Sex at LC: a special issue
Sexual attitudes at LC run the gamut
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Consequences of sex sometimes ignored
Sexual attitudes at LC run the gamut
by Jessica TannerWhat is sex? Is it pure physical fulfillment or is emotional attachment involved? Is it something casual that we try on, like a pair of jeans, or is it serious? Seems like everyone is doing it, but things aren't always what they seem.
In general, European and American views of sex differ greatly. And views about to what degree sex is an emotional attachment ranges across the gamut. Even in today's society, some people reserve sex exclusively for marriage, others view it as a purely sensual and pleasurable experience worth sharing.
"I usually sleep with someone on the first or second date. I am really concerned with getting some action. I could never wait until marriage to have sex because I have to know if I'm sexually compatible with someone," said a senior female.
If sex is pleasure, what role does love play? "Love and sex are two entirely different elements," said a junior male. However, one student stated just the opposite. "If I didn't love my boyfriend, I wouldn't have slept with him," said a sophomore female.
Yet another student stressed their belief in the importance of waiting until their sexual union could be justified by marriage. "I don't believe in pre-marital sex. It's not because of what my parents believed or because of religion, it's just a viewpoint I came to on my own. I'm not saying that other people shouldn't have sex, but for myself, I don't think it's right," said a freshman female.
One might assume that since Lewis & Clark is generally a liberal campus, that there would be more promiscuous sexual activity than on other college campuses. While there are no official statistics, the vast majority of people interviewed were not virgins. Over half of the interviewees were sexually active. However, this was in no way a complete survey.
Religion seems to play a large role among those who choose to abstain. "I've grown up with certain values that I've learned from my church. One of these values is that sex before marriage is wrong. If you love someone and are really committed to them, then you'll wait. If you can't wait, then that is a test of the relationship right there," said a senior male.
However, religion doesn't always keep people from abstaining. "My family is Mormon, but I'm not a good Mormon. I've had sex before even though I'm not 'supposed' to. I just can't live with so many rules," said a senior female.
