of uses. Because previous research suggested the importance of gender-based differences in both the frequency of watching TV and of content preferences, but lacked an examination of the social-and spatial-viewing contexts for boys and girls, respectively, a specific emphasis is placed on gender. Results were obtained by means of both quantitative and qualitative methods. Despite an increased privatization of television access, which is more obvious for boys than for girls, teenagers still prefer to watch TV in the domestic environment of the living room where social interaction and television-centered communication are prevalent. Overall, social interaction about television programs yields more satisfied viewers in terms of four gratification items: exploration, amusement, social inclusion and escapism.

In recent years, research focusing on representations of sexuality in entertainment has gained momentum. Television content can sometimes be characterized as "hypersexual," and according to Jacobson (2005), such "hypersexual" representations can be found in two-thirds of programs. However, beyond offering teenagers more sexual content, the nature of the content has also changed. Using a qualitative textual analysis, this article gives an overview of the gender scripts represented in series that are popular with Flemish teenagers: One Tree Hill, Gossip Girl, Skins, Degrassi: The Next Generation, and 16þ. Specifically, this article focuses on the relation between gender and sexuality. Sex(uality) has become part of the spectacle, and the tendency to "casualize" sexuality is apparent. This pinpoints the possibility that it may be time to reconsider sexual license in the twenty-first century as part of youth-as-fun instead of youth-as-trouble.

Teenage sexual identity is shaped within a complex cultural landscape in which the issue of protecting the 'innocent' (children/teens) from sexually suggestive images is high on the public agenda. Intimate relationships and sexuality have entered the public domain and are presented on the screen, offering audiences possible roles to play in reality. Trepidation of teenagers being 'corrupted' by sexualised media has urged many scholars to investigate this issue. However, sexualised, mediatised representations can also empower and emancipate teens who are often savvy, active and critical media consumers. We aim to study how young audiences (aged 14Á19) in Flanders consume fictional sexual scripts, and how these scripts can help in the development and articulation of sexual identity. A qualitative approach was taken using 57 teenagers divided into eight, in-depth focus groups. Sexual norms and values, as well as the sexual double standard and sexual scripts were discussed. Talking about and watching televised sex has become less of a taboo among teens, but this does not imply their permissiveness is unlimited. Traditional norms and values regarding relationships and sexuality are still highly valued, and although most respondents are tolerant towards casual sex by others, they distance themselves from such behaviour.

Keywordsgender stereotypes representations sexuality teenagers teen series elKe Van damme and sofie Van Bauwel Ghent University 'i don't wanna be anything other than me': a case study on gender representations of teenagers in american teen drama series One Tree Hill aBstract Economic and demographic trends have turned young people into a target audience, and media producers and the marketing industry have realized that the contemporary teenage market has substantial potential. Television is still the most popular medium among teenagers; along with web surfing and social networking, television is part of teens' daily media use. Media content is essential in teenagers' self-representation: fictional media programmes produce commodified meanings, and models of behaviour and information about norms and values are repetitively delivered by attractive characters in the form of entertainment. This article gives an overview of the gender representations of teenagers in the American teen series by Schwahn One Tree Hill (2003-2012) by using a qualitative thematic textual analysis. We can say that the series revolves around a male-oriented world in which basketball is the main topic. Teen subcultures are often portrayed in a prototypical manner and traditional discourses of masculinity and femininity are often reinforced. A more liberal stance was noted regarding (female) sexuality.