View source for Harmful to Minors

{{short description|2002 book by Judith Levine}}{{Infobox book
| image             = Harmful to minors.jpg
| author            = [[Judith Levine]]
| isbn              = 0-8166-4006-8
| pub_date          = 2002
}}

{{Italic title}}
'''''Harmful to Minors: The Perils of Protecting Children From Sex''''' ({{ISBN|0-8166-4006-8}} [hardcover], {{ISBN|1-56025-516-1}} [paperback]) is a 2002 book by [[Judith Levine]]. The foreword was written by former [[United States Surgeon General]] [[Joycelyn Elders]], who [[Joycelyn Elders#Comments on human sexuality and abortion|resigned]] after suggesting that [[masturbation]] be destigmatized as a means of preventing young people from engaging in riskier forms of sexual activity.<ref name="time1994">{{cite magazine |first=Michael| last=Duffy| title= Getting Out the Wrecking Ball |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,982008,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930055719/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,982008,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 30, 2007 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=December 19, 1994 |accessdate=2007-07-22|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

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 discusses United States 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 [[Support Program for Abusive Reactive Kids]] (SPARK) and [[Sexual Treatment Education Program and Services]] (STEP).

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 intense criticism.

The book won the 2002 ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' Book Award for Current Interest.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://events.latimes.com/bookprizes/previous-winners/year-2002/ |title=Book Prizes – Los Angeles Times Festival of Books» 2002 Los Angeles Times Book Prize Winners |access-date=2014-03-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104111732/http://events.latimes.com/bookprizes/previous-winners/year-2002/ |archive-date=2014-01-04 }}</ref>

In 2003, [[Thunder's Mouth Press]] released a [[paperback#Trade paperback|trade paperback]] edition of the book, which includes a new afterword by Levine which details the public response to the book.

== See also ==

* ''[[Sex Without Shame]]''

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
*[https://www.upress.umn.edu/book-division/books/harmful-to-minors 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.alternet.org/story/12903 "The Taboos of Touch"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070608005406/http://www.alternet.org/story/12903/ |date=2007-06-08 }} 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"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120711222625/http://www.alternet.org/story/12960 |date=2012-07-11 }} by Liz Highleyman, ''AlterNet'', April 26, 2002.
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20051102092521/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 {{Interlanguage link|S. Michael Craven|pl|Michael Craven}}, ''National Coalition for the Protection of Children and Families''.
*[http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200208/harmful-minors-book-review Harmful To Minors (book review)] by [[Deborah Roffman]], [[Psychology Today]], August 1, 2002
*[https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2002/apr/17/familyandrelationships.features101 Parents: Hello boys] by Marina Cantacuzino, ''[[The Guardian]]'', April 17, 2002.

[[Category:2002 non-fiction books]]
[[Category:Books about censorship]]
[[Category:Sexuality and age]]
[[Category:Juvenile sexuality in books]]
[[Category:University of Minnesota Press books]]


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