Why Sexual Health is Important
Who it Affects?The people directly effected by this social problem would be individuals on our college campus. They are the ones that must deal with these issues in their everyday lives. Those affected indirectly would be the potential children and/or sexual partners of those college individuals. When looking at how widespread the problem is, according to National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior (NSSHB), the study’s findings show that 1 in 4 acts of vaginal intercourse are condom protected in the U.S. along with 1 in 3 among singles (Reece).
This affects many members of different social groups. In looking at people in groups such as athletes, a household of people, a class of students, if one does not adequately treat his/her STI, it could negatively impact those around them or possibly spread through contact. It can affect a man or a woman, or even those with a different sexual orientation such as homosexual or heterosexual because it does not depend on sexual orientation. An untreated STI may also effect people of any race. Anyone is susceptible who may come into contact with an untreated STI. When looking at race, a recent study's results show that by 2010 black women were substantially less likely than white women to use highly effective reversible contraceptive methods rather than no method (Jacobs, Josephine, & Stanfors). Although these results were found within this study, results may vary across time. |
What is the History?When looking at the problem of lack of knowledge, there is deep rooted history on how it came to be a topic of discussion and importance. As early as 1912, the National Education Association called for teacher training programs in sexuality education (Pardini). Throughout the 1940s to the1960s the U.S. Public Health Service advocated the need for sexual education and began to see the controversy over sexual education in U.S. schools (Pardini). There was oppression such as attacks aimed at barring any form of sexual education in school from christian groups. It was not until 1983 that sexual education was eventually taught in schools on topics such as how to use contraception, family finances and parenting skills, and the importance of self-esteem. (Pardini). In an article titled My Fight for Birth Control, by Margaret Sanger (1931), she speaks about how women were denied contraception and there was no such thing as reproductive choice, even if it meant a dangerous pregnancy (Shaw & Lee, 310). She witnessed a women die while giving birth because of this, which triggered her to become involved in the struggle for reproductive choice and birth control.
When the sex education programs were beginning to take place, a group by the name of the Christian Crusade and other conservative groups, described sexual education as “smut” and “raw sex” (Pardini). These efforts were limited in their success however, because sex education programs in schools grew due to the evidence that these programs greatly improved sexual health (Pardini). |
"Respect the fact that your potential partner may have an STD. Because we live in a society that shames us (especially women) regarding our sexual behavior, many of us whitewash our past. We want to appear as virginal and untouched as possible, so we’re quick to assure our partners that we’re “pure” and “clean.” By doing so, we make it harder for our partners to reveal their own truth."
-Ignite Me
Why is it a Problem?The problem of sexual health including STI prevention and understanding the comfort of one's own body is definitely a problem in the United States. Women are particularly a victim of not knowing about sexual health and believing what the media says in how their bodies should look. This is why sexual health programs, such as Health Enhancement on Northern Illinois University's campus, are using their efforts to target a specific population and help them gain knowledge about sexual health and body image in general. This could also be considered a global problem. People all around the world are affected by sexual health in terms of STI's and being comfortable with one's own body. It varies on a person's knowledge, choices, and/or situation.
Dean, Kimbriel. "Sex at Burning Man (and Everywhere Else) | Ignite.me | How to Talk About STDs." IGNITEME RSS. N.p., 24 July 2013. Web. 17 Nov. 2013. <http://ignite.me/articles/health/sex-at-burning-man-and-everywhere-else/>.
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Why is it Significant to
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