Audrey Rose Goldfarb - The Gatekeeper Phenomenon

With steadily declining happiness among women in the US, starkly contrasting to a slightly increasing amount of happiness for men (Stevensen & Wolfers, 2009), we have a problem. Its played out for individuals, as well as for groups of people, with potential ramifications in the political arena, both locally & across the US: the Gatekeeper Phenomenon.

Described most simply, its a notable discrepancy where common behavior, trivialization and comodification of sex, does not align with our hard-wired (innate) drives: sex, particularly for women, is nothing to be taken lightly. Its become a form of socialized cognitive dissonance. While cognitive dissonance happens when an individuals behavior does not correlate with their deeper sense of right and wrong, socialized cognitive dissonance is when popular culture-induced behaviors dont correlate with our more naturalistic tendencies, causing an array of social epidemics. With teen pregnancy on the rise for the first time in 15 years (according to the CDC in 2007), expanding pharmaceutical & illicit drug use and tidal waves of emotional health and relationship concerns everywhere, people are continuing to suffer from trivialization and comodification of sex.

My goal is to ignite a substantive discussion on the Gatekeeper Phenomenon, building upon decades of scientific sex-media-dysfunction research. What can be done to address these issues? There are steps to take at every level: personal, social and political. Lets make it happen!

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Education

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