Has anyone read Speak or the movie based on it? The novel has been challenged because if its content(a criticism of date rape, something that all of us are appalled by), but it was written along PG-13 guidelines for the teen/YA audience, and the film was written and presented along those same lines for the same age group, because how many times on the 6'O clock news do we hear about teens and young adult girls being raped and murdered? Way too much! Laurie Halse Anderson wrote Speak for the purpose of educationg teens/YA women on that sensitive subject on what happens when the go through something like that, and hopes that it inspires others to help those in need and not to end up voilated or dead themselves.
Here's a quote from Wikipedia(I can't believe that I'm quoting that site): Due to its controversial subject matter, Speak has often been challenged. In the Platinum Edition of Speak, released 2006, Anderson spoke out against censorship. In material printed at the end of the novel, following an interview regarding the content of the book, Anderson wrote:
"But censoring books that deal with difficult, adolescent issues does not protect anybody. Quite the opposite. It leaves kids in the darkness and makes them vulnerable. Censorship is the child of fear and the father of ignorance. Our children cannot afford to have the truth of the world withheld from them"
Just because something deals with something difficult to talk about under normal circumstances doesn't mean that you're helping anyone--if anything, you may be maintaing the status quo, which doesn't help anyone.
As for the Twilight Saga, no violence against women here(aside from Jake kissing Bella without her consent), but it does present a difficult subject matter: the concept of love and relationships. Granted, it's to a large extent fantasy, but it does give some good advice on what love is and means, and how sometimes it's good to be "just friends" in a relationship, and that it doesn't mean that you love the person any less, but sometimes you have to make a choice like that in your life, and decide what's best for you and stand up for yourself.
Granted, I wouldn't recommend that those under the age of 11 or 12 or so read the novels as far as understanding those concepts, but people vary. I friend I know on TL has read all the novels and is only 11(though she also echoed my comment as a general rule), and someone here has someone who's only 8 and perfectly well understands the novels. It's there that responsible parents come to the forefront, and if you know your kids, that's a good sign. But then again, I've watched bloody violent movies and George Carlin speicals since I was 10, and I turned out OK
. Everyone is different, but going out of one's way to try and censor something that in the films or even in the books from and offensivivness stand point is for the most part borderline PG/PG-13 rated when there's worse on TV every night is a sign of ignorance or stupidity that's only too prevalant today. One person get's slightly offended, and everyone suffers. Don't wanna read the books? This is a free country, and you have the choice on that. Don't wanna have your kids read the books? Consider their age and maturity, and with that info you have the right to make that choice. It's called being a parent, and is something that I'm kinda skeptical if not downright cynical at times about with today's culture(and I'm 23, single, and with no children if anyone's curious about my opinions, and feel free to message me if you have comments or questions). Just glad that their are some people out there who still have some common sense.