Trends in Sexuality Among Teens

In their article, Risman and Schwartz analyze and discuss the research that shows a decline in the sexual activity of teens in the late 20th century. Research shows that the trend of sexual conservatism holds true more for whites than for blacks and for boys more than for girls. In general though, research shows that the percentages of sexually active teenagers have decreased significantly over the latter part of the 20th century indicating a trend of sexual conservatism, at least compared to the highly sexual beginning the 1900s. In correlation to the decrease of sexual activity among teenagers, the percentages of teenage pregnancies, abortions, and sexually transmitted diseases have decreased as well. The numbers speak for themselves as an indication of the growing trend, but why the decline in teenage sexuality? A conservative's ideal response would be the success of abstinence education, and many have claimed this, but Risman and Schwartz find this conclusion inaccurate. They account for the decline in teenage sexuality by an increased fear of pregancy and disease. The growing abstinence among boys seems to be a result of girls' growing control in relationships. Girls seem to exert more control over what sexual activity occurs. Also, casual sex is looked down upon more among girls in fear of being marked as a slut, so sexual activity is more confined to relationships. Based on my experience in high school and the beginning of college, I find it quite surprising that teenage sexuality is in decline. In high school I constantly heard stories of sexual encounters and shockingly heard about younger and younger kids engaging in some form of sexual activity. For the most part though, the sexual activity was confined to relationships like the article said.

The major trend that Thomas and England discuss in their article is the decline of dating on college campuses and the increase in "hook-ups." Traditional dating was more similar to a courting process in which the individuals got to know one another and progress into a relationship if a connection and attraction was there. Nowadays, surveys show that on college campuses this traditional form of dating rarely ever occurs. Dating is now confined more to people that are already in exclusive relationships. More college students engage in hooking up, often as a result of consuming alcohol. The study shows that in many cases multiple hook-ups eventually lead to exclusive relationships, taking the place of the traditional dating that led to relationships. Thomas and England's research has also found a change in culture that has afforded women of more sexual options. More sexual behavior on the part of the woman has become accepted. The study shows a substantial desparity between the sexual stimulation received by men and women mostly due to the fact that women perform more oral sex than men. Although a cultural change has allowed women more options for sexual activity, a double standard still exists. Women are more often labeled as slutty, easy, or promiscuous than men. When a woman hooks up too much with too many guys or has sex too easily she is labeled a slut, by men and women. However, a man is often applauded for his promiscuity by his fellow males and a bad reputation doesn't stick long in the minds of women. My experience in college definite correlates with Thomas and England's observations. Dating rarely occurs, and if it does it's often between two people that are already in a relationship. The double standard also definitely exists. Women get looked down upon for excessive promiscuity and men are applauded for their sexual endeavors with numerous women.