Today’s Adolescent: a look at Sexual Development Puberty What role does early puberty play in sex? As childhood slowly fades away and the signs of puberty becomes apparent on the young adolescent body. During puberty the body undergoes many physical changes that seemingly just appear. For girls in the early years of adolescence may not see any secondary changes in their appearance however their ovaries began to grow. In recent years girls have been experiencing puberty at early periods rather than 8-11 years old. Because of evidence linking early maturation to adjustment and body image problems we should not consider early maturation to be an advantage for girls (Jaffe, 1998). Taking a look at the fashion industry, they have already taken advantage of the opportunities for those that welcome the early maturing body. It’s the time during maturation and the selection of apparel that accentuates the maturing body of a young lady that gets boys interested in them. For boys the growth process of primary sexual changes during adolescence welcomes the enlarging penis and testes. Boys just like girls may mature at different times throughout puberty. Boys that mature late are most likely to have a hard time adjusting to adolescence. Both girls and boys going through puberty should have discussions prior to the onset of puberty. Some are better prepared for puberty than others mainly due to their knowledge about it prior to their experience. Teaching both adolescent boys and girls how to properly take care of their personal hygiene should be taught preferably by someone in the home (parent/caregiver) rather than relying on teachers or peers for support. Information coming from a number of sources can confuse an adolescent that is con... ... middle of paper ... ...ournal of Adolescent Research, 21(5), 459-483. doi:10.1177/0743668406291692. Potard, C., Courtois, R., & Rusch, E. (2008). The influence of peers on risky sexual behaviour during adolescence. European Journal of Contraception & Reproductive Health Care, 13(3), 264-270 Rahimi, R., & Liston, D. (2009). What Does She Expect When She Dresses Like That? Teacher Interpretation of Emerging Adolescent Female Sexuality. Educational Studies, 45(6), 512-533. Valle, A., Roysamb, E., Sundby, J., & Klepp, K. (2009). PARENTAL SOCIAL POSITION, BODY IMAGE, AND OTHER PSYCHOSOCIAL DETERMINANTS AND FIRST SEXUAL INTERCOURSE AMONG 15- AND 16-YEAR OLDS. Adolescence, 44(174), 479-498. Vexler, E. & Suellentrop, K. (2006). Bridging two worlds: how teen pregnancy prevention programs can better serve latino youth. Washington, DC: The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.
Communication: A Series of National Surveys of Teens about Sex. Menlo Park, CA: Henry J. Kaiser
In 1995 a study was conducted to see how many teenagers were sexually active or had been involved sexually in any way. The study revealed that, by the age of sixteen, 50% of teenagers in the U.S have had been involved in sexual intercourse (Oberman, 1994). There was another study that was conducted statewide surveying young girls from 8th grade to 12th grade. The survey asked about what age was the young girls when they first had sex and the age of their sexual partners. The survey excluded intercourse that was by force. Girls who were between the ages thirteen to eighteen did not have a partner that was much older than them. However younger girls between the ages of eleven to twelve said that their partners were five or more years older (Leitenberg, 2000).
Brakman, Anita, Kaiyti Duffy, and Melanie Gold. "New Data Emerge on Teen Sexual Health." Teen Topics. EBSCOhost. Web. 19 Apr. 2011.
By the looks of these starling statistics we can all optically discern sex inculcation is greatly needed. When children are still adolescent their brains are like sponges and it’s more facile for them to obtain information and it’s consequential for us to learn things early. Adolescence is a paramount duration with regard to sexual development considering hormonal changes increase sex drive, change appearance and amend the likelihood of reproduction. The stages of sexuality largely depend on perception but conventionally commence with autoerotic deportment, which translates into authentic sexual activity with another person (Steinberg, 2011), Even though adolescent sexual demeanor is by all accounts mundane, the implicative insinuations cognate to the utilization of contraception are concerning. For instance, “one worrisome finding suggests that most adolescents report verbalizing about contraception after they first have intercourse, rather than before” (as cited in Steinberg, 2011, p. 342-343). Due to the prevalence of sexual intercourse during adolescence efforts to edify the youth perpetuate to be a top priority of the inculcative system and regime. Nonetheless, these efforts have done little to solve the current crisis in our community with regard to adolescent sexual deportment.
