Kids Gone Wild: From Rainbow Parties to Sexting, Understanding the Hype over Teen Sex

Sociologists Best and Bogle explore how cultural fears become manifest in the rumors of “rainbow parties,” in which young women supposedly line up to offer oral sex, leaving rings of colored lipstick on male genitals, and sex bracelets, in which a fashion accessory hides a secret sexual code. They address sexting—teens sending explicit pictures and messages—as the real social problem today, which becomes exaggerated as the media focuses on extreme cases, and schools jump to respond. Although research shows that white, middle-class teens are not actually out of control, that’s not the point here. Instead, Best (Damned Lies and Statistics) and Bogle (Hooking Up) illustrate how infotainment reporting, online hubbub, and misleading statistics combine with our psychological tendency to create stories that stick, even when there’s no supporting evidence. In addition, they reveal how stories about teen sex support political agendas—with liberals worrying about the victimization of young women and conservatives worrying about morals—and how these worries influence policymaking. Even more importantly, the authors examine how cultural memes spread; their call to take a more critical look at the sensational stories we share, and how they do or don’t serve us, is worth hearing. (Sept.)