Draft

The media has, in some ways, promoted the ever rising problem of hazing. What is hazing? Hazing is an initiation that involves degrading, humiliation, harassment or abuse usually affiliated in clubs, sports, and especially fraternities. This is an ever intensifying, scary, and dangerous "sport" that is on the rise. The question is; what effect does the media have on young teens and hazing?

The media has played a major role on teens and their involvement in this hazing "sport." Many films in the past and recently have involved hazing whether to poke fun or as a serious crime. Films like Jarhead, American pie presents: Beta House, and The Good Shepard all have forms of hazing. Movies like American Pie, Family guy, and Dazed and Confused portray different forms of hazing that poke fun and make it seem funny to be humiliated and degraded.

Teens are influenced by media greatly. Many studies show that ranges of attitudes and beliefs can be learned from the television. Studies show that kids who view violent acts are more likely to show aggressive behavior and develop some unhealthy habits and ways of thinking. So if teens, who are in one of the most stressful and self building phases of their lives, witness these types of actions on television in the "funny" context, then what can we assume that they are learning from it? They are seeing different forms of "entertainment" and getting ideas that can affect them in the future. I.E.; college day

On the other hand, the media can use it great influence to inform people of the dangers of things like hazing. When people watch TV. they are forced to see commercial, and among these commercials are PSA's. Public service announcements are made to inform the viewers of certain things by impacting the viewers and hopefully affecting them to see the better side. There are a few anti-hazing PSA's out on the networks that are being viewed. Also other programs like those on the discovery channel, 60 minutes, and news networks like dateline NBC have showings dedicated to informing viewers of hazing that include interviews of professionals all wrapped up for a legit informational program.

Hazing is seen as traditional and ritualistic. But does that make it right? Is it not enough that when teens move on to college they are faced with an even harsher form of hazing? If they are witnessing the effects of hazing in these trivial teen years, is the media preventing them from a right to a healthy and less stressing life? Even though it doesn't affect them directly, these shows can instill in our youth that hazing is just part of life and happens even to the best of us. This makes them think that it is alright to do it to others because its a tradition and it is a funny form of entertainment.

But some can argue that there are positives to this dangerous and unhealthy form of initiations. Some claim that it intensifies the bonding in teammates, pledges, or military personnel's. They claim that they need to establish this and put "pledges" in their place. Like in any other situation like getting a job or joining a team, you need to prove you are worthy enough and prove yourself, and that is what hazer's use as motivation. And ironically some see hazing as the right of passage to prove themselves to others or to be proven of. Statistics show that 67% agree that a significant part of initiation is to be humiliated. Young people believe in keeping the code of silence, whether out of fear or tradition.

Now days the media is interconnected to almost everything. It can have its positive effects, and negative ones. The ones that matter are the positive ones, but when the negative ones are the ones that are being most abused, then it proposes a negative effect on society. The media both promotes hazing and informs the negative effects of hazing. The media should take partial blame for the rise in hazing. But nonetheless, methods and steps are being taken to prevent this dangerous "sport.' It is such an old practice but people still find it amusing and that is why it will be nearly impossible to stop this
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hazing
*http://www.hanknuwer.com/blog/?s=yuks
*http://www.insidehazing.com/betrayal.php
*http://www.bgviews.com/our-views/opinion/hazing-can-have-real-dangers-1.1912045
*http://books.google.com/books?id=YEybKqyfVNwC&pg=PT139&lpg=PT139&dq=defenders+of+hazing&source=bl&ots=ikrAzDTg9F&sig=CCenFL9Y1ctmjr1rd300L2AHlbY&hl=en&ei=qhL5SpuiGI78sgPq6YXLCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CAwQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=defenders%20of%20hazing&f=false
*http://www.baylor.edu/student_activities/hazing/