[Student]
Abstract
The paper analyzes the journal article “Oral Sex among Adolescents; Is it Sex or is it Abstinence?” by Lisa Remez in the context of my personal experiences and beliefs regarding the approach on oral sex among teenagers and minors. The paper takes counter arguments on oral sex among adolescents in consideration to generate a general understanding of preferring oral sex in adolescents over the sexual intercourse.
Human sexuality revolves around the human capacity of experiencing and responding to erotic instances (Cornwall, Corrêa & Jolly, 2008). In this regard, sexual orientation and age play a vital role to determine the sexual interest of the people towards each other. Sexuality is not merely based on vaginal intercourse, as it depends upon the desires, fantasies, behaviors, perceptions, relationships, and values of the individuals. These aspects are reflected in terms of physical, psychological, and spiritual affairs of an individual. In this regard, sexuality in adolescence has been a matter of great debate among the scholars and researchers, as according to one school of thought, studying sexuality in adolescence is integral part of studying human sexuality, whereas, the other believes that it is inappropriate to discuss sex in minors. In this regard, discussing oral sex becomes even more absurd in conservatives.
In her article Oral Sex Among Adolescents: Is It Sex or Is It Abstinence?, Lisa Remez describes the issue of oral sex in adolescents. The author describes two approaches to oral sex in adolescents. One is based on a common belief and anecdotes that the teenagers and adolescents are involved in sexual activities other than intercourse as the oral sex to them is less dangerous in terms of pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) (Remez, 2015). While the other school of thought believes that oral sex is over-discussed as teenagers and minors do not care much about oral sex, as they rather focus on sexual intercourse. The author emphasizes on the importance of research and federal funding for the research on oral sex in adolescents so as to create a general understanding of the situation. I personally believe that oral sex acts as a complete sexual activity and does not lead to sex, but sometimes it acts as a precursor to sexual intercourse in adolescents.
The discussion of motivation and attitude of teenagers and minors towards oral sex and sexual intercourse reflects that teenagers consider oral sex safer than sexual intercourse, as the former ensures the zero chances of pregnancy. I agree to this notion as analyzing the behavior of my peers about oral sex and sexual intercourse reveals to me that the majority of those adolescents who prefer oral sex do so because they consider it safe. Sexual intercourse is still a restrained concept in minors, especially in adolescents of ages 12-16 as they are usually scared and unsure about the outcomes of the vaginal intercourse. I personally feel that oral sex chosen by teenagers is not abstinence, but not sex as well. It is a preferred way of making love because of its ‘perceived’ safeness. But the researches depicted in the article term this ‘perception’ fallacious and a result of misinformation in teenagers.
The journal article has detailed account of formal research while describing the meaning of sex and abstinence in the minds of adolescents as well as the researchers, educationists, and parents in general. Although, a majority of teenagers considers oral sex as an abstinence from real sex, the article terms oral sex as ‘sex’ as oral sex itself is the sexual activity involving the genitals and whole body of the partners. Therefore, the old concept of sex that terms sex as vaginal intercourse should be abandoned and the teenagers must be educated about the real meaning of abstinence and sex. I feel that the author is not sure whether to talk about diseases or abstinence. A major chunk of the article is spent on proving that the diseases can be transferred via oral sex as well, whereas, the last half of the article is based on describing the originality of sex and abstinence. It is of no doubt that teenagers, mostly misunderstand the scope and limitations of oral sex, the article itself is a weak representation of the notion. According to my personal beliefs and ideas, oral sex in teenagers is in ‘vogue’ due to its ease in execution, prevention from pregnancy, and an easy way of making love with each other instead of engaging in vaginal intercourse.
References
Cornwall, A., Corrêa, S., & Jolly, S. (2008). Development with a body. London: Zed Books.
Remez, L. (2015). Oral Sex Among Adolescents:Is It Sex or Is It Abstinence?. Guttmacher.org. Retrieved 21 July 2015, from http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/journals/3229800.html
