Deck 12: Sexuality

Question 1

Teens and Sex: Are Young People Becoming More Sexually Conservative?
Research Question: Several national studies have reported a decline in sexual activity among teens. The percentage of sexually active teens has dropped from the early 1990s, rates of teen pregnancy have fallen, teens are having fewer abortions, and the rate of sexually transmitted diseases among teens has declined. Does this herald a growth in sexual conservatism among young people and the success of policies encouraging sexual abstinence?
Research Method: Sociologists Barbara Risman and Pepper Schwartz based their research on a synthesis of all of the national studies on teen sexuality, as well as data from research organizations on the prevalence of teen sexuality.
research findings: Most of the change in teen sex activity is attributable to changes in behavior of boys, not girls. The number of high school boys who are virgins has increased. Girls' behavior has not changed significantly, except among African American girls, whose rates of sexual activity have declined, nearly matching those of White and Hispanic girls. Risman and Schwartz conclude that sexual behavior of boys is then becoming more like girls, the implication being that boys and girls are likely to begin their sexual lives within the context of romantic relationships.
Conclusions and Implications: Although many declare that the changes in teen sexual behavior mean a decline in the sexual revolution, Risman and Schwartz disagree. Certainly fear of AIDS, education about safe sex, and some growth in conservative values have contributed to changes in teen sexual norms. Risman and Schwartz show that numerous factors influence sexual behavior among teens, just as among adults. They suggest that sexuality is a normal part of adolescent social development and conclude that the sexual revolution-along with the revolution in gender norms-is generating more responsible, not more problematic, sexual behavior among young people.
Questions to Consider
Are people in your age group generally sexually conservative or sexually liberal? What factors influence young people's attitudes about sexuality?

Answer 1

Sociologists B and P have researched and found that teenage boys have become more conservative when it comes to sexual activity. There is a decline in the number of teenage people engaging in sexual activity due to increased awareness about safe sex and increased conservative values in boys and girls.
People of age group above 15 and below 20 are considered to be moderately conservative. The adolescence age by nature attracts both the sex towards love and sexual activities easily. They view sex as a need and pleasure rather than with commitment. People above the age of 20 will act conservatively due to the increases maturity level and ability to control their actions. They are much aware of the values and have exposure to the vulnerabilities of unsafe sex, hence avoid sexual activity.
The factors that influence young people's attitude about sexuality is the culture of the family environment in which they are brought up, mental maturity and physical desire, community or group with which they interact, influence of friends etc.
Mostly the education and awareness among them coupled with their values make the teens develop conservative attitude towards sexuality.

Question 2

Is Hooking Up Bad for Women?
Research Question: The presence of the hookup culture on college campuses is a relatively recent phenomenon and reflects changes in sexual attitudes and behaviors among, especially, young people. Some argue that the hookup culture liberates women from traditional sexual values that constrained women's sexuality. Others argue that this culture is harmful to women, making them sexual objects for men's pleasure (for example, the practice of women making out with other women in public settings, such as bars and campus parties). Is the hookup culture harmful to women or is a sign of their sexual liberation?
research Method: Several sociologists have examined this question, some using national surveys, others using a more qualitative approach. Paula England and her colleagues, for example, studied sexual activity in a survey of over 14,000 students at 18 different campuses in the United States, exploring students' experiences with hooking up, dating, and relationships. Laura Hamilton and Elizabeth Armstrong used a more qualitative approach, actually residing among students in a so called "party dorm," observing as well as interviewing students for a full year. Leila Rupp and Verta Taylor had their undergraduate students interview other students about the party scene on their campus.
research findings: Research finds that both arguments about the effect of hookup cultures on women are true: Some parts of this culture are harmful to women, but women's experiences within the hookup culture also vary and are not uniformly negative.
England, for example, found that the hookup culture is not as wildly rampant as assumed. She found that 72 percent of both men and women participated in at least one hookup, but 40 percent had engaged in three or fewer hookups and only 20 percent of students had engaged in ten or more. England concludes that the popular image of "girls gone wild" in popular culture is simply not true. She also found that hooking up has not replaced committed relationships. But, as Hamilton and Armstrong found, the hookup culture allows women (and men) a chance for sexual exploration. At the same time, the hookup culture does present risks to women-risks of being pushed to drink too much, risks of sexual violence, and loss of self-esteem. But some women say that the hookup culture frees them to pursue education and careers without the emotionally consuming pressures of committed relationships (Hamilton and Armstrong 2009).
Rupp and Taylor have similarly found that the college party scene commonly includes women making out with other women. But, unlike those who argue that this practice sexually objectifies women for the pleasure of men, Rupp and Taylor argue that women who do so are exploring sexuality. But they do so within social boundaries and heterosexual norms. Even though women may engage in same-sex sexual practices, they do not necessarily develop a lesbian identity, although the lines of sexual identity are expanding for women.
Conclusions and Implications: There is not a simple or single answer to the question of whether the hookup culture harms or liberates women. Taken together, these studies reveal a complex portrait of young women's sexuality today. Sexual boundaries are perhaps more fluid than they once were, although they are still marked by sexual double standards and norms of heterosexuality.
Questions to Consider
Is there a hookup culture on your campus? If so, are there both positive and negative consequences of the hookup culture for women on your campus? What are they? If there is not such a culture on your campus, why not?

Answer 2

Hookup culture is increasing on college campuses now a day. Young women are more likely to be harmed by the hookup culture. Certain arguments favor hookup culture with women being more liberal on her sexual relationships. There are arguments against hookup culture which is harmful where women are made as sexual objects for men's pleasure.
In hook up culture, woman gets involved in sexual activities and actions with another men or woman to explore sex and its related pleasures and fantasies. The arguments about hookup culture are true in either way. The women get liberty in exploring sexuality, at the same time face risks of exposed sexual violence and low self-esteem.
There is no hookup culture in our campus. Students move freely, have friendly relationships and maintain their own personal relationship that is intimate to their self. Apart from that, nobody is obliged to be a partner and live together as in the case of hookup culture in the campus.
The campus has strict rules and regulations that keep a high surveillance on student's activities. The management does not encourage hookup culture and students are subject to disciplinary action if found engaged in such activities.

Question 3

Teens and Sex: Are Young People Becoming More Sexually Conservative?
Research Question: Several national studies have reported a decline in sexual activity among teens. The percentage of sexually active teens has dropped from the early 1990s, rates of teen pregnancy have fallen, teens are having fewer abortions, and the rate of sexually transmitted diseases among teens has declined. Does this herald a growth in sexual conservatism among young people and the success of policies encouraging sexual abstinence?
Research Method: Sociologists Barbara Risman and Pepper Schwartz based their research on a synthesis of all of the national studies on teen sexuality, as well as data from research organizations on the prevalence of teen sexuality.
research findings: Most of the change in teen sex activity is attributable to changes in behavior of boys, not girls. The number of high school boys who are virgins has increased. Girls' behavior has not changed significantly, except among African American girls, whose rates of sexual activity have declined, nearly matching those of White and Hispanic girls. Risman and Schwartz conclude that sexual behavior of boys is then becoming more like girls, the implication being that boys and girls are likely to begin their sexual lives within the context of romantic relationships.
Conclusions and Implications: Although many declare that the changes in teen sexual behavior mean a decline in the sexual revolution, Risman and Schwartz disagree. Certainly fear of AIDS, education about safe sex, and some growth in conservative values have contributed to changes in teen sexual norms. Risman and Schwartz show that numerous factors influence sexual behavior among teens, just as among adults. They suggest that sexuality is a normal part of adolescent social development and conclude that the sexual revolution-along with the revolution in gender norms-is generating more responsible, not more problematic, sexual behavior among young people.
Questions to Consider
To follow up from question 1, what evidence would you need to find out if young people in your community are more liberal than young people in the past? How would you design a study to investigate this question?

Answer 3

Sociologists B and P have researched and found that teenage boys have become more conservative when it comes to sexual activity. There is a decline in the number of teenage people engaging in sexual activity due to increased awareness about safe sex and increased conservative values in boys and girls.
The evidences needed to find out if young people in the community are more liberal than young people in the past are:
• Opinion on sex among different gender and ages.
• Analysis of information on awareness among people about safe sex and affects.
• Analysis of family values and customs.
• Analysis of factors that influence the sexual behavior.
• Personal values and perspective attitude on sex among teens.
To investigate this question, the study could be designed in a way that will include questions to the young people studying at school and colleges asking them about their thoughts and inclinations towards sex and related activities. This would provide an idea about their behavior and attitude towards sex.

Question 4

Is Hooking Up Bad for Women?
Research Question: The presence of the hookup culture on college campuses is a relatively recent phenomenon and reflects changes in sexual attitudes and behaviors among, especially, young people. Some argue that the hookup culture liberates women from traditional sexual values that constrained women's sexuality. Others argue that this culture is harmful to women, making them sexual objects for men's pleasure (for example, the practice of women making out with other women in public settings, such as bars and campus parties). Is the hookup culture harmful to women or is a sign of their sexual liberation?
research Method: Several sociologists have examined this question, some using national surveys, others using a more qualitative approach. Paula England and her colleagues, for example, studied sexual activity in a survey of over 14,000 students at 18 different campuses in the United States, exploring students' experiences with hooking up, dating, and relationships. Laura Hamilton and Elizabeth Armstrong used a more qualitative approach, actually residing among students in a so called "party dorm," observing as well as interviewing students for a full year. Leila Rupp and Verta Taylor had their undergraduate students interview other students about the party scene on their campus.
research findings: Research finds that both arguments about the effect of hookup cultures on women are true: Some parts of this culture are harmful to women, but women's experiences within the hookup culture also vary and are not uniformly negative.
England, for example, found that the hookup culture is not as wildly rampant as assumed. She found that 72 percent of both men and women participated in at least one hookup, but 40 percent had engaged in three or fewer hookups and only 20 percent of students had engaged in ten or more. England concludes that the popular image of "girls gone wild" in popular culture is simply not true. She also found that hooking up has not replaced committed relationships. But, as Hamilton and Armstrong found, the hookup culture allows women (and men) a chance for sexual exploration. At the same time, the hookup culture does present risks to women-risks of being pushed to drink too much, risks of sexual violence, and loss of self-esteem. But some women say that the hookup culture frees them to pursue education and careers without the emotionally consuming pressures of committed relationships (Hamilton and Armstrong 2009).
Rupp and Taylor have similarly found that the college party scene commonly includes women making out with other women. But, unlike those who argue that this practice sexually objectifies women for the pleasure of men, Rupp and Taylor argue that women who do so are exploring sexuality. But they do so within social boundaries and heterosexual norms. Even though women may engage in same-sex sexual practices, they do not necessarily develop a lesbian identity, although the lines of sexual identity are expanding for women.
Conclusions and Implications: There is not a simple or single answer to the question of whether the hookup culture harms or liberates women. Taken together, these studies reveal a complex portrait of young women's sexuality today. Sexual boundaries are perhaps more fluid than they once were, although they are still marked by sexual double standards and norms of heterosexuality.
Questions to Consider
How is the hookup culture shaped by such social factors as age, social class, race, or gender? How might it change over time-both as history evolves and as the current generation ages?