Censorship & Judy Blume
FOREVER BY JUDY BLUME
Forever is Judy Blume's candid portrayal
of a teenage sexual relationship. It has
sold over 3.5 million copies and 30 years
after it was first published, it is still
causing controversy.
of a teenage sexual relationship. It has
sold over 3.5 million copies and 30 years
after it was first published, it is still
causing controversy.
Reasons cited for Forever
being challenged and banned:
- Frequency of sexual activity and sexual descriptions
- Use of “four-letter” words
- Does not promote abstinence
- Does not promote monogamous relationships
- Demoralized marital sex
- Disobedience to parents is shown
- Talks about masturbation
- Talks about birth control
- Sexuality
- Lack of moral tone
- Sexual passages inappropriate for young people
What did the censors have in mind when listing the
above reasons for challenging this book? That was
my question, what is the basis for these reasons?
FEAR
These school district administrators, public & school
librarians, parents AND religious & parent groups
know that WORDS have POWER.
This makes them have FEAR...to be AFRAID.
AFRAID that kids won't "understand" Forever.
AFRAID that exposure to reading material that
containsinformation about SEX could morally
corrupt young minds.
AFRAID that Forever encourages sexual behavior.
These people and groups have FEAR of losing control
of their children.They BELIEVE that if their child
reads something, has exposure to information they will
act on it...For example, if they read about sex, they
will have sex, if they read about kids swearing, they
will swear etc.
It's really rather SILLY and MAKES NO SENSE.
The main character in Forever approaches a sexual
relationship with caution, with planning and with
appropriate protection.
In addition, most books that are banned and taken off
shelves are books that people seek out immediately to
read and find out why.
Kids want to know about sex, relationships,
masturbation and all the things that Blume covers
openly and honestly in Forever. If there parents are
not talking to them about these things, they have
no one to go to to help them grow and learn. No
one togo to with their questions. They won't know how
to obtain birth control, they won't know if the feelings
they are having as they realize they are sexual beings
are normal or not.
SO, the FEAR of the censors does not PROTECT their
children, it does not STOP them from having sex, it
just keeps them in the dark and IGNORANCE never
got anyone anywere. And nobody can or should have
control over their kids "forever."
These school district administrators, public & school
librarians, parents AND religious & parent groups
know that WORDS have POWER.
This makes them have FEAR...to be AFRAID.
AFRAID that kids won't "understand" Forever.
AFRAID that exposure to reading material that
containsinformation about SEX could morally
corrupt young minds.
AFRAID that Forever encourages sexual behavior.
These people and groups have FEAR of losing control
of their children.They BELIEVE that if their child
reads something, has exposure to information they will
act on it...For example, if they read about sex, they
will have sex, if they read about kids swearing, they
will swear etc.
It's really rather SILLY and MAKES NO SENSE.
The main character in Forever approaches a sexual
relationship with caution, with planning and with
appropriate protection.
In addition, most books that are banned and taken off
shelves are books that people seek out immediately to
read and find out why.
Kids want to know about sex, relationships,
masturbation and all the things that Blume covers
openly and honestly in Forever. If there parents are
not talking to them about these things, they have
no one to go to to help them grow and learn. No
one togo to with their questions. They won't know how
to obtain birth control, they won't know if the feelings
they are having as they realize they are sexual beings
are normal or not.
SO, the FEAR of the censors does not PROTECT their
children, it does not STOP them from having sex, it
just keeps them in the dark and IGNORANCE never
got anyone anywere. And nobody can or should have
control over their kids "forever."
What Blume says about Forever being frequently challenged
"What I hear from my readers," Blume says, "is that the story itself is timeless. There will always be first love, first sexual feelings, first sexual relationships. Here we are, 30 years later, and just as many young people are reading the book today as when it was published."
"The 70s was a much more open decade in America," she says. "Forever was used in several school programs then, helping to spur discussions of sexual responsibility. This would never happen today. How are young people supposed to make thoughtful decisions if they don't have information and no one is willing to talk with them."
