Premarital Sex

So these days, and in many previous years before, it seems as though the idea of premarital sex has become obsolete for a majority of the population. Just the other day I was sitting with my girlfriend and her roommate when we saw a commercial preview for the show "Virgin Diaries" on TLC. For those who haven't seen or heard, it is a show based around the stories of couples in their twenties, thirties, or forties, who have decided to wait until marriage before engaging in sexual intercourse. While watching the commercial I caught myself laughing at this notion, and wondering why anyone would want to wait on something that has become such a common behavior in today's society. Upon having thinking about this it made me understand, through different aspects of cultural studies, how other take this scenario to heart. While myself, my friends, and mostly every one of my peers I have met throughout the last few years takes the question of premarital sex as: "Where?!" "When?!" and "I'll be there!"--others I have yet to, or will never, meet consider this act a taboo and choose to wait until marriage.

I chose this image above because, while a rather extreme view, it opposes the views of my own. From my own personal beliefs and experiences I have no problems with premarital sex. I do not feel morally, religiously, or personally ashamed and I feel others should agree. On the other hand this picture indicates the population that disagrees with me entirely. According to the posted print sex before marriage is hazardous; therefore sex before marriage should be avoided at all costs if we intend on taking part in one. Now scientifically we can take a look at this photo and say: the outcome of having sex with a partner that has an STI is hazardous to one's health. The outcome of life expectancy decreases with early age of sexual intercourse and multiple partners. We could list many effects of sex that could be hazardous to one's health, but to mention that it is solely because of premarital sex is silly. We know this is not the case. Having said that, we can read this photo from a moral standpoint, rather than scientific. The act of premarital sex can be seen as fornication, a sin on the same level as adultery, and affect one's religious integrity. The act of premarital sex is hazardous the one's conscience and soul.

I think the question of whether or not premarital sex is right or wrong comes down to the aspect of morality. Strictly speaking religiously the act of sex was created by God for re-creation, not recreation. God created sex for married couples and would be the judge of those considered sexually immoral. While this is the case, it is also said that we can all be resolved of our sins through repentance. So regardless of whether or not someone believes they will be free of their sins through repentance, it comes down to their own personal and moral opinions. This is a hard topic to not bring religion into because most of those who believe in abstinence until marriage usually get the belief from a religious upbringing and it is the culture they have come to know. For the ones that are not religious, the moral question of premarital sex is usually void from their vocabulary. Not to say these people are morally incorrect, it just comes down to personal opinion. Whether YOU believe premarital sex is right or wrong.

The bridge, between those who take a pass to premarital sex, and those just getting it done out there, is long and vague. There are going to be roadblocks in between and construction may take years to understand. While some are using symbols such as the image posted above, the "I'll Wait" bracelet, "True Love Waits" rings, and even the show "Virgin Diaries" as rhetoric towards the moral cleanliness that comes with abstinence until marriage, there are a slew of positions being taken for the opposite stance that has become the norm in America. Pornography, clothing, commercials, advertisements, etc. all show the lavishness of sexual experiences, whether premarital or between a married couple. The list of sexual innuendos and advertisements seems to be the culture we live in today, and whether or not someone believes a certain idea, these images will be present. The bridge between these two worlds, as stated before, comes from personal and moral opinion. Once we are able to understand the desires and judgements of others will the topic of premarital sex come to a settle. This will take time; perhaps too much.