 |
|
This story copyright © by Youth Communication and may not be reprinted without written permission. For reprint information contact us. |
||
|
The Talk: A Review of Sexual Health Sites for Teens By “Sex Ed,” NYC Teen Columnist on Sex and Sexual Health Sex. Some people are intimidated by this three-letter word. Sometimes people who openly express their sexual views and desires are labeled “freaks” or “sick.” People who dare to ask questions about sex, especially about the more taboo subjects, may get attacked and end up closing the door on their feelings. But there are various informational resources online that can help teens understand their sexuality without feeling attacked. I visited a few sexual health sites aimed at teens to get a sense of their flavor. Below, I’ve described my impressions and what caught my eye on each site. IWannaKnow.org, which is for both teens and adults, reads like a science textbook. It provides lots of important information, like how to prevent STDs. But I don’t think it addresses the things teens really “wanna know” about sex—like how to shave pubic hair or what can be used as a lubricant, for example (topics that were addressed on other websites I checked out). However, the site does have a good “For Parents” section that pushes parents to teach more than just abstinence. It points out that teens who don’t learn the truth about sex from parents may learn false things about STDs, pregnancy, and sexual orientation from their peers, TV, or magazines. Meanwhile, SexEtc.com, a website by teens for teens, provides slightly more information than IWannaKnow.org. A SexEtc.com blog post about how raunchy music inspires teens to have sex got my attention. Apparently, researchers found that 279 popular songs in 2005 were “degrading,” including songs like “Wait the Whisper” by the Ying Yang Twins. The researchers found that youths who listened to those songs were twice as likely as other teens to have had intercourse. But another doctor begged to differ, saying, “If you get all teenagers to turn in their iPods, the teen pregnancy rate is not going to automatically change.” When I was done reading this article, I was amused. No matter how many songs or films expose sexual content, teens are ultimately inspired by their hormones. After all, we are all sexual beings, and our desires shouldn’t be blamed on music. It seems to me that the researchers just wanted to point fingers. On Teenwire.com, another website for teens about sex, love, and relationships that is run by Planned Parenthood, one boy asked whether masturbating would “affect sports and take all the energy out of my legs.” The answer, of course, was no. In fact, on its “Ask the Experts” page, Teenwire.com claimed that masturbation is a perfectly healthy activity people engage in throughout their lives, and said it’s one of the most effective ways to relieve stress. Teenwire.com claims babies learn quickly that touching their sex organs feels good and advises parents to teach their children that masturbation is normal. GoAskAlice.com does not shy away from much, covering male rape, intersexed people (those who have both male and female sex organs), and people’s most secret thoughts. For example, one man admitted on the “Sexuality Q&A” page that he fantasized about men, even though he isn’t gay. The response explained, “Sexual fantasies allow us to explore sexual desires, feelings and behavior without choosing them.” Personally, I think people fantasize about things they’re curious about. They feel safe to explore and be sexually liberal in their fantasies, where they can’t be ridiculed. All of these websites provide information about birth control, condoms, teen pregnancy, human behavior, and health. But the most important thing for teens to know about sex and sexuality is that their feelings are not wrong. We are all sexual in our own ways. Teens should not be embarrassed to discuss their fears and concerns about sex. Nor should people who express themselves be punished. Sex is a part of our lives and we should embrace it. With the right education and protection, sex can be a fun ride.
|
||
|
|
||
 |
About
our books Stories from New Youth Connections have been anthologized in several books by Youth Communication. Starting With I (Persea Books, 1997) is a collection of personal essays first published in NYC; in addition, The Struggle to Be Strong: True Stories By Teens About Resilence (Free Spirit, 2000), Things Get Hectic: Teens Write About the Violence That Surrounds Them (Simon& Schuster, 1998) and Out With It: Gay and Straight Teens Write About Homosexuality (Youth Communication, 1996) feature stories from NYC as well as from Represent, our other teen-written magazine. |
|