Opinion: Why Is Sex So Stigmatized?

By Patrick Holmes on February 5, 2016

 

By Flickr user Wyatt Fisher

 

I lost my virginity when I was fifteen. Some people make a big deal out of losing their virginity but I didn’t think much of it.

Sex wasn’t something that was meaningful to me at the time and so it didn’t matter that I was fifteen and had lost it to a boy who wouldn’t matter to me in a couple of months. Even though everyone is different when it comes to sex and losing their virginity, but one thing that remains consistent is the subtly of sex; it’s not widely talked about and often taboo.

I never understood why talking about something that is so natural for human beings, can be so difficult for a lot of people. It’s almost as if we’re shamed for something that is natural and also impertinent for the survival of human beings. Without reproducing through sex, the human species would become extinct.

So, why is sex such a touchy subject?

(etsy.com)

Religion, an all encompassing problem starter, is at the basis of the argument since the Catholic religion and it’s denominations believe that you shouldn’t have sex until after marriage. That being said, a rule written down in an old book will not keep people from having sex, especially the younger generations.

It is inevitable that teenagers are going to be curious and most likely want to have sex. Out of all of them, I was not the only one who went and did the deed. But children and teenagers are not adequately taught on the subject of sex. Sex Education is not present in a lot of schools and we can’t rely on all parents to inform their kids on sex and sexual reproduction.

I know that when I was a freshman in high school, we had someone come in and speak to us about sex and even though I already knew most things about it, it was helpful to keep learning more and to be safe. That way, people will not contract unwanted STI’s or pregnancy. Also, no one wants to be infected with HIV, so the more that you know and the more you are educated, the better suited you are for safe sex and understanding the consequences and benefits.

Moreover, you can mostly can’t expect a parent to go into the detail the kids and teenagers need. STI’s are something that parents might skim over as well as the other types of sex there are besides vaginal, heterosexual sex. There are so many aspects of life that parents choose to shield their children from and sex is a major topic that children are misguided on.

I believe that sex education could start as soon as fourth grade for children, around the age of nine. They’re going to find out eventually and the best and most correctly informative way would to be through a sex education class at school. The biggest fear a parent may have is that their child will want to have sex but ultimately, the more you educate, the more understanding and better things could be.

With children who understand what is right and wrong and correctly understand the process, their could be less teen pregnancies and more education on the subject matter. People need to stop being so afraid of the word and action of “sex”. It’s not going to hurt you and it’s something that most of us choose to do. One just has to remember to be safe by using protection and to make sure they have enthusiastic consent.

Education is the greatest tool that we have. Don’t let it go to waste. And don’t continue to be afraid of one of the most natural interactions and human can have.

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