"Edu-tainment": More than Just Condoms and 97%s

Friends was arguably one of the most popular sitcoms in its 1990s heyday and reruns of the show still air now. Given its pure genius and the fact that the show is one of my all time favorites, Collins et al.'s analysis of the episode when Ross finds out that Rachel is pregnant with his child as a way of sex education about condom-efficacy information was especially interesting. This analysis found that this episode effectively taught the risks and responsibilities of sex by portraying character experiences and that the episode opened channels of communication about sexual health between parents and teens. The authors were able to conclude that entertainment television had the "advantage of being able to model socially responsible behavior without explicitly advocating for it" (Collins et al., 2003, p. 1119-1120).

This got me thinking about the potential of shows like Friends in the realm of edu-tainment beyond teaching about contraception and condoms. What about the potential of Friends to educate viewers about heterosexual and homosexual relationships? Could the narrative of Friends educate viewers about other aspects of sexuality like the episode reviewed by Collins et al. did it regards to condom use?

One of the central story lines throughout all 10 seasons of Friends is Ross' ex-wife, Carol, and her lesbian relationship with partner Susan. The pilot episode leads with this story and Ross' emotional turmoil over Carol leaving him to live with Susan, who Carol remains romantically involved through the show's finale. Carol and Susan also raise the son conceived between Carol and Ross before their divorce. The two get married in season two and, while the fact that the first of Ross' three divorces was because Carol left him for a woman is a point of humor within the show's writing, the relationship is celebrated, especially in the wedding episode:

The show also plays with the male characters' sexuality, at one time or another joking at the expense of Ross, Joey, or Chandler about the possibility that they might be gay. Chandler, for the first half of the show, is usually at the expense of this type of humor but the plot line brings Monica and Chandler together at the end of the seventh season in marriage while Ross and Rachel do end up together by the last episode and Joey is content in his single lifestyle.

These kind of portrayals are important and, I think, have the potential to educate. In their article "Information-Seeking Practices during the Sexual Development of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual individuals: The Influence and Effects of Coming Out in a Mediated Environment," Bond, Hefner, and Drogos (2009) found that the internet and the media in general were important means of gathering information for LGBT teens during the coming out process. The internet was found to be the most frequently used tool (p. 40), however comedy like Friends might be even more important. Information on the internet would allow LGBT teens to ask questions and interact with one another but shows like Friends have the ability to portray experiences to viewers. In the case of Carol and Susan, lesbians in the coming out process might learn from watching the show and seeing the course that the relationship takes. The two live together, raise a child, get married, and neither of the two are stereotypically femme or butch. As the guys of the show also search for love and learn about themselves, the show demonstrates that there is not one type of masculinity that is attractive.

Collins et al. (2003) found that the Friends condom episode "reopened some existing channels of communication" and that parents used the episode as a springboard to broach the topic for the first time and to express their own opinions and views to their teens (p. 1120). Thus, it seems that comedy has a way of making the subject of sexual health more approachable by parents and teens and something that has the potential to start conversations. Bond, Hefner, and Drogos (2009), however, found that self reported heavier users of media during the coming-out process reported less family openness in their current lives than light media users (p. 42). Therefore, it seems that looking at the potential of sitcoms like Friends and the potential for education about a range of sexual health issues might open up the conversation between LGBT teens beginning the coming out process with their families. Seeing a successful relationship like Carol and Susan's or watching the male characters negotiations of very different masculinities might have as much power as the show did to educate about condom use.

Therefore, Friends might be more than just funny. With subtle inclusion of different kinds of sexual relationships and sexual journeys, the characters might just be able to teach young audiences about healthy sexuality, especially LGBT teens that are beginning the coming out process, and how to talk about it.

References

Bond, B. J., Hefner, V., & Drogos, K. L. (2009). Information-seeking practices during the sexual development of lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals: The influence and effects of coming out in a mediated environment. Sexuality and Culture: An Interdisciplinary Quarterly, 13(1), 32-50. 

Collins, R. L., Elliott, M. N., Berry, S. H., Kanouse, D. E., & Hunter, S. B. (2003). Entertainment television as a healthy sex educator: The impact of condom-efficacy information in an episode of Friends. Pediatrics, 112(5), 1115-1121.