Sex, Sex, Sex....

With sexualised images thrust into the faces of teenagers on television and in advertising it isn't really a surprise to find that more teenagers are actually having sexual relationships. 

The results from the latest survey of secondary school students about 'sex' conducted by Latrobe University's Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society (ARCSHS) have just been released.
(Links to Summary and Full Report below.)

The ARCSHS conducts surveys of students in state, independent and Catholic secondary schools every five years. The results of their 2008 survey show that in 2002 about 46% of Year 12 girls said they had had a sexual relationship - in 2008 the figure was up to 61%. The figure for boys had remained about the same.

Another disturbing trend was that the students said they had had a larger number of sexual partners.

Meanwhile Marie Stopes, an organisation that provides abortions around the world - including in Australia - is running an online 'survey' called the Sex Files - posted on their 'Like it is' website.

Teenagers are encouraged to write about their sexual experiences in the Sex Files survey - the survey asks the person to give their age (13 - 25+), sex, whether they are sexually active and whether they have had sexual intercourse.

It then lists a whole range of topics and invites the respondent to 'comment'! Marie Stopes plans to 'package up' the responses and send them to the government and other agencies!

On the Like it Is website, information is given about STDs (called 'Love Bugs') and 'sexuality'. If students say they are 'unsure' about their sexuality, there is a list of organisations to contact for assistance - All the listed groups are pro-homosexual organisations!

They say that homosexuality is normal. On their 'Sexuality FAQs" page, they say it is "not wrong or unnatural, but simply part of a whole range of sexual lifestyles that people find themselves drawn to".

So much for 'neutral' advice or for information that might advise against such sexual activity!
If you expect them to talk about abstinence or fidelity - don't hold your breath.
The site does mention peer pressure. After discussing kissing and touching on the 'Sex' page, they say "Also, you don't have to move to the 'next base' if you don't want to - only do what feels comfortable and right for you."
But they immediately move on to discuss all the other options...

Media article:
Gen Y asked to record sex views to help health study
News.com, August 12, 2009.

Survey:
Marie Stopes - Sex Files survey.

Latrobe ARCSHS - Secondary Schools Survey
- media release and video clip of launch.

Full Report: Secondary Students and Sexual Health 2008- 2 MB, pdf, 96 pages.