Issue date: 1/27/10 Section: Opinions

Sex. Whether the word makes you giggle, feel aroused or cower in fear, everyone in our age group is directly affected by that word.

In the entertainment world, using sex and its consequences is how television stations are grabbing and keeping the attention of us young bucks.

Shows like "Teen Mom" and "True Life" on MTV show the effects of sex, like having a child at young age, dealing with a sexually transmitted infection or how it changes a relationship.

And then we have shows like "Jersey Shore" and "The Real World," where these young men and women seem to use sex as a tool to gain power and influence over their peers.

It's a confusing time we live in.

On one hand, we're shown how cool and fun sex is. On the other hand, we're made to feel scared to death about what happens if we engage in sexual activity.

And the growing popularity of Disney stars in mainstream society is only making things even more confusing.

The Jonas Brothers, Demi Lovato and Miley Cyrus wear "purity rings" to show they won't have sex until marriage. And, since these artists are popular, they have the most influence over their fans' sexual choices.

Now, I'm not saying abstinence is wrong and everyone should go out and have sex. I'm just a firm believer in sex education.

I don't know about the rest of you, but in my high school, sex education was part of a unit of my required health education class, and this unit mostly consisted of showing slides of what different STIs look like and how they affect the rest of the human body - and that was it.

My real sexual education began around sophomore year of high school, when my good friend at the time told me of her sexual conquests. Needless to say, I didn't learn anything useful from her.

I didn't really learn any facts about sex until I took a human sexuality course at community college. That class was probably one of my favorites, too, because it was based on open discussion, and our guest speakers were a sex therapist, a member of the transgender community and a dominatrix.

It's great that so many colleges and universities have sex education classes and resources, like the Health Education Resource Center's Rubber Lovers.

It's also great that you can buy condoms from the Health Service pharmacy for fewer than $2, and birth control pills for $25.

However, some Eastern students are going from absolutely no education (or very little education) to being thrust into situations where they may not know the proper and safe way to engage physically or even how to use a condom.

As young adults, we like to think we're impervious to everything, but the reality is that more people our age are getting pregnant and acquiring STIs because of this belief.

Sex isn't power, and it shouldn't be scary. I believe sex should be a meaningful act to show emotional intimacy. It should be the end, not the means, to a relationship.

So, instead of looking to MTV and Disney for clues on human sexuality, students should seek out reliable sources to learn the actual facts about safe sex and what is right for them.

Sarah Jean Bresnahan is a senior journalism major and can be reached at 581-7942 or at DENopinions@gmail.com.

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