Argumentative Essay On Hookup Culture

Our generation was raised through the new culture known as ‘hookup culture’ and has fully embraced it. Sex has seemingly lost much of its sacredness and the taboo around pre-marital sex is dwindling as well. The article for which I am analyzing is a book summary of Hooked: New Science on How Casual Sex is Affecting Our Children by Joe McIlhaney and Freda McKissic. The purpose of the book is to give the scientific reasoning on why engaging in pre-marital sex is harmful to adolescents. It explores the neuroscience behind the act, and how people as a whole are effected by engaging in sexual activity. By providing statistics, emotionally moving testimonies, and doctor’s research they gain a lot of credibility, which strengthens their claim that

They include many statistics and definitions to help build our understanding and their argument. “Sexually active (teen) boys are 7x as likely as non-sexually active boys to have attempted suicide” (Olivier). This statistic is drawn from The Heritage Foundation’s study that relates depression and suicide to both sexually active and inactive teens. The Heritage Foundation is a widely accredited, and supported public policy research institute. This statistic shows that sex plays a huge role in teens ability to cope with emotions and to make decisions. It also highlights how it negatively effects teens mental stability overall. Another appeal to logos is the explanation of how the brain is affected after intimacy. “Consequently, documentation is acquired regarding a third, and often overlooked, risk of premarital sex: psychological consequences.” (Olivier). The authors discuss all of the possible negative physiological effects that occur because of engaging in sexual activity. It is explained that three chemicals in the brain are released after sex that help bond both partners together- dopamine, oxytocin, and vasopressin. The authors argue that even casual sex will bond people together since this a natural reaction to being intimate with another human. These bonding chemicals can keep people fixated on another person for years because of how strong the chemicals dopamine, oxytocin, and vasopressin are. Therefore,

Both authors have been gynecologists for years and served on many other boards relating to sexual health. They give very valuable information and facts that everyone should consider before the next time they are ready to have casual sex. I feel personally persuaded by the article because it gave a hard cut, factual reason on why abstinence is a good way to keep yourself in good health. They clearly use many rhetorical tools to help build their case, and it led to an overall effective