Virginity Loss Narratives in “Teen Drama” Television Programs

Abstract

“Teen drama” television programs use sexual scripts that provide a framework for narrating virginity loss (Gagnon & Simon, 1973). Drawing on the work of Carpenter (2005), this study identifies the following sexual scripts in virginity-loss narratives: (a) the abstinence script, which places a high value on virginity and emphasizes delaying virginity loss; (b) the urgency script, which defines virginity as a stigma and virginity loss as necessary to maintain social status and affirm gendered identity; and (c) the management script, which suggests teenagers’ sexual behavior is inevitable and focuses on managing the physical, social, and emotional risks associated with virginity loss. Reliance on different scripts resulted in varied meanings of virginity, characteristics of the storylines, consequences of virginity loss, and implications for sexually healthy messages. The narratives included positive components, such as contraception use and portrayals of consensual sex, but also contained problematic elements, such as a lack of female desire and underrepresentation of racial, ethnic, and sexual minority characters. This article suggests that an analysis of the sexual scripts used in virginity-loss narratives provides insight into both the messages about virginity provided to teenagers as well as the social construction of the multiple meanings of virginity.

I thank Mary Bernstein, Nancy Naples, and Gordon Gauchat for their helpful comments on this manuscript.

Notes

¹In her analysis, Carpenter (2005) primarily used the term metaphor but noted that she used understanding, interpretation, approach, script, and frame as synonyms. Carpenter also included a fourth metaphor, virginity as worship. The interviewees who employed this metaphor believed that preserving virginity until marriage demonstrated religious devotion. Due to the infrequency of this metaphor in Carpenter's study and the similarities to the virginity as a gift metaphor, I exclude this metaphor for the purposes of this analysis.

²Approximately one half of the seasons were available on DVD; two series were shown in syndication and taped. Information for the remaining seasons was gathered by reviewing transcripts of episodes. The series and seasons included in the sample were as follows: 7th Heaven (UPN, Seasons 8–9), Everwood (WB, Seasons 2–3), Gilmore Girls (WB, Season 4), Joan of Arcadia (CBS, Seasons 1–2), Life as We Know It (ABC, Season 1), One Tree Hill (WB, Seasons 1–2), Smallville (WB, Seasons 3–4), Summerland (WB, Seasons 1–2), The O.C. (FOX, Seasons 1–2), and Veronica Mars (UPN, Season 1). Two additional shows, Jack and Bobby (WB, Season 1) and The Days (ABC, Season 1), fit the criteria but were excluded because neither video nor transcripts were available.

Note. A total of 12 main characters lost their virginity during the seasons included in the sample.