"The 70s was a much more open decade in America," she says. "Forever was used in several school programs then, helping to spur discussions of sexual responsibility. This would never happen today. How are young people supposed to make thoughtful decisions if they don't have information and no one is willing to talk with them."
Forever
Forever is a young adult book that was first published in 1975. It is a story about teenage sexuality and love. The very private, often not discussed topics of masturbation, teenage sex, birth control are brought to life by Blume.
Katherine Danzinger is 17 years old and a senior
in high school when she meets Michael Wagner
at a New Year’s Eve party and quickly falls in love. Blume candidly writes about Katherine’s life and the events before, during and after Katherine loses
her virginity.
Katherine and Michael are typical teenagers and the story is very true to life. They promise their love will last forever and have their future planned. Those dreams start to shatter when Katherine’s parents make her take a summer job out of town and they must spend the summer apart. The separation is a test of their love as Katherine develops feelings for another tennis instructor.
Forever is a well written, highly criticized novel shows reader’s that forever is a long time and to remember that life goes on.
Katherine Danzinger is 17 years old and a senior
in high school when she meets Michael Wagner
at a New Year’s Eve party and quickly falls in love. Blume candidly writes about Katherine’s life and the events before, during and after Katherine loses
her virginity.
Katherine and Michael are typical teenagers and the story is very true to life. They promise their love will last forever and have their future planned. Those dreams start to shatter when Katherine’s parents make her take a summer job out of town and they must spend the summer apart. The separation is a test of their love as Katherine develops feelings for another tennis instructor.
Forever is a well written, highly criticized novel shows reader’s that forever is a long time and to remember that life goes on.
Where has Forever been challenged?
- Scranton, PA high school
- Orlando, FL schools
- Akron, OH schools
- Howard, WI schools
- Holdredge, NE public library
- Cedar Rapids, IA public library
- Patrick County, VA schools
- Park Hill, MO
- many other school districts, school and public
Who has been challenging
and banning this book?
- Parent Groups such as:
- Focus on the Family
- Family and Youth
- Religious Groups such as:
- School Districts
- School Libraries
- Public Libraries
Forever was banned from the high school library by the high
school principal at the Rib Lake, WI in 1994. A guidance
counselor at the high school criticized this decision to his
principal in writing. The counselors contract was not renewed,
in retaliation for speaking out against the districts book policy.
A federal jury in Madison, WI awarded $394,560 to the
guidance counselor.
In 2005, a Texas librarian
campaigned to have "Forever"
taken off the shelves of every
school in the state. The librarian
lost the battle.
campaigned to have "Forever"
taken off the shelves of every
school in the state. The librarian
lost the battle.
Forever was removed
from Mediapolis, Iowa school
district libraries because it
“does not promote abstinence
and monogamous relationships
[and] lacks any aesthetic,
literary or social value.”
from Mediapolis, Iowa school
district libraries because it
“does not promote abstinence
and monogamous relationships
[and] lacks any aesthetic,
literary or social value.”
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In 1997 a school district in
Elgin, Illinois banned Forever
and cited “parental complaints”
as the reason for the banning.
In 2003, the school board
reinstated the book, after being
urged that it’sremoval was
unconstitutional.
Pasadena Independent School
District Superintendent Dr. Rick
Schneider has banned "Forever"
from the shelves of libraries within the
Pasadena District and has said the
following about the book, "certain
passages were not appropriate for any
student of the school district"
Elgin, Illinois banned Forever
and cited “parental complaints”
as the reason for the banning.
In 2003, the school board
reinstated the book, after being
urged that it’sremoval was
unconstitutional.
Pasadena Independent School
District Superintendent Dr. Rick
Schneider has banned "Forever"
from the shelves of libraries within the
Pasadena District and has said the
following about the book, "certain
passages were not appropriate for any
student of the school district"
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