What's Love Got to Do With It?

How difficult is it to comprehend that sex without protection has serious implications on not only individual health, but the health of those they are intimate with? Having watched The Joy of Teen Sex last night on channel 4 the question appears to be as hard and complex as trigonometry. As a result parents, teachers, advice workers doctors etc seem to have an impossible task on their hands. I could understand if there was no information or range of protection methods, as is the case in many poor countries, but this is not the case and as a result further heightens my anger at the stupidity and ignorance of the young, who refuse to pay attention to warnings and health risks.

It is no secret that the UK not only has the highest rate of STD’s in Europe, but also the highest rate in teenage pregnancies. Statistic’s i'm sure you will agree are nothing to be proud off. So why in one breath are young people being told of the dangers of unprotected sex and in the next, tips and suggestions given to make sex more pleasurable. Yes granted, the show allowed some young teenagers/adults to voice their concerns and anxieties, but evidently the last thing that needs to be promoted is more information on how to enjoy the intimate act.

I could only cringe at the pubescent looking naked actors, as they re-enacted the positions the sex expert explained. Am I becoming prudish in my old age? Am I alone in thinking it was unnecessary soft porn? And did anyone else have a passing thought that old horny men would be perving over seeing that? It all just felt unnecessary, I understand this view may be very different to the teenagers watching the show, but Anna Richardson’s The Sex Education Show created more of an educational insightful balance.

The one and very major point that I think everyone has missed is that within sex education LOVE and meaningful relationships no longer feature. Why is no-one asking why these teenagers feel the need to have one night stands and multiple partners? Instead this behaviour has become acknowledged as the norm and accepted. The counsellor in me cannot ignore that on what seems to be a majority consensus scale; teenagers as a collective are searching for something. Yes instant sexual gratification is obvious, but on a deeper level what is it that they are desperately looking for?

I do not have the answer to this naturally, but validation, approval and a desire to please seem central. "What’s love got to do, got to do with it?” By Tina Turner pops into my head and the answer to that is evidently NOTHING!. Sex and love have become separate. I am intrigued to know how they define love, because their idea of sex is so far removed from my own ideas and notions. Sex is an intimate act, but these kids are going around like all they are doing is exchanging and swapping DVD’s. There appears to be no rules and therefore no boundaries; this coupled with the lack self care and protection is a recipe for disaster.

Further to all of this, teenagers have got things inside out. You can never find in another, what you cannot find in yourself. Teenagers need to sit down and learn to love themselves, because with this comes instant respect, integrity, consciousness, individual and social responsibility. No one who loves themself would put themselves in such jeopardy for a moment. However I acknowledge that I am an adult looking in and as a result adults, parents, teachers, advisors are the ones that need to promote this aspect.

Related Posts:
1.For Broken Rainbows
2.Whats Love for to so with it?
3.I Will Follow...U2: Film Review
4. Chance to make a Change
5.Give to Get

©  Lisa Bent 2011