Survey finds 10 partners before marriage 'normal'

Drudge ^ | 10th December 2001 | Ananova

[Don Myers]

Survey finds 10 partners before marriage 'normal'

The majority of young people think it is normal for a person to have at least 10 sexual partners before marriage.

A survey has also found that three in 10 believe it is acceptable for a girl to lose her virginity before the age of 15.

Research carried out by Brook, the youth sex advisory service, says there is a "cultural change" in young people's attitudes towards sex.

Some 64% of men and 54% of women agreed that it was acceptable for a person to sleep with more than 10 partners before getting married.

But the survey, which questioned people aged 17 to 25, also showed that they wanted more information about sex and contraception.

Men admitted to getting most of their knowledge about contraception from TV and magazines, while women learned the most from magazines and their mothers.

Half of all the young women surveyed said they wished that teachers had supplied them with more information about preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

Brook chief executive Jan Barlow said: "Young people have an increasing number of sexual partners and they are saying that's OK.

"But at the same time they don't have the information and access to services that they need.

"Young people must seek out advice and information in order to make their choices and to understand how to protect themselves both against pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases."

[alpowolf]

You could, perhaps, try marriage yourself.

Always wanted to. But it takes two.

There is someone for everyone

Another platitude usually offered by someone who already has someone. Sort of like a fat guy telling a starving person that "food isn't all it's cracked up to be".

[Cogadh na Sith]

That comment was completely unnecessary.

But his comment about America deserving to be ruled by Muslims was just ducky?

[homeschool mama]

**Funny how the ones who are married and don't have to sleep alone are always the ones saying that**

Did it ever occur to you that those who are now married were once single?! Did it ever occur to you that many of those single folks didn't marry til their 30's? I was one of those...as was my husband. Self control is a virtue...not a prison sentence.

[homeschool mama]

bump for values

[pcl]

we don't advocate tossing some birth control pills in her lap for 'just in case'

You have taught them to be pure. There are tens of thousands of people who have been taught to be pure who slip. I have no idea what the percentage it, it could be very small.

Since you are not teaching your kids about condoms and STD, if you kid does slip and does contract AIDS, I assume you feel that is appropriate punishement for their slippling.

[homeschool mama]

bump!

[alpowolf]

I am fully aware of that. The important word is "were". Past tense.

Calm yourself. I have the best method of self-control available--I'm ugly :-)

[homeschool mama]

You're really a piece of work, pcl. I didn't say we didn't discuss contraception. I said we advocate abstinence. What we DON'T teach our daughter is to devalue herself and toss caution to the wind...and grab the condom on the way. To have sex is planned, even in the heat of passion. It's not a slip up.

I'll say it again...you've advocated free and promiscuous sex in teenagers saying you wouldn't want to deny them their natural desires. Could you liken yourself to Larry Flynt? He introduced his daughters to sex...personally...by porn and molestation. Do you advocate this? Or did you personally 'just' encourage your kiddos to *go for it?

[homeschool mama]

***I am fully aware of that. The important word is "were". Past tense.

Calm yourself. I have the best method of self-control available--I'm ugly :-)***

Don't worry...I'm quite calm. ;o)

Why is the word *were* of such importance? I remember full well the self control my husband and I practiced.

You're ugly, huh? I doubt that. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It comes from the heart. There's plenty of handsome men in the world with dark hearts...which makes them horrid to look at. There's also plenty of men who aren't typically handsome .. but their hearts make them unbelievably and wonderfully easy on the eye. ;o)

[John O]

Did I understand you correctly? If you teach kids to be pure, there is not need to specifically teach them about contraception and STDs?

YES. Attend:

"Son, If you have sex outside of marriage you will eventually get a sexual disease. It may even be a fatal disease. You may get the girl pregnant. If so, you will be responsible for that child until it is adopted or until it is 18. You are worth far more than throwing your future away just to fulfill your lust. You will also seriously harm your future married sex life. It's far better to save yourself until you are married."

"Daughter, if you have sex outside of marriage you will eventually get a sexual disease. It may even be a fatal disease. You may also get pregnant. Remember that no contraceptive method is 100% effective and that you will bear responsibility for that child until they are adopted or until they are 18. You are worth far more than selling yourself to someone you would not marry. It's far better to save yourself until you are married."

What's so hard about that? I've told them all they need to know about premarital sex. "Don't, you'll eventually get caught". If I've raised them correctly up until that point it will never be a problem.

[Truthful disclosure time, I have one child, a daughter, who is the worlds most beautiful 13 month old angel. But when she's older this is how I'll teach her aout sex. It's for married people only.]

GSA(P)

[alpowolf]

OK. But I ain't holdin' my breath.

Overall I think some of you folks are taking this survey too seriously. Everybody always thinks that everybody else is "doing it" more than they are. Some people think this nation is a heaving sea of fornication and that all single people do is have wild promiscious sex everyday. The reality is much tamer than that.

[John O]

if you kid does slip and does contract AIDS

Condoms don't stop AIDS or pregnancy. Giving them a false sense of security is worse then leaving them totally ignorant. If they stay pure then they stay healthy. Quite simple actually

GSA(P)

[pcl]

If I've raised them correctly up until that point it will never be a problem.

The "Just say no" to drugs campaign was such an astounding success that you may well be doing the right thing.

Only time will tell if you are right.

[homeschool mama]

I'm not taking the survey too seriously. Many times these surveys are done in areas where a practice is typical, so it doesn't cover a broad base.

I know *many* families who are teaching abstinency to their kiddos. It's important to know the truth of an issue...certainly this issue bears highlighting the truth.

Take care. ;o)

[homeschool mama]

bump

[Jadge]

"There are many parents raising their daughters *and* sons to be pure before marriage."

Good Luck, H.S. Mama. I've seen that dream die over and over (not at my "hands" of course). The first thing, even the "purest" girls say is that they wish they'd done it sooner.

I think hormones + social pressure to practice pre-marital sex is too strong to be overcome even by a proper upbringing.

[Jadge]

"it worked for my four children..."

As far as you know. Many people I know have parents who think they're still virgins.

[Steve0113]

Ten is a conservative number.

When I was in high school (1980), I knew a girl who had been with 25 guys before she turned 18.

[Emmanual_Goldstein16]

Dude, there was a girl here a few months ago that lost it at 9. This world's a sick place. I go to public high school and the only thing that matters to 90% of the kids here is sex, booze, drugs, and more sex. Most of the people think I'm a weirdo because I'm saving myself for marriage. And these people are going to be voting and some of them will be congressmen and other political offices. It's a scary thought when you think of it.

[Jadge]

I disagree.

I've had sex before marriage and I have no diseases, nor have I gotten anyone pregnant.

I have, however, learned a lot about myself and what I like sexually.

I don't think it is wise to discount the importance of sexual compatibility in a relationship. How are you going to know if you are compatible unless you have sex? In my opinion, your wedding night is too late.