Cross-national studies link mass media presentation of sexuality to different patterns of adolescent sexual socialization and conduct but have not analyzed media texts in detail. Using ethnographic content analysis, the author evaluates 76 stories about virginity loss—a key sexual transition—from one German and one U.S. teen magazine. Consistent with culture-specific approaches to teen sexuality, editors at both publications made similar recommendations for virginity loss, but German editors portrayed suggested practices as more appealing and feasible.
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