Discussing Healthy Relationships and Pop Culture with Students
When college students explore the world of romance, they often look to celebrities, movies, and social media for relationship guidance. However, pop culture doesn’t always model healthy interactions. At Eckerd College, our Advocacy Services team works to bridge this gap by helping students recognize the difference between healthy relationships and harmful ones portrayed in media.
How Pop Culture Shapes Relationship Expectations
Today’s students grow up surrounded by relationship messages from TikTok, Instagram, Netflix, and music. These sources can create unrealistic expectations about love and partnership. Many popular shows romanticize toxic behaviors like jealousy, control, and dramatic conflicts.
For example, shows like “Euphoria” and “Bridgerton” feature intense relationships that might seem passionate but often display concerning patterns. Students might mistake possessiveness for devotion or drama for passion. Our job is to help them spot these differences.
Red Flags Normalized in Entertainment
Pop culture often presents problematic behaviors as normal or even desirable. These include:
- Jealousy portrayed as proof of love
- Stalking behaviors framed as romantic pursuit
- Partners checking each other’s phones presented as normal
- Emotional manipulation shown as clever strategy
- Excessive control disguised as protection
These portrayals can blur the line between love and control. As a result, students might accept harmful behaviors in their own relationships without question. Through our workshops, we create space for critical discussions about these media messages.
Building Media Literacy for Healthier Relationships
Our approach focuses on developing media literacy skills. We teach students to watch their favorite content with a critical eye. Rather than simply consuming media, we encourage them to question what they see.
During our popular “Pop Culture and Relationships” workshop, students analyze clips from current shows and movies. They identify both healthy and unhealthy relationship patterns. This interactive format helps them apply these skills to their own media consumption.
Questions We Encourage Students to Ask
- Does this relationship seem balanced and respectful?
- Are both partners free to make their own choices?
- How do these characters resolve conflicts?
- Would this behavior feel comfortable in real life?
- What messages does this content send about relationships?
According to the Centers for Disease Control, nearly 1 in 12 high school students experiences physical dating violence. By the time students reach college, many have already internalized harmful relationship models. Our workshops aim to reset these expectations before unhealthy patterns become entrenched.
Creating Space for Open Conversations
Students often feel pressure to have perfect relationships. Social media compounds this by showcasing only the best moments. Our programs create safe spaces where students can honestly discuss relationship challenges without judgment.
One sophomore shared: “Before these workshops, I thought jealousy meant someone really cared. Now I understand that trust and respect are more important signs of love.”
We organize small group discussions where students can reflect on their own experiences. These conversations help normalize the ups and downs of relationships. Students learn that healthy relationships require communication and compromise, not perfection.
Popular Discussion Topics
- Setting and respecting boundaries
- Recognizing the difference between passion and control
- Healthy ways to express emotions and resolve conflicts
- Digital boundaries (texting expectations, social media, etc.)
- Balancing independence with togetherness
These discussions help students develop realistic expectations. They learn that healthy relationships shouldn’t mirror the drama of their favorite shows. Instead, they should feel supportive, respectful, and empowering.
Finding Positive Relationship Models
We don’t just critique negative examples. We also highlight media that portrays healthy relationships. This balanced approach helps students recognize what to look for in their own partnerships.
Some positive relationship examples we discuss include:
- Shows where couples communicate openly about problems
- Characters who respect each other’s boundaries
- Relationships where both partners maintain their identities
- Examples of conflict resolution without manipulation
- Portrayals of mutual support and encouragement
One first-year student noted: “I never realized how many unhealthy relationships I was seeing in shows until we started discussing alternatives. Now I can spot the difference right away.”
Peer Education Makes the Difference
Our most successful programs involve peer educators. Fellow students can relate to experiences in ways that feel authentic and relevant. These peer leaders receive training to facilitate discussions about consent, boundaries, and healthy communication.
These peer-led sessions create comfortable environments where students openly share concerns. Many students find it easier to discuss sensitive topics with peers than with authority figures. This approach has dramatically increased participation in our programs.
Peer educators also help connect theory to real campus life. They can address specific situations students face in dorms, at parties, and in campus relationships. This relevance makes the information more applicable to students’ daily lives.
Success Through Student Involvement
We’ve found that student involvement transforms how these messages are received. When students see their peers championing healthy relationships, the impact multiplies. As one peer educator explained: “When I share what I’ve learned about healthy relationships, my friends actually listen.”
Our programs partner with student organizations including:
- Residence life and RAs
- Greek organizations
- Student government
- Athletics teams
- Cultural and identity-based student groups
This collaborative approach ensures our messages reach diverse student populations. It also reinforces that healthy relationship skills benefit everyone across campus.
Technology and Modern Relationships
Digital communication presents unique challenges for today’s students. Social media, texting, and dating apps have transformed how relationships form and function. Our programs address these modern realities directly.
Students often struggle with questions like:
- How quickly should I respond to texts?
- Is it okay to ask for my partner’s social media passwords?
- What boundaries should I set around posting about our relationship?
- How do I handle someone constantly checking my location?
- What’s the line between staying connected and digital control?
According to Love Is Respect, 25% of teenagers report experiencing digital abuse from partners. This includes excessive texting, password sharing demands, and social media monitoring. Our workshops help students recognize these behaviors as potential warning signs rather than normal relationship practices.
Beyond Romance: All Relationships Matter
While romantic relationships often dominate discussions, we emphasize that all relationships benefit from healthy communication skills. Friendships, roommate situations, and family connections all require similar foundations of respect and boundaries.
This broader focus makes our programs relevant to all students, regardless of relationship status. It also helps them recognize that relationship skills transfer across different types of connections in their lives.
Many students report applying these skills with roommates first. As one junior shared: “The communication techniques I learned helped me address issues with my roommate before they became major problems. Now I’m using the same approach in my dating life.”
Measuring Real Impact
Our program assessment shows encouraging results. After participating in our workshops:
- 87% of students can identify at least three warning signs of unhealthy relationships
- 92% feel more confident setting personal boundaries
- 76% report increased comfort discussing relationship concerns with partners
- 83% recognize how media influences their relationship expectations
- 94% would recommend the workshop to friends
These numbers reflect meaningful change in how students approach relationships. By connecting these concepts to the media they already consume, we make the learning process engaging and relevant.
Looking Forward: Expanding Our Reach
Based on student feedback, we’re expanding our programs in several ways:
- Creating a podcast where students discuss healthy relationships in current media
- Developing a film series followed by guided discussions
- Launching social media campaigns featuring student perspectives
- Partnering with faculty to incorporate these concepts into relevant courses
- Training more peer educators to reach additional student groups
These initiatives will help us reach more students through channels they already use. Our goal remains consistent: empowering students to recognize and create healthy relationships in their own lives.
Join the Conversation
Healthy relationships form the foundation for student wellbeing and success. By connecting relationship education to pop culture, we make these critical conversations both relevant and engaging. Students learn to enjoy their favorite media while developing a more critical perspective on the relationships portrayed.
For students, the message is clear: you deserve relationships based on mutual respect, trust, and support. The dramatic, controlling dynamics often portrayed in media rarely lead to lasting happiness in real life.
When students understand this distinction, they’re better equipped to build fulfilling connections throughout college and beyond. And that might be the most important lesson we can offer.