Sexual Promiscuity In A Streetcar Named Desire

The exposure to sexual content and nature can cause an influence on young children and even adolescents. In some cases, this can also lead to a different exposure to these sexual natures, including some that are harmful to not just the ones who suffer, but the ones who see it. In tv, movies, media almost everywhere this content is normalized, but should this content be found in a book where it can lead to bad influences? These bad influences like rape, abuse, and more can be found in some books, giving impressions that these actions are normal. For example, A Streetcar Named Desire is a work that shows these acts and they are very heavily used to . Although the heavy use of impressionable sexual content is used and can be questioned, A Streetcar

Named Desire should not be banned as it can serve an educational purpose with the content in the book.
For example, a type of sexual content that is shown in the book is sexual abuse. Sexual abuse is a undesired sexual feeling put upon another person with a brute force, thus making it abusive. This type of abuse does not have a limit of age for a child nor a gender, as both male and female can experience this type of abuse. Studies have shown that "with estimates of the prevalence of child sexual abuse ranging from 2 percent to 62 percent, a great deal of misunderstanding and controversy exist" (Bolen). The common misunderstanding is that most aren't able to understand how it could happen to a child, nor why. Misunderstanding like this allows the confusion on the heavy subject like this to still be present. Using a book that involves this content, allows students to make their own impressions of the situation. It allows a viewpoint and lets them form their own opinion as as well as being educated about these behaviors. In the book, it's shown many times and it eventually is the main cause of the main character, Blanche, drive to insanity, as well as other harmful effects it could potentially have on a person, which makes these behaviors unacceptable.
Another type of content shown in the book that would allow impressionable actions among young readers is sexual promiscuity.

Promiscuity is a indiscrimination in the type of sexual partners one has. This not only influences the thought of sex among readers but putting the thought in their head that they can have many partners in their lifetime rather than the norm of one. Normally, this isn't bad since others are free to do as they please, but this also brings up questions of safety as well as a rise in concern of sexually transmitted diseases as well. "Not only are more teenagers deciding to abstain, but... have made abstinence a social issue" (Ingrassia). The fact that many characters or real people in media like tv and even books show these types of behaviors allow for an influence upon minds and allow this topic to become a "social issue". In this book, this content is exercised as Blanche is seen as a prostitute and follows those actions, as well as being with another man romantically. Promiscuity is seen as the rising issue in young adults life that lead to potentially harmful consequences as well as the chances of an event happening where previous mentioned behavior could

happen.
A final content that was shown heavily in the book was the topic of rape. Rape is essentially like sexual abuse, yet rape deals with an unwanted penetration or stimulation and requires a form of agreement that is referred to most as consent. In today's America, this subject has turned into a major controversy throughout many months, while statistics seem to climb. And again with sexual abuse, rape also holds no gender or age group, allowing it to happen to anyone. "And sexual violence against children is more common than we dare to think. More than half of the victims of sexual violence are children, ... In places of active or past conflict, from Liberia to Colombia to Afghanistan, children -- both boys and girls -- have been afflicted by this horrendous crime" (War's Most Vulnerable: How to Stop Child Rape). The phrase "it's more common than we think" is said a lot for subjects of this nature, especially because it holds a sense of truth and many don't think it could happen to them or a person they love. By thinking that, they essentially hold a clouded vision of "it won't happen to me" and other points, allowing the understanding of this very minimal and serves as a caution to not only adults but to kids, since "half of victims of sexual violence at children". In the book, Blanche experiences a near experience of rape, to only confide to someone that proceeds to rape her and gives off a bad image in mind for children.
However, there is an essential and quite obvious reason as to why children or young adults shouldn't be reading a book that contains these subjects; they're inappropriate. The book can be argued that no educational purpose can be found in a book that mentions content of this level. Many young adults are also not mature enough to fully understand the importance or seriousness of the content. In an English class that allows these books to be read, or even just a students interest in reading a book with this content, they are talked to and many are explained the book's contents. Many even require a signature from a parent, which also has a option to allow their child another alternative, so there's a variety of options. Essentially, these do provide not only a educational purpose for students to learn about the content mentioned in the book, it also can provide a growth experience as they become more mature with these subjects.
Finally, with the heavy sexual content that is strewn through A Streetcar Named Desire, it still is able to show an educational purpose through its examination of this content.

It shows not only what happens but the effects, side effects and the ultimate ending of how these are treated and handled by the victim and even others around them. Though the content holds the inappropriate context and evidence, it allows students and young adults to realize the seriousness of content and topics shown in the book. Thus, this book should not be considered a banned book even though it portrays heavy content that can be considered not suitable for young adults. This content is not avoidable and is brought up practically everyday through life. Allowing someone to not experience and fully understand why the questionable content is bad, banning it specifically will not allow a full grasp of

knowledge.