Adolescent sexuality in the United States relates to the sexuality of American adolescents and its place in American society, both in terms of their feelings, behaviors and development and in terms of the response of the government, educators and interested groups.
For teenagers, sex is considered an emotionally powerful experience, combined with risks and psychological changes. "Early sexual intercourse among American adolescents represents a major public health problem" according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, which believes that "unrealistic, inaccurate, and misleading information" about sex in film, television, and music play a significant role in contributing to the problem. "The earlier an individual engages in sexual activity, the more risk he or she has for negative mental and physical health outcomes. Becoming sexually active at a young age can create stress, put a strain on romantic relationships, and diminish feelings of self-worth."
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the year 2007, 35% of US high school students were currently sexually active and 47.8% of US high school students reported having had sexual intercourse. This percentage has decreased slightly since 1991. While some researchers suggest that teens are increasingly engaging in oral sex, other studies indicate that there has been little change in either oral sex or vaginal sex among teen opposite-sex partners over the past decade. A minority, 13%, of children aged 15 have experienced vaginal sex.
Every year, an estimated 1 in 4 sexually active teens contracts an STD, and teenage pregnancy is 2 to 10 times more prevalent in the United States than in other similarly developed countries. Among sexually active 15- to 19-year-olds, 83% of females and 91% of males reported using at least one method of birth control during last intercourse. A majority of adolescents have been provided with some information regarding sexuality, though there have been efforts among social conservatives in the United States government to limit sex education in public schools to abstinence-only sex education curricula.
As "teenagers are not mature enough to know all the ramifications of what they're doing," "early sexual activity - whether in or out of a romantic relationship - does far more harm than good." With all the issues and problems relating to adolescent sex, according to the Medical College of Wisconsin, "Ideally, they won’t be having sex, but if they are or intend to, the next best thing is that they understand the importance of protecting themselves against pregnancy, HIV and STDs."
Read more about Adolescent Sexuality In The United States: Sexual Behavior, Social and Cultural Aspects, Physical Effects, Psychