Condoms: Human Sexual Behavior and Sex Essays

Submitted By ksrussell4
Words: 1975
Pages: 8

Kyle Russell
Composition II
Instructor Schrantz
20 July 2014
The Promotion of Safe Sex is Beneficial
“About half of teens 15-19yo in the U.S. have had sex at least once” (TeenHealthFX). Underage sex is seen by society as indecent and immoral, but it is extremely common among teens. Innocence is withering away at younger ages as time goes on. Sex among teens has become more prevalent because of the glamorous ways the media portrays sex and the accepting of social views on the topic. “Most young people have had sex for the first time by the age of 17” (TeenHealthFX). As the quote shows, underage teens having sex is in fact more common in today’s age. The thought of sex is becoming more acceptable, and many aspects of society are making sex seem more acceptable, such as televisions, movies, social media, and music. Teens can be easily influenced by their surroundings. During puberty the urge for sex is perfectly normal and many teens are acting on those urges. Underage sex is difficult to stop but there are be ways to help prevent the dangers that can come from having unprotected sex. Pregnancies, STDs, STIs, and more dangers can be stopped by simple safety precautions. Safe sex for teens should be promoted more than it is. Teens are going to have sex, but society can help to make that a safer decision. Availability and knowledge of condoms and birth control will help teens have safer sex. The concept of society is that condoms and birth control condone teens to want to have sex. Education, availability, and parental knowledge of safe sex practices can promote the concept of safe sex by promoting the aspect of safety instead of intending the encouragement of underage sex. Middle school students should be taught or at least be given the opportunity to learn about the use of condoms. Even though in middle school the students are pre teens and new teens, they still know about sex from television, movies, music, and their peers. On television you see a plethora of sexual interactions but never do you hear the promotion of condoms or having safe sex during that sex scene on the television show. Condoms should be promoted with the promiscuous activity on the television show. When I was in middle school I knew about sex and condoms, even though I never experimented with sex. While reading the article Should Public High Schools in America Have Condom Availability Programs?, I discovered that “condoms are 98% effective for the protection against HIV, STI/STDs and pregnancy when used correctly” (taking18chances). You can infer from the quote the importance of condoms and how effective the use of them are. The concept of safe sex is the main message that should be taught to middle school students. If they do decide to have sex in middle school, they should be educated that there is a safe way to do so. Kids at this age are going through physical and emotional changes and are very concerned about fitting in with their peers. Some kids that would normally not consider having sex will do so because of peer pressure. With the exposure to such vulgar and promiscuous content on television and the Internet kids know about sex. For example, my little sister who is 12-years-old and is in sixth grade knows about sex. Her friends have even showed her porn on the Internet. Kids are becoming less innocent at young ages. If kids have heard of or have been told about sex, they will be curious, and feel enticed to experiment with sexual intercourse. I know no parent wants their 12 and 13 year old child to have sex, but if they did wouldn’t the parent rather it be protected sex? Providing middle school students with knowledge of the condom, its purpose, and the proper use can allow for safer situations.
Middle school students may be too immature to use condoms, but with the proper knowledge they can make the right decision when the time comes. High School is when students start being more open to sex. When I was in high school, I would estimate