What’s wrong with sex among young people?
Lately, there’s been increasing discussion about the lack of sex among young people. Russian and international media outlets are full of headlines, and scientists are studying the issue. Centennials—people born after 2000 (and, in some classifications, after 1996)—are particularly hard hit. For example, in the US in 2017, only 39.5% of high school students had sexual experience. In 1991, more than half of teenagers had. In the early 1990s, 18.7% of respondents had more than three partners; in 2017, the figure was 9.7%.
Statistics allow us to draw very rough conclusions about the actual amount of sex, because they are based on survey results.
Until there is a scientist with a candle in each bedroom, the accuracy of such data cannot be guaranteed.
For example, when researchers measured 15,000 men themselves, they found that the average length of an erect penis was 13.12 cm. When subjects measured themselves, the average was 16 cm. That’s quite a difference. The same goes for sex: no one’s stopping you from lying, especially among adults, who often tie their self-worth to the number of sexual encounters they’ve had.
Another weak point in the statistics is the ambiguity of what exactly constitutes sex. Penile-vaginal intercourse is clear. But what about petting, sexting, and mutual masturbation? And is interaction with two partners one act or two?
And yet, you can’t take the words out of a song: young people are having less sex. And they’re not the only ones.
What’s the sex situation with the rest of us?
Society has focused on centennials. But the term “youth” also includes millennials, who are experiencing similar trends. For example, a survey in Australia found that respondents are generally having less sex than they did 10 years ago. And the number of sexual encounters for heterosexual couples has dropped from 1.8 to 1.4 times per week.
A survey in the UK found that almost a third of men and women aged 16 to 44 had not had sex in the past month. This is a 25% increase since 2001. This is also typical for other European countries. So young people are simply following a general trend.
What’s going on anyway?
Sex is desacralized
Until recently, the topic of sexual relations was shrouded in secrecy, and information about it had to be obtained through hard-won research. Information was gathered from whispered conversations in the courtyard, pornographic magazines hidden under pillows, and those lucky enough to have a VCR could even find a parent’s tape and enter the adult world.
Sex was an initiation, a step toward maturity. Now it has lost both this function and its sacredness, and therefore its value has diminished.
Any information about sex can be obtained with just a couple of clicks. People talk about it more freely, and no government agency can completely block pornography. As a result, a teenager who knows how to Google may know much more about sexual relations than their grandfather, who relied on his own experience. And once a person has thoroughly studied the theory, they don’t necessarily have to rely on practical experience.
Sexual pleasure can be achieved in different ways.
Communication is work. Is there any point in putting in effort for sex when you can get by on your own and get guaranteed results? Especially since masturbation has finally been demystified: it doesn’t cause arm hair growth, it doesn’t impair vision, and it doesn’t make your penis fall off.
The amount of sex is no longer an indicator of success in life.
Asexuality—the absence of sexual desire—is now considered normal. And the desire for contact with different partners doesn’t always result in promiscuity. Sometimes it leads to polyamory, stable relationships between multiple people. In short, there are many ways to express sexuality, and you can comfortably exist in your own. There’s no longer a need to prove your maturity or emphasize your coolness through sexual intercourse. The pursuit of quantity is being replaced by quality.
Young people take relationships more seriously
According to the dating site Match, young people are no longer looking for casual sex but are looking for serious relationships. 70% of centennials and 63% of millennials admitted this. They view sexual intercourse not as an end in itself, but as a piece of the puzzle that completes a romantic relationship. However, this doesn’t stop them from leading active lives: the majority of respondents had sex in the last seven days.
It is noteworthy that among representatives of older generations, only 46% of respondents are looking for love.
Refusing has become easier
Both men and women suffer equally from stereotypes. Previously, men were expected to always want and be able to. Women were expected to never refuse sex, even if they didn’t want it, otherwise it would ruin the relationship. But education and the promotion of a culture of consent are having an impact. People are remembering that sex isn’t torture, but pleasure, making it easier to refuse unwanted contact.
Childhood lasts longer
The number of children is decreasing, and the value of their lives is increasing. Therefore, efforts are being made to extend a child’s carefree period. According to some data, in the mid-20th century, childhood ended at 14, in the 1960s, at 16, and now at 21. And this period continues to lengthen.
Longer childhoods and an economic climate that makes it difficult to afford home ownership are leading young people to leave home later. These aren’t the most favorable conditions for casual sex.
Long-distance relationships have become more accessible.
Technology has given us countless opportunities to meet people living in other regions and even countries. Traveling has also become easier: you can win a grant for study or get a job far from home. So, couples can separate for a period of time but still remain in a monogamous relationship. For obvious reasons, sex will be temporarily absent from both.
There’s simply no energy left for sex.
Burnout is recognized as a disease, and multitasking has become a standard job requirement. Scientists acknowledge that millennials and centennials are significantly more prone to anxiety disorders and depression than previous generations. There’s simply no time or energy left for sex. And antidepressants can further reduce libido.
What will happen to sex in the future?
Futurologists agree: sex will never be the same. We’ll experience many transformations. For example, sexting will evolve into full-fledged long-distance caresses thanks to haptic suits and sensual sensory interfaces. Porn will become more realistic thanks to 3D. And robots will join the process.
Otherwise, young people are focused on relationships and sex that will bring pleasure to all participants, and they’re open to experimentation. Isn’t that wonderful? Especially since Generation Z is more responsibly protecting themselves from unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases than their predecessors.
One of the main concerns of those worried about the lack of sex among young people is the declining birth rate. But contraception, rather than the number of sexual encounters, plays a more important role here.
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