Are Today’s Teens Having More Sex?
It seems like every time I flip open a magazine or turn on a talk show, someone’s talking about teens and sex – how much they’re doing it, how risky the sex they’re having is, how teen pregnancy is the latest fad. Of course, it’s not the first time the media has grabbed hold of an idea and run with it. And let’s face it, the idea that today’s teens are increasingly promiscuous is one that’s going to get a lot of attention, especially from parents who get completely freaked out by the subject.
I can understand this reaction, if there was was any truth behind the headlines. But studies show it’s not necessarily the case. A recent article in The New York Times by Tara Parker-Pope (“The Myth of Rampant Teenage Promiscuity”) points out that “while some people are clearly engaging in risky sexual behavior, a vast majority are not. The reality is that in many ways, today’s teenagers are more conservative about sex than previous generations.” In fact, according to the article:
- In 2007, fewer than half of all high school students (47.8%) had had sex, while in 1991, 54.1% had
- In 2002, only 30% of high school girls had experienced sex, while in 1995, 38% had
While it’s true that in 2007 births among 15-19 year olds had risen for the first time in more than ten years (National Center for Health Statistics), that certainly doesn’t constitute a “trend.” And many researchers believe the recent increase in teen pregnancy isn’t because more teens are having sex, but because fewer are using contraception.
What do you think? Is there any truth behind the hype or is this just another chance for the media to use fear to grab an audience?
Whether teens are having more or less sex, the one thing I know is that education is the most important piece of this equation. Luckily, there are a ton of resources out there to help teens become informed and learn about the real consequences of their choices, whatever they may be. Check out the website hosted by Rutger’s University, Sex, Etc. to get honest answers from experts and teens, and tap into a ton of resources.
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Becca Said,
February 6, 2009 @ 2:10 pm
We’ve been talking about this alot in my Inquiry class at Lakehead University. My opinion fluctuates alot, in a way I beleive alot more teens are having sex, but in another way alot of teens are waiting. I think its a lot different for males and females, as well as age groups, each are subjected to different stereotypes and pressures. Society and the media place a lot of expectations and pressure on teens both having and not having sex, considering what the media follows is that ‘sex sells’ . I think schools are educating students alot better, or trying to, but with teens having sex earlier, it gets harder. Walking around highschool their were often pregnant teens, but in university, I haven’t seen any. When teens are having sex they’re often not mature enough for it, and it becomes a game, I think thats when sex becomes unprotected, and the stats go up. Its not so much a trend, as it is teens getting caught up in all of it, the fun, the pleasure, the openness and everything else, we get lost in it. Just some thoughts!