Harmful to Minors

"Harmful to Minors: The Perils of Protecting Children From Sex" (ISBN 0-8166-4006-8 [hardcover] , ISBN 1-56025-516-1 [paperback] ) is a controversial book by Judith Levine that was published in 2002. The foreword was written by former United States Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders, who resigned after suggesting that masturbation be promoted as a means of preventing young people from engaging in riskier forms of sexual activity.cite news |first=Michael| last=Duffy| title= Getting Out the Wrecking Ball |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,982008,00.html |publisher="Time Magazine" |date=December 19, 1994 |accessdate=2007-07-22 ]

The "Author's Note" states: "Most of the research for this book, including interviews, was conducted between 1996 and early 2000, and pertinent statistics were updated in 2001. The names of all nonprofessionals have been fictionalized, along with some identifying characteristics."

In the book, Levine lambastes US laws concerning child pornography, statutory rape, and abortion for minors using a variety of studies and interviews with teenagers and adults alike (see Acknowledgments). Levine also analyzes abstinence-only sex education, which Levine considers counter-productive and dangerous.

The book also examines the terms "harmful to minors" and "indecency," which Levine considers to be umbrella terms for censorship, as well as the Dylan V. Heather case, and the little-known SPARK Support Program for Abusive Reactive Kids and STEP Sexual Treatment Education Program and Services, both of which she claims do far more harm than the child sex offenders did themselves.

Because of its controversial nature and content, it was nearly impossible for Levine to find a publisher—one prospective publisher even called it "radioactive." University of Minnesota Press eventually agreed to publish the book, despite cries of outrage from the right wing of Minnesota's political establishment.

It became famous after it won the 2002 "Los Angeles Times" Book Award for [http://www.awardannals.com/wiki/Annal:2002_Los_Angeles_Times_Book_Prize_for_Current_Interest Current Interest] . Conservatives such as Joe Scarborough and Robert Knight accused Levine of promoting pedophilia for her suggestion that the US adopt statutory rape laws similar to those in the Netherlands. Some demanded the book be removed from libraries.

In 2003, Thunder's Mouth Press released a trade paperback edition of the book, which includes a new afterword by Levine chronicling the public response to the book.

References

External links

* [http://www.upress.umn.edu/Books/L/levine_harmful.html Official webpage] (from University of Minnesota Press).
* [http://www.leftbusinessobserver.com/Radio_1.html#020530 Radio interview about "Harmful to Minors"] (with Doug Henwood – links to MP3 and streaming audio).
* [http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2002/4/7/175457/5447 "Burning a Book Before It's Printed"] by Erik Möller, "Kuro5hin", April 7, 2002. – Describes the reaction to the book by conservatives in the United States.
* [http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2002/5/11/4237/70661 "Not Harmful to Minors"] by Walpurgis, "Kuro5hin", May 11, 2002.
* [http://www.alternet.org/story/12903/ "The Taboos of Touch"] by Debbie Nathan, "AlterNet", April 18, 2002. - A review of "Harmful to Minors".
* [http://www.alternet.org/story/12960/ "What Judith Levine is Really Saying"] by Liz Highleyman, "AlterNet", April 26, 2002.
* [http://www.cwfa.org/articledisplay.asp?id=1162&department=MEDIA&categoryid=family "Reject Academic Cover for Child Molesters, CFI says"] , "Concerned Women for America", March 28, 2002.
* [http://www.nationalcoalition.org/culture/articles/levineresponse.html "Response to Judith Levine's "Harmful to Minors"] by S. Michael Craven, "National Coalition for the Protection of Children and Families".