Sexual Relationships

Utilizing the article "Romantic and Sexual Relationship Development During Adolescence," by Brent C. Miller and Brad Benson, I found some interesting statistics revolving around the age when sexual involvement first takes place.  The article talks about how there are differences between races regarding how early sexual interaction tends to first take place.  The article describes how Black teenagers tend to have more sex than White or Hispanic teens.  "More than half of Black males have had sex by age 15, but Hispanic and White males do not attain this level of sexual activity until they are 17."  For females, the statistics are relatively similar.  The authors also discuss the differences found between males and females; "more male than female teens report having had intercourse at every year of age."  Finally, the article delves into statistics regarding the age that people first have intercourse getting younger and younger.  People who have had sex by age fifteen has risen from 20% of people to 27%.  Males who have had sex by 18 has risen from 55% to 64%.  Females who have had sex by age 18 has also risen from 35% to 52%.

This article helps readers to understand that romantic and sexual involvement is influenced and effected greatly by social and cultural norms.  As a society, we judge ore harshly females who have had sex at a young age more so than we do males.  This is one of the reasons why at every age, more men than women have already had sex.  I found that statistics such as these were important for me to understand as I look at the development and evolution of love.  Love is often characterized by romance and passion that two people share.  From a past article, I remember reading that sex does not always include love but love always includes sex.  In order to understand why high school sweethearts and young love are so common, it is important to reflect on the data behind sexual involvement within our nation.

Furman, Wyndol, B. Bradford Brown, and Candice Feiring. "Romantic and Sexual Relationship Development During Adolescence." The Development of Romantic Relationships in Adolescence. New York: Cambridge UP, 1999. 99-109. Print.