This is a teen fad that has been spreading for some time now and has gotten to the point where schools area beginning to ban it. In England they are called Shag Bands. In the United States they are innocently called jelly bands, but the kids in England have named it more appropriately.
These thin rubber/plastic bracelets have actually been around for quite some time and were made popular by Madonna. I remember wearing them myself, putting on a few to match whatever I was wearing and going about my own business. These days, kids need to watch what color bracelets they wear.
According to the New York Times, a yellow band is a hug, purple is for a kiss, blue is for oral, and black is for intercourse. These are just a few of the options.
Girls wear the bands that tell what they have done and what they are willing to do. If a boy breaks one of the colored bands off her wrist, then she is to perform that act. She sets limits by choosing her colors, he takes as he pleases.
It is bad enough that teens willingly open themselves up for promiscuity with these bands, but there are kids who buy the bands because they are cute and have no idea what they are doing. Since kids as young as eight play this sex bracelet game, it is possible that any boy can approach any girl and demand certain acts and the girl would therefore find herself sexually harassed as she never willingly entered into the game.
Schools are right to inform parents about the use of the bracelets and to ask that they not be worn to school.
If you as a parent see these bracelets on your child’s wrist, you need to sit them down, find out if they are willing participants in the game, and if not, make sure they understand what they mean. If they are willing participants, well, then you will have a much bigger discussion on your hands.
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Also read:
Disciplining other People’s Teens