This is the first in a two-part feature on the rationale and consequences of teenage sexual activity. In each article, The Feather will withhold the names of those interviewed in order to protect their privacy.
Throughout an individual’s high school career, one may participate in sports, become class president or join a band to gain popularity and become part of the “in crowd.” Likewise, due to peer pressure, an increase in sexual content in media or lack of parental guidance, teens may turn to promiscuous activities to achieve status among friends.
Though professionals acknowledge teens may consume alcohol or participate in other hazardous activities in order to boost their stature among friends, they have noticed an increase in the amount of adolescents who participate in sexual activities, especially. Although both acts present issues, teen promiscuity leads to more serious consequences such as unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and damage to self-esteem.
Teenagers are known to partake in risk-taking behaviors, but for some troubled adolescences it can become a serious issue. Struggling teens can use sex as an outlet to release frustrations, such as others who use drugs and alcohol. After a period of time, sex becomes a drug to escape reality and suppress emotions, but just like with drugs, there are consequences. Eventually, the individual who has acted out sexually will feel a diminished self-esteem and self-worth.
Teen mom Samantha expresses how premarital sex caused eternal damage to her self-esteem after having six different partners.
“I was fifteen when I first had sex,” Samantha said. “I was in a relationship with someone I shouldn’t have been, and although he didn’t think I was ready, I insisted I was ready to lose my virginity. Sex has taken a toll on my body and self-image. Although self-worth and physical strength can be rebuilt, there are still scars remaining from past experiences.”
In some cases, teens can use sex as a weapon or defense mechanism. An adolescent may use sex as a way to show parents that they are “free” or an “adult,” but in actuality they are using sex in an emotionally-immature and self-destructive manner, which can lead to long-term problems with intimate relationships and health problems.
Due to her past experiences with sex, Samantha has learned that most individuals are unprepared for the emotional and physical toll that premarital sex presents. Samantha said she recently gained a new sense of self-respect and self-control, and hopes to keep it until marriage.
“I have learned that most people that think they’re ready for sex, aren’t,” Samantha said. “They aren’t strong enough to deal with the possible outcome — emotional damage, physical damage or a possible pregnancy. Even if you are using the “safe” methods, sex can leave you feeling really empty and disgusted with yourself. My advice is to practice self-control [and] restraint.”
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, 66.4 percent of 12th graders have had sex. Despite society’s perception that every teen has sex, this statistic proves them wrong; yet over half of the nation’s high school seniors have partaken in the act.
“Teens shouldn’t have sex because they should wait for their husband or wife, but if they do, better safe than sorry,” Jane, ’12, said. “Sex is like a sacred thing for that one person, but if they are going to do it because of all the pressures in society and media, then they might as well be informed about it because we don’t want all of those teen pregnancies.”
Although the percentage of teen sex has declined from the years of 1995-2002, the percentage has not changed much since the early 2000s, which is an indication that teens still have sex despite consequences. In a study composed from 2006-2010, most sexually-inexperienced teens based the reason as “against religion or morals.” The other most common reasons were “don’t want to get pregnant” and “haven’t found the right person yet.”
A recent study conducted by the University of North Carolina suggested that teens who watch or read media that contains a high of amount of sexual content are 2.2 times more likely to have sex than a teen who does not.
The researchers surveyed 1,017 African-American and white teens when they were 12-14-years-old, then again two years later. The team analyzed the sexual content in 308 different television shows, movies, magazines and music that are used regularly by teenagers and then measured their “sexual diet.”
The study found that white teenagers who participated in high sexual content media were twice as likely to have sex then those who did not. Although the media affects white teenagers, there was no significant change among African-American adolescences.
If teens continue to use sex as another “group activity,” before long the individual will cause serious emotional damage as well as the potential for health issues.
