chapter 6. other concepts relating to sex - Windward Community ...

clearly visible on the horizon, if it isn't already a part of their lives. They are very receptive to
learning about sex-related topics.
A lecture on AIDS, given by a fourth-year student to her classmates, was frank and
enthusiastically received. Both male and female students asked and answered questions. As they
passed around a condom, they made jokes as well as thoughtful comments and questions. There is
no stigma attached to the knowledge associated with sexual behavior, though there are limited
contexts in which a discussion can be appropriately initiated. An educational institution or
educational context is considered appropriate for non-personal discussions. I will now examine
the values associated with the social context of sexuality.
Media
Globalization has spread information rapidly and widely bringing new meanings to even
traditional aspects of culture. Mahasarakham culture is now an amalgam of Isan, Siamese, and
international concepts negotiated in an increasingly complex social setting. There are various
ways of distinguishing between new and old aspects of culture: high culture and low culture,
modern and traditional, high culture and pop culture. These dichotomies introduce a distinction
that may or may not exist in reality. Even the oldest traditions take on new meanings in new
contexts. However, for heuristic purposes, and because students often refer to "modern" things
and "old" things, I break my discussion on media into two sections, which I refer to as classic and
pop. Classic includes literature (both oral and printed) that has been of enduring interest to Isan
people. Pop includes that which, though widespread, has not yet stood any test of time. This
section will focus on media of the pop type.
Students themselves bring attention to the significance of mass media for sharing
information and ideas. After friends, magazines, TV, and movies have the most influence on
student's ideas about and knowledge of sex. The most popular television programs among SWU
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