"Is This a Penis Metaphor?: An Analysis of Adolescent Sexuality in Buffy the Vampire Slayer"

Adolescent sexuality is an extremely complex and controversial subject. Traditionally, it has been oversimplified by the tele-visual media, which generally conforms to dominant cultural moral expectations and is often favours the adult perspective. The decision for an adolescent character in a television program to lose their virginity is often presented in such a way that it prevents those watching from relating to it. The more complex psychological issues surrounding teenage sexuality such as gender preference and roles, and the moral consequences of sexual behaviour are barely touched…