Is+Sex+Education+Preparing+the+Youth+for+Modern+Society’s+Influences?

=Is Sex Education Preparing Youth for Modern Society’s Influences? =

Name: Kaitlin Anstis Student Number: n8320161 Tutor: Dr Mangalam Sankupellay


 * Artefact **

The artefact is one of the United Kingdom’s National Health Service’s campaigns for safe sex. It depicts five popular alcohols with adjusted labels to inform the audience of some common sexually transmitted infections (STI’s). Each alcohol is paired with statistics based on the young population. The statistics relate alcohol to increased sexual intercourse, unwanted and forced sexual intercourse and unsafe sex leading to STI’s.



**Public Health Issue ** The artefact symbolises and emphasises that alcohol consumption is linked to increased sexual intercourse, unwanted and forced sexual intercourse and unsafe sex leading to STI’s. With this being the case, it leads us to the question, ‘Is sexual education preparing youth for modern society’s influences?’ With alcohol consumption and binge drinking increasing in the young population sexual education needs to focus more on social issues including sound decision making. By critiquing literature using statistics, studies, social theories and traditions it will show why sex education is not transferring into safe sex practices in modern society; with a focus on alcoholism and safe sex.


 * Literature Review **

In our modern society the reason for high risk sexual behaviour is increasingly being related to alcohol consumption. The consumption of alcohol affects your brains ability to operate by lowering your inhibitions and consequently increasing sexual desire (Rehm, Shield, Joharchi & Shuper, 2012)(Queensland Government, 2010). Alcohol increases perceptions of attractiveness (Grello, Welsh, & Harper, 2006), inhibits your ability to detect danger, defend yourself, communicate sexual limits and the ability to make safe sexual decisions (practice safe sex) (Northern Territory Government, 2013). Sexual intercourse is a new area to the young population but with alcoholism increasing this group are more susceptible to the negative consequences of mixing the two.

There is strong evidence that alcoholism is becoming a greater problem for young people around the world. In an Australian survey in 2005 it was found, 10% of 12 year olds and 49% of 17 year olds had drank in the week prior to being surveyed. This survey also found that amongst 12-17year olds who drink weekly; 29% of males, had consumed seven or more drinks and that 32% of females had consumed five or more drinks on more than one occasion (Drinking Nightmare, 2008). In America the rate of binge drinking is 42.2% for 18-25 year olds with the 21 year olds at 49.3% (NCAAW, 2007).

The artefact demonstrates there is an increase in STI’s which is attributed to alcohol consumption. Consuming alcohol at a younger age has been connected with earlier onset of sexual behaviour. A report has discovered that STI’s mostly affect young people under twenty-five (Sherriff, 2011). This is the case because risk factors for contracting the STI’s are common among the young when drinking, such as; multiple sex partners and engaging in unprotected sex (Sumnall, Beynon, Conchie, Riley, & Cole, 2007). In the UK one third of 16-22 year olds said they had unprotected sex drunk (Wallace, 2009) and in America 23% of sexually active teens say they have had unprotected sex because of alcohol (Sumnall, et al., 2007). Of the 23% of American teens who have unprotected sex only 28% of them say they were concerned about the consequences; STI’s and pregnancy (Sumnall, et al., 2007). With evidence that there is a lack of concern about the consequences it appears that sexual education is not informing the youth successfully of the real impact of the consequences. Also with 11% of 15-16 year olds regretting having sex under the influence of alcohol (Sherriff, 2011) it is obvious sex education is not combatting the problem of alcohol and sexual risk-taking.

Studies into the field have looked at whether there was an association between blood alcohol content and the likelihood of using a condom during sex (Rehm, et al., 2012). These studies measure youth’s intention to participate in safe or unsafe sexual practices under the influence of alcohol. In one study participants either consumed alcohol or were given a placebo. This study found an increase in blood alcohol content of 0.1mg/mL resulted in an increase of 5.0% towards engaging in unprotected sex (Shepherd, 2011). Another study gave participants five different amounts of alcohol and one group a placebo. This study found an increase of 0.1mg/mL to blood alcohol content resulted in a 2.9% increase in participant’s likelihood to participate in unprotected sex (Rehm, et al., 2012). A major limitation of these studies is that they do not indicate the amount of alcohol the participants received. These statistics suggest that the more alcohol consumed the greater chance there is of unsafe sexual intercourse. Also, as these studies are only measuring intention, not actual sexual activity statistics suggest that the reality of having unprotected sex is greater than the intention.

