A new show on MTV desensitizes viewers to the societal norms of virginity. Should this surprise us?
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“I’m actively looking for someone to lose my virginity to.”
Now that may sound like the start to a bad stand-up routine, but unfortunately for us this is a sound bite from the newest show on MTV, “Virgin Territory.”
MTV claims the show is there to follow the lives of these eighteen to twenty somethings through the messy world of being an abstinent adult.
The problem with this is that the show exposes these individuals in a bad light.
MTV is having individuals audition to be a part of this production, a production that exposes them as virgins and wants to document the process of them “losing” their virginity.
Have we as a society bypassed the thought of sex as a union between a man and a woman after marriage?
MTV has a reputation for pushing the envelope with shows such as “16 and Pregnant” and “Teen Mom.”
However, those shows, regardless of my feelings, have helped in the steady decrease of teen pregnancies since their premiere in 2009.
According to CBS News, “Researchers believe the reality television shows, which focus on the hardships of being a young parent, directly led to an almost 6 percent reduction in teen births between 2009 and 2010.
“Virgin Territory” differs from shows such as “16 and Pregnant” and “Teen Mom” because it seems to be pushing the envelope a little too far.
MTV’s home page for the show gives an explanation of the content of the episodes.
“Some of them are hanging on to their virginity and others are desperately trying to lose it.”
The show seems to exploit those involved, revealing secrets about their sex life.
Not only has MTV managed to create another show that obliterates all moral concepts, they are exploiting young adults and turning them into actors.
Viewers should question more than just morals while viewing a show such as “Virgin Territory,” they should question things like religion and societal perception.
Immoral productions such as this not only affect the people involved, but also the emotions and feelings of the millions of viewers.
Young viewers who tune in to watch “Virgin Territory” may think they too can gain fame from discussing with the world something as sacred and personal as their virginity.
A recent article posted on National Public Radio dives deeper into the idea that watching certain reality television can impact real-life behavior.
Could reality television really alter the way that people think, even to the point where young adults would want to document their sex life for fame or money?
The answer is yes.
In today’s society, young adults are attracted to things that gain them popularity.
If anything, society needs to dive deeper into the producers behind reality shows and what drives them to pitch such absurd ideas.
Try and ask the question, “If this was your son, or daughter, how proud of them would you be?”
MTV has always pushed the boundaries, but now they have seemingly crossed over into a world of immorality.
Triston Buckley 
Emily Retzer