In terms of young people’s sexual attitudes, the 3nd National Surveys of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles shows that up to 30% of teenagers have the first heterosexual intercourse before age 16 years (Mercer, et al., 2013). The finding has also been proved by many other surveys, and another consensus is people have sex at an earlier age than before (Mercer, et al., 2013). In Miranda Sawyer’s survey ‘Sex before 16’, the Bliss magazine shows a shocking data—83% of Bliss readers who’ve already had sex experience were under 16 the first time and of those, 12% were 12 or younger (Sawyer, 2003). However, the empirical research evidence is relati...
The sexualisation of teenagers and of young children has become widely known about over the years as more harm is coming to these young girls and boys as the sexualisation of these young people is increasing and these children are becoming more sexualised earlier and therefore there not having the childhood that children had over ten years ago. Children these days are going through puberty earlier they are suffering from more mental disorders to do with their bodies such as having eating disorders and being obese. Children are having to deal with a whole lot more these days as they are wanting to do more with the friends then they would of ten years ago they are becoming more interested in boys and wanting to spend more time with them. These young teenagers are becoming more involved with in the activities that older teens are doing such as drinkin...
That being said, sexual intercourse among youth is being initiated earlier. At this time middle schoolers are starting to become aware of their sexual feelings and some of the students are starting to act on these feelings. From 1960-1991, the fertility rate for girls aged 10-14 rose from 0.8 to 1.4 (Lederman & Mian, 2003). It almost doubled and it was even higher in some places. A more recent national study has shown that twelve to fifteen percent of seventh graders report having sexual experience (De Rosa, et al., 2010). It is believed that poor contraceptive use is the primary reason for both of these problems. A study by the National Center for Health Statistics and the Centers for Disease Control noted that four percent of thirteen and fourteen year olds are having oral sex (Young, 2006).
The reality that must be faced is that teenagers will continue to be sexually active notwithstanding any risk or consequences. Whether it is because they’re uninformed, “in love,” hormonal, bored, or looking for approval
Adolescence is the longest period of development that is characterized by rapid physical growth, reproductive maturity and psychosocial advancement (Fantasia, 2008). This developmental phase brings sexual intercourse in to consideration for the adolescent. Adolescent sex is the popular thing to do. In the 1980s and 1990s, adolescents were being taught that sex was a taboo and when married. Since puberty is occurring at a younger age, marriage is delayed until later in life. A growing number of sexually transmitted diseases occur more frequently in adolescents (Fantasia, 2008). In society today, sex among adolescents is on the rise due to lack of education, lack of parental influence, and peer pressure.
There are a few risk factors in adolescent sexuality which include; not emotionally prepared, social economic status and family factors (pg. 199). I think the majority of adolescents are not emotionally prepared to be sexually active. Early sexual activity is linked to risky behaviors such as drug use, delinquency, school related problems (pg.199). Early engagement in sexual intercourse is associated with high-risk sexual factors such as forceful sex, pregnancy, and date violence (pg.199). With all this included adolescents are never prepared for the actual consequences of sex like pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases. Adults are barley
Historically, research on sexuality has been driven by a public health agenda, which is overshadowed by moral panic and bad outcomes of adolescent sexuality (i.e. STIs, unintended pregnancy, etc.). This perpetuated widespread abstinence policies in institutions in which adolescents were involved. This heteronormative and patriarchal society rested upon the assumption that women were gatekeepers of insatiable male sexuality and that frankly, boys will be boys.
supplying teenagers with condoms inevitably produces a marked increase in their sexual activity” (11).
Adolescence is a time during which societal and family values, attitudes, and behaviors are learned. This period in a person’s life is marked by challenges and difficulties in self-exploration and identification. Sexual relationships are especially challenging and difficult for adolescent women and men. Teenage fertility is a reality for most countries that needs to be dealt with effectively. It is necessary that young people are educated about STDs, health risks, and contraception and that societies on the whole are made more aware of teenage sexuality.
According to the Advocates for Youth organization, “sex education is the cause of healthy sexual behavior and results in the decline of teen pregnancy.” This could be because sex education teaches young people about sex from a biological and scientific standpoint. Thus, explaining why teens physically feel a certain way when puberty happens. It answers lingering questions about the b...
...ions on Two Decades of Research on Teen Sexual Behavior and Pregnancy."The Journal of school health 69.3 (1999): 89-94. ProQuest.Web. 7 Nov. 2013.