A study on spring break in America; a binge drinking mecca, had revealed that the sexual actions of young people under the influence of high amounts of alcohol are greater than their intentions. Of the students surveyed nearly 50% of males and 41% of females reported having consumed alcohol before having sex with 49% of the men and 38% of the females saying having sex was a direct result of the drinking. When asked about the use of condoms 75% reported never or rarely using them on spring break and 26% of males and 36% of females didn’t use them during sex with someone they met at spring break. Further to this 74% of males and 88% of females reported never or rarely worrying about STI’s. Finally, 48% of students who had sex after consumption regretted it. (Apostolopoulos, Sonmz, & Yu, 2002) This directly links high alcohol content to sexual intercourse and to unsafe sexual practices. It also suggests that the youth aren’t as concerned with STI’s as they should be and that alcohol is inhibiting the ability for them to make informed decisions. With this being the case, is sex education preparing youth for these modern day influences?

There is a common thread throughout the literature and it is that young people are more likely to engage in high-risk sexual intercourse under the influence of alcohol. With evidence such as in the United Kingdom (UK), 400, 000 new cases of STI’s were diagnosed in 2007, infections are growing quickly among young people (Wallace, 2009). As well, 43% of 10-17 year olds said they had kissed or slept with someone when drunk that they wouldn’t normally fancy (Wallace, 2009). With sex education and ‘party safe’ or alcohol education considered separate around the world there is a call for the teaching of the two topics to be combined (NSPCC, 2006). The UK is seeing some of the worst results in risk-taking under the influence of alcohol and are starting to call on sexual health clinics to educate the youth on the dangers of alcohol abuse. The National Health Service (NHS) has been told, “They are missing key opportunities to tackle the growing problem of STI’s and hazardous drinking”, with 1.5million young people attending the clinics every year. They want the clinics to inform, help identify the behavioural risks and empower them to take action. (Sherriff, 2011) This is a step in the right direction, however, with statistics encompassing sexual and drinking behaviours of children as young as ten there is a call for this education to happen earlier than ever before.


 * Cultural and Social Analysis **

In today’s society drinking is a social norm and upon reaching the end of high school and university the ‘hook-up’ culture also starts becoming a norm ( Geisinger, 2011 ). These norms come from the media highlighting drunken youth, pressure also comes from within our peer groups and from people you meet when out. As society has developed traditional social customs have changed. These include; it is more accepted for females to consume more alcohol, the male/ female sexual relationship (as females have more sexual freedom) and the role of consent. However, even with these developments, as critical feminist theory states, gender roles are still engrained in our society.

<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.5;">With the development of the feminist movement, women’s rights have been established. Part of this created greater awareness of women’s sexuality. Women are now able to explore their own sexual nature freely ( <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.5;">Bradford, 2013 <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.5;">). Even with these rights we still see traditional social and cultural customs as hard to break. From a young age females are taught to be polite, sweet and unassuming whereas males are influenced to be loud and confident (Alcid, 2013). This positions men to hold the greater power position. Due to these gender roles females tolerate boundary violations like bra-snapping, butt pinching and other unwanted attention (Alcid, 2013) which mostly occurs when under the influence of alcohol. This occurs because if a woman challenges a male, males take a hit to their ego and don’t always respond well ( <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.5;">Bradford, 2013 <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.5;">). Therefore, sex education should focus more on social aspects in relation to decision making especially for young males.

<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Due to feminism and the sexual revolution it is more accepted for young women to have casual relationships nowadays. This brings challenges to the traditional male role with females taking charge of their sexual activity and safety. Some men don’t like the idea that a woman is carrying a condom as they see it as she intended to have sex with someone, not necessarily the person they are with ( <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Bradford, 2013 <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">). Added to this, some men see a woman carrying a condom as a ‘go’ signal, ignoring her rights and the ‘safe sex; education related to the advent of girls carrying condoms (e.g. protection from STI’s) This is seen to tarnish women’s ‘purity’ and often results in negative reputation whereas, for men it does the opposite. Due to traditional gender roles females are still insecure and find it difficult to force their rights ( <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Unknown, 2007 <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">). When intoxicated the decision making process is affected and pushing for safe sex is forgotten, ignored or doesn’t seem the social norm due to gender roles ( <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Unknown, 2007 <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">). This is one reason we are seeing increased prevalence of STI’s among young people. This once again brings us back to sex education not combatting the influences of alcohol and casual sex in modern society.

<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">These changing gender roles with females becoming more equal is only inflamed by the use of alcohol. Where men are intoxicated they report believing they have more sexual entitlement ( <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Geisinger, 2011 <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">). Women’s friendly nature, which comes from how we are taught to communicate in the traditional polite way, can be misinterpreted. This brings the nature of consent into question.

