Planned Parenthood’s “Take care down there” nominated for Webby Award
by intern Heather B.
The Webby Award, according to the official website, is the “leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet.” This year marks the website’s 13th Annual Webby Awards Commencement Gala, to be held June 8 in NYC.
Nominated websites will be judged in categories ranging from “Billpaying” and “Beauty” to more prestigious superlatives, dubbing some lucky recipients with the “Best Home/Welcome Page” and “Best Use of Animation/Motion Graphics” titles. The awards attract an audience exceeding 10k.
This year’s “Health” category nominee? Planned Parenthood‘s graphic “Take Care Down There” sex-education website, brought to light on this blog in the past….
How is it that an awards ceremony, which also acknowledges such noble causes as The Action Center to End World Hunger, could even consider this desensitizing and dehumanizing insult to the health profession, hidden behind the façade of pastel colors and a catchy jingle entitled the “Down There Song,” (WARNING: explicit) as the pinnacle website promoting “information and resources to improve personal health and well-being” and the face of “Internet Excellence”?
What is perhaps more disturbing is that the TCDT website had been previously shut down for its offensive content, thanks to the activism of Jill Stanek, American Life League, and Life News. The ex-convict candidate only recently emerged with a single noticeable improvement: an entry page warning visitors that the material is intended for “mature teens and adults only.” One click, and anyone can enter.
If the TCDT website wins the Webby, it will have beat out much more qualified contestants like Livestrong and Drugs.com.
Here’s to hoping the judges know better!
[HT: Nina Rhea of of Precious Children of Portland]
Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
As a high school teacher I see kids everyday that are doing more than just holding hands. We can be naive if we want to, but the fact is is that teens are sexually curious and many are sexually active. The need for sites such as this one is imperative. Many teachers and school staff are hesitant to talk about sex ed. in schools for fear of what parents will say. It is important that kids can find the information they need if they want it.
“It is important that kids can find the information they need if they want it.”
Okay. Can’t they just Google in search of medical information and not go to a site where a graphic saying “be the smartest person in the bed” is decorated so it looks like something from a seventh-grader’s notebook? It’s not like there was some horrible lack of information on the Internet about STDs and Planned Parenthood has filled the void.
Wow, had no idea it was time for the Webbies already. Went and voted for PP.
So then your issue is with Planned Parenthood itself and not the content of the site?
There is far WORSE and far MORE information on the internet than is given on the site. I would point anyone who asked in the direction of the Planned Parenthood site or one similar in hopes that they would find factual information. Instead of something that some other kid posted about how condoms take away the natural feel so don’t both to use them, or how STD’s aren’t common so don’t worry about trying to prevent them… whatever the case may be. Yes there’s lots of information but who is it coming from? Anyone can write anything and put it on the internet. Anyone can be an expert in anything when you don’t have to talk to someone face to face or share any credentials.
It simply highlights the importance of having comprehensive sex-ed programs in schools from a young age so that kids are actually getting the facts, and having valid, factually based information sources for those who are looking for them.
I would rather have my students or my own children get their information from at a Planned Parenthood site that is aimed at teens, than googleing “sex-ed” and finding something far less reputable, far more graphic and very questionable….
Talula- I agree completely. Thank you.
I will educate my children in all matters of sexuality and won’t be leaving that to PP or high school teachers, thankyouverymuch.
That’s fine Carla, it would be great if all parents educated their own children about that sort of thing, and I applaud you for being one of the surprisingly few parents who isn’t afraid or hesitant to educate their children about all matters of sex and sexuality.
Unfortuntely though, the vast majority don’t and then I get questions from 16 year old boys who wonder “If a condom breaks can a girl still get pregnant?” I’m not saying that high schools should be the authority on sex-ed. I’m saying it needs to be taught, SOMEWHERE. Because like it or lump it, most kids have questions. Most kids want to know, and most kids will find the answers themselves if a responsible adult doesn’t tell them. And whether they find the information on a site like PP’s or from their friend in the locker room, it’s really up to us and the resources we make available.
Unfortunately Talula it is not up to you or the government or Planned Parenthood or ANYONE to decide how much or how little info parents give their children about sexuality. It’s all about “choice” remember?? :)
Sex ed begins in my house when a kiddo points to themselves and says, “What Dis”?
Yes, it is all about choice! And Fortunetly, when parents choose not to educate their children about sex, the public school system is there to fill in the blanks for them, or at least try.
And is it their place to do so??!!
It is not the public school system’s responsibility to “fill in the blanks” for children!
How about some readin, writin, and rithmetic???? How about some geography and history and language??
I am so thankful for the school system that my children go to. Whew.
PP is the LAST group I would trust to teach my children (if I had any) about sex! TTCD is a disgusting site with graphic images and should not be used to teach teens about caring for their bodies.
There are too many movies and television shows specifically aimed at teens that contain sexual content so its no wonder that teens are “sexually curious”.
I’m like Carla, when/if I have children I WILL TEACH them, not some group that wants teens to become promiscuous.
The PP site indoctrinates and sexualizes children. TakeCareDownThere is all about titillation. Frankly, it is pornography. Furthermore, it raises the interest of sexual predators toward children and teens who have been “taught” by PP. PP is irresponsible.
Talula–I don’t know, does the condom change the experience? I would think so…. I don’t swing that way though; no sexual interest in latex
–having very safe sex that won’t give me anything but babies.
Pro-lifers and techies unite! The site doesn’t even WORK and it’s being nominated for a Webby… it just says “Click and drag pieces to move or throw,” but there’s nothing on the screen to click beyond the PP logo in the corner.
Googling “stds medical information” is getting me legitimate sites from medical institutions and universities, not ninth-graders whining about how condoms don’t feel good.