A Letter from 'Jackson'

It seems now days more than ever sex is everywhere. Magazine covers advertise "How to pleasure your partner in 50 different ways" and television uses sex to sell everything from soft drink to watches. This leaves me with a question though, "How much do teenagers actually know about sex?"

Sooner or later every teenager is going to experience sex, whether they are ready for it or not, however the sad part is that the majority of teenagers entering this new experience are entering with a lack of knowledge and information.

Society seems more than willing to show these kids that sex is fun and enjoyable through magazines and T.V but they are equally as quick to look down on a teenage mother once a mistake has been made, made through lack of education.

Personally at sixteen and having a steady girlfriend I can say quite openly that sex has indeed crossed my mind before, however it is not a priority, but what actually sparked me to write this article is in fact after having a conversation with my girlfriend about, 'what would happen if this happened' I realized how little I know and how little the people around me knew also.

I know the basic things like that you use a condom to prevent pregnancy and if something happens (i.e. the condom breaks.) there are certain clinics you can go to, but what happens when you do all the right things and your girlfriend rings you telling you she has missed her period and thinks she may be pregnant. The reality of it is most kids would freak out, telling their parents is just not an option and in some severe cases suicide occurs.

I'm sorry but "Sex Education" in schools (from my experience) is nothing short of a joke. Nothing is learnt because most of the teachers who take this class are equally as nervous to answer (or hear) the questions being asked. Also no student is going to put their hand up and ask about 'VD' or anything sexually related in class for the fear of being teased and harassed by schoolmates.

If adults are going to plaster sex absolutely everywhere they also need to be willing to listen, answer and to accept the questions from their sons, daughters, nieces, nephews, granddaughters and grandsons.

Teenage pregnancies and STI's can be cut down, and will be, when that one day comes when adults are a little more accepting, are willing to publish more readily available information about everything involving sex and more than anything, are ready to listen to their children's questions about sex instead of ignoring the issue and hoping it will go away.

 

Jackson
(16 y/o Australian male)

All articles found on www.tscnow.com are © copyright 2002, of the TSC Group, and the author.