Jermaine Williams, Outlook Youth Writer
JUST WEEKS ago at the last annual Gibson Relays, young Paula, of one of our prominent all-girls high schools, was brought under the microscope after her 'once trusted' betrayed her in a most embarrassing way - a betrayal one would not wish for his/her worst enemy.
However, it is not as if the Paula incident (the filming of her having sex with her boyfriend and the distribution of the recorded activities) is the first controversy of this nature to hit high schools. According to Lisa Kay, of another high school, "Explicit sex among teenagers in my high school is nothing new. The difference is, this is just another instance where the cat has actually been let out the bag."
And since the proverbial cat came out the bag, there seem to be other 'cats' escaping as well. Following close on the heels of the incident involving Paula, are allegations of more high school pornography. The reports include one about a sixth form female student at a renowned traditional high school and another student from the fourth form of one of the so-called "elite high schools", in the Corporate Area. Here again, the students are taped while engaging in sexual acts with men. One of the students used a chocolate syrup as an aphrodisiac, hence the tape was given the name of the popular chocolate syrup that was used. The 40-minute recording of the fourth form student in explicit sexual acts is also available.
STEREOTYPING
What I do find interesting, however, is the fact that it is only the female students in the video recordings who are being looked at disparagingly - although it is presumably 'woman time now'.
Lamented Ameisha, 19, "A lot of this tape fracas is stemming from the adults. Take, for example, the recent Peter King tape. Yes, they are adults, but children live what they learn."
Others like young Niasha of St. Andrew High School seem to be blaming technology for the spread of the recordings. "All of this wouldn't be happening if it wasn't for camera phones," she said.
Be it technology or stereotyping, as the next managers and prime ministers of this country, Outlook Youth is concerned about the situation.
