FREE ESSAY ON TEEN SEXUALITY

TEEN SEXUALITY

In our constantly developing society, it is not surprising to note that adolescents'
sexual attitudes and behaviours have greatly changed within the past two decades.
Darling, Kallen & VanDusen, (1984) in their study of college students found a major
increase in the number of young people reporting to have had sexual intercourse. They
also found that college age females, who were once thought to be less sexually active
than college age males, were now just as sexually active. In Canadian data from
university studies, a dramatic rise from 1967 to 1979 in the percentage of students who
had experienced premarital intercourse was shown (Fitzhonly & Whiteside, 1984). These
findings of increased promiscuity among adolescents inevitably evoke a strong sense of
curiosity and raise the question: which factors have been the most influential in regards
to increased teenage promiscuity? Today, not only are there more youths who are sexually
active but research shows that the majority of them do not use contraceptives on a
regular basis (Chng, 1983). The reasons behind this lack of birth control use are equally
important as the increase in sexual activity for the problem of unwanted pregnancy among
the young in society is remarkably prevalent and continually on the rise(Cohan, 1983).
The reasons behind adolescents engaging in sexual intercourse so early in life are
extensive and yet it becomes increasingly evident that cultural changes within our
society have played the single most influential role in this area. Society's attitudes
towards sex have dramatically changed in the past two decades and this has directly
influenced sexual activity among our youth but throughout all of society as well. Today,
sex is exploited throughout the media in an attempt to increase business revenue. By
catering to our basis sexual desires the media can easily manipulate and conform the
attitudes and actions of its patrons. The youth of today seem to be the most easily
manipulated group by sexual propaganda due to their conformist vulnerability. Young
people have no choice but to deal with other's ideas about sexuality before they have
been able to form their own opinions and beliefs. This liberalization is not necessarily
bad in itself but rather it is sexual exploitation coupled with a lack of quality
education that creates unhealthy attitudes and beliefs about sex within the minds of our
youth. 
As a result of this extensive and powerful media, society has an increasing amount of
influence in our children's decision making than it did in the past. In the past, the
Church used to set the moral code which parents then enforced. Today, teens listen to
their peers and the media much more than to their parents or religious affiliations
(Carlson, 1985). Therefore, in a society where attitudes are strongly influenced and even
controlled by the sexually suggestive powers of the media it is no wonder that sexual
intercourse is increasingly prevalent among our adolescent population.
Societal goals such as money and power have also had an enormous effect on the family
structure. The increasing number of dual income families is directly proportionate to the
decrease in parent/child time sharing. Also, the prevalence of divorce sometimes makes
the family unit one of the most unstable forces in an adolescent's life. The saying do as
I say, not as I do may be a common standard in many homes (Darling, et al., 1984). As a
result of these factors that negatively effect parent/child interaction, children often
lose out on positive role models who they can turn to with questions or problems. Rather,
many have no choice but to talk with their friends about sexual matters or remain in the
dark in the area of sexuality. It is an unfortunate reality that when youths do turn to
their peers about sex, the message they receive is often very clear yet terribly
misguided: sex is an expected and accepted part of any relationship. 
In fact, Darling et al. (1984) found that adolescents thought they underwent a distinct
status change once they were no longer a virgin. Attitudes towards intercourse itself
have changed as sexual activity increases and there is a noticeable decrease in sexual
guilt, especially among females (Hendrick, Hendrick, Slapion-Foote, & Foote, 1985). As
previously stated, when adolescents turn to each other for sex education much of the
information they receive is false, they become sexually educated by myths and
misconceptions generated within society. It may be because of the lack of accurate
information adolescents receive about sex that causes them to be experiment themselves in
search of the truth. I believe this experimentation may take place early for many youths
because society has built up the concept of sex to be larger than life, and no one wants
to miss out on anything so wonderful. Society has created the unhealthy notion that sex
is an expected norm at any age or at any stage in a relationship. 
Unfortunately, teenagers use of contraceptives is not rising in proportion to their
increase in sexual activity (Fisher, 1983). Erotophobia, or a fear of sex, is said to be
a major psychological barrier to using contraceptive methods. The lack of contraceptive
use is due to many factors. Firstly, contraceptives must be purchased and often involve
physician consultation. Therefore, lack of money, fear and/or embarrassment all can play
highly influential roles in discouraging one from using an effective contraceptive
method. Secondly, one must be educated on how to to use a contraceptive. Thirdly, the use
of a contraceptive should be discussed by the couple and this poses an element of fear or
embarrassment that may also prevent one from using birth control. 
Santrock, (1987) describes personality factors that add to one's inability to use
protection. Some of these include seeing oneself as sexually active, feeling incompetent,
anxious or having negative views of contraceptives. Many of these teenagers cannot see
themselves as ever having sex, or if they have already, never again. As a result of
sexual rejection, from fear or otherwise, one never plans on engaging in sex and
therefore does not engage in preplanned protection. This concept was supported in a study
by Fisher, (1983) as an erotophobic man reported having unprotected intercourse when he
told the researcher he had never intended to engage in any act of sexual activity
whatsoever. This study also found a connection between the person's fear of sex and their
being too embarrassed to discuss protective methods. Thus, many teens often have problems
talking about contraceptives which may, in turn, result in a lack of a proper
understanding about pregnancy risks. It was also found that many youths would not ask for
protection even if it was readily available. Therefore, many of the other possible
reasons for teenagers not using contraceptives may originally stem from this fear of
sex.
The social notion that the youth holds of being untouchable and that nothing can ever
happen to them may occur because they will not admit to being sexually active. The
availability of contraceptives and sex education also may not work unless the teen is
helped to overcome their anxiety about the topic first. These teens may also view those
who do not take responsibility for their sexual behaviour as being moral. Erotophobia
must be viewed as a problem among teenagers and if it can be overcome it may increase
their use of contraceptives and thus reduce the rise of teenage pregnancy.
The problem of early intercourse within the adolescent years has been shown to be a
result of the society in which these youths are growing up in. Uneducated sexual
experimentation may lead to a higher level of erotophobic teenagers who are inconsistent
or negligent in their use of contraceptives. Therefore, the solution to reducing the
problem of teenage pregnancy must be within the society as a whole in the form of
education, contraceptive accessibility and media influence. As Darling, Kallen &
VanDusen, (1984) put it, sexual behaviour is social behaviour regulated by society and
learned through the socialization process. The attitudes reflected in our society are
becoming more and more accepting of sexual stereotypes, sexual exploitation and most
importantly teenage sex. Also, due to a constant breakdown of the family unit, there is a
decrease in parent/child communication and time sharing which results in a lack of sex
education within the home. This, in turn, places the responsibility for sex education on
the shoulders of our school boards which do not always provide adequate or appropriate
education. All of these factors working collectively fail to reduce the fight against the
increase in teenage pregnancy. This is a major concern within society for the number of
teens having intercourse responsibly is not decreasing and the number of children having
children is on the rise. This problem can only be lessened if we can all work to educate
our children and seek to instil in them a sense of responsibility through loving,
understanding and time.
Bibliography
vanDusen 1984 et al