During the sequence followed, many of the younger males put on a "machismo" like attitude in an attempt to assert they were very familiar with sex and sexuality. This is due largely to the pressures observed in the environment throughout the movie, an environment that suggests virginity is something that should be lost as soon as possible. Thus, if one has not lost their virginity, they may become an outcast or subject of ridicule. This in turn may lead to embarrassment, as is the case with the young girl in this scene.
On careful examination however of the participants in the pre-birth control meeting, there is much in the way of nonverbal evidence that the people engaged in the conversation are insecure. While male fathers proudly demonstrate using their words, mannerisms and gestures that they are "all man" and incapable of remaining virgins, as are their sons, you can see the discomfort in the young boys that such proclamation brings. Many of the characters in the circle, despite outward vocalizations, appear to slouch or divert their eyes so as to hide their true feelings from the other group members.
Other members...
Many of the young adult males attending the meeting seemed to take cues from their adult parent present. If the parent seemed to think the idea of virginity ridiculous, the child adopted a similar attitude, whether they truly felt the same way or not.
Conclusion
Many factors contribute and detract from a researchers understanding of the environment and cultural context of a situation. The culture manifested in this situation is one where publicly people are made to feel humiliated if they are virgins, and where privately many youths still are virgins, and only put on a front for the sake of being seen as "macho" or grown. By realizing the subtle cues however offered by the young adults present, one can easily infer that had the male "machismo" parents been present, more youths would have happily acknowledged their lack of knowledge about birth control and human sexuality.
Ethnographic Study
