jwright25 |
03-21-2007 12:42 PM |
Here are my observations on sexual behavior in the past 10 years at the University that I attended and where I work closely with college women. My observations are only at this school and with this Panhellenic system, just because that's who I know.
When I was active - mid-1990s - I'd say about 20% of my chapter at most were not sexually active. We weren't whores, and were not known for our sexual activity like another chapter was. No one was promiscuous - everyone was discreet enough about their sexual activity that while we knew it was going on, it just wasn't a regular topic of conversation. Does that make sense?
When I advised the same chapter - early 2000 to now - I'd say about 50% of the chapter are virgins. That might even be a low estimate, it could be higher. Their reputation on campus is that they are classy and diverse and always have great recruitment, return rates, etc. They are vocal about their virginity. And these are girls who date a lot and date different boys and have fun seeing lots of different boys without feeling like they have to be in a committed relationship. When having discussions with some of the girls about these decisions, the reasons for remaining a virgin run from spiritual reasons to health reasons to intimacy reasons.
Another observation from my years to theirs is that the girls now are make-out bandits. They'll kiss boys like it was nothing - even some of the virgins. We had a few bandits, but nothing on the scale that it is today. The boys are the same way. Making out at a party (read: heavy kissing with no nudity) is just part of the party now. Neither person expects sex from it, and neither person expects a date that weekend.
I am the least judgmental person out there, so therefore the girls (and many guys in the fraternity my husband advises) spill everything to me. I don't think anyone is wrong, and I never express an opinion to them unless asked. I love to hear what motivates college students in many different aspects of their lives.
The boys who date the virgins are very respectful of the girls' wishes. Have some of the girls given in? After time, yes. Does that make them a bad person or a sellout? NO. They held out for a reason and they gave in for a reason. That's their choice to make.
If you advertise your virginity, you have to expect that sexually active men will not want to pursue you. You aren't wrong for being a virgin and they aren't wrong for wanting sex.
Regardless of what statistics are put out there by special interest groups, I have to believe that the vast majority of adults over the age of 18 are sexually active. Out of the single men that I know (these are college-aged men) I'm going to estimate that only 10% of them are celibate. This is based on conversations with them and with the girls who know them. Let's adjust that a bit for other factors and assume that 25% of single men are not sexually active. Of those 25%, I'd say half did not make that choice - meaning they'd have sex if someone would agree. So that leaves you with 12% of the population of men who don't have sex by choice, or would be willing to be in a sexless relationship.
That's an awfully small amount of men to choose from. So your other standards will have to be lowered. If you want the virgin, you might have to take the not-so-attractive, or the unambitious, or the lazy, etc. OR you can just wait around and hope that Prince Charming will come along. But you can't complain while waiting. The girls who choose not to have sex are (most of them) not in a committed relationship. They are going on lots of dates and not worrying about it. If it gets to "that time" in the relationship where sex is imminent, they break the news. If the boy runs, that's fine. She's not that attached. If he's fine with it, they give the relationship a go.
If you don't want people to judge you for not having sex, you can't judge them for choosing to have sex.
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