<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">When alcohol is mixed into the scene of casual sex and hook-ups the nature of consent causes issues with the gender roles. Consent is often missing or given little attention during sex education in schools, (Alcid, 2013) especially in relation to modern contexts such as hook-ups and casual sex with the presence of alcohol. We take our learning about consent from movies and television shows which tend to position men in control of consent (Alcid, 2013); which stereotypes traditional gender roles and reinforces girls traditionally position in society. This, plus alcohol, adds to what is known as the ‘grey area’ of consent. Alcohol inhibits brain function which means that actions are easily misinterpreted, communication is difficult and desires are hard to suppress (Alcid, 2013). One study found that 75% of students reporting alcohol consumption prior to hooking up feeling less in control of the situation ( <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Geisinger, 2011 <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">).

<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Sex education needs to become more modernised as it continues to be stuck in the past. It needs to develop with the constantly changing society including, women are equal to men, gender roles have changed and that alcohol and casual sex are now a social norm. Future studies need to focus on the impact of modern society as there are detrimental effects in terms of physical, mental, social and economic health through unsafe sex.


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5;">Artefact Analysis and Learning Reflections **

<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.5;">The artefact represents the influence of alcohol impacting on safe sex practices, decision making when intoxicated and sexual behaviour when intoxicated. It shows that the population needs to focus on the relationship that alcohol plays in casual and early sexual intercourse. It opens our eyes to two topics which are regularly separated, and connects them explicitly. Future research needs to focus on connecting the two especially in relation to educating youth, as this is the population who are experiencing seeing the most detrimental effects of mixing alcohol and sex.

<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I went to a school where sex education was mostly focussed on facts with social topics such as consent glossed over. Coming into the ‘real world’ I have learnt that the social aspects need more attention, especially in relation to modern social influences such as alcohol. Alcohol has a great influence on interactions around safe sex practices, consent and gender roles, which I have found to be overlooked in the teaching of sex education.

<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Through this Wiki Project I have developed a greater understanding of how one simple artefact in our society can give such an in-depth message. This artefact contains so much information and so many implications about alcohol, safe sex and the importance of improved and relevant sex education to be develop; yet the artefact appears simple. In future I will look at artefacts and see the greater message of the topics and how the issues affect society; rather than just seeing the superficial topic.


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5;">Reference List **

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.5;">Alcid, S., (2013). “Navigating Consent: Debunking the ‘Grey Area’ Myth”, [|http://everydayfeminism.com/2013/01/navigating-consent-debunking-the-grey-] <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.5;">[|area-myth/]

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Apostolopoulos, Y., Sonmz, S., & Yu, C. H. (2002). HIV Risk Behaviours of American Spring Break Vacationers: A Case of Situational Disinhibition? International Journal of STD & AIDS, 13, 733-743.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Bradford, K., (2013). “Feminism, Safe Sex, and the Male Ego”, [] <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Drinking Nightmare, (2008). “National Binge Drinking Campaign Backgrounder: Young Australians and Alcohol”, []

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Geisinger, B., (2011). Critical Feminist Theory, Rape, and Hooking Up. //Graduate Theses and Dissertations.// Paper 12123. Retrieved from: []

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Grello, C. M., Welsh, D. P., & Harper, M. S. (2006). No strings attached: The nature of casual sex in college students. The Journal of Sex Research, 43(3), 255-267.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">National Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC)., (2006). “Alcohol and Sexual Activity”, []

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">NCAAW, (2007). “Current Alcohol Statistics and Reports”, [] <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Northern Territory Government, (2013). “What is Safe Sex?”, []

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Queensland Government, (2010). “Party Safe- Alcohol and Drugs”, []

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Rehm, J., Shield, K. D., Joharchi, N., & Shuper, P. A. (2012). Alcohol Consumption and the Intention to Engage in Unprotected Sex: Systematic Review <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">and Meta <span style="font-family: 'Cambria Math',serif; font-size: 10pt;">‐ <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">analysis of Experimental Studies.//Addiction, 107//(1), 51-59. doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.2011.03621.x

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Shepherd, R., (2011). “Alcohol Fuels Unsafe Sex”, []

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Sherriff, L., (2011). “Alcohol Abuse: Young People Should Be Educated At Sexual Health Clinics, Say Experts”, []

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Sumnall, H., Beynon, C., Conchie, S., Riley S., & Cole, J., (2007). An InveSTDgation of the Subjective Experiences of Sex after Alcohol or Drug Intoxication. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 21(5), 525-537.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Unknown, (2007). “Safer Sex is a Feminist Issue”, []

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Wallace, P., (2009). “Alcohol and Unprotected Sex”, []


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Reflections **

They Tried to Make me go to Rehab

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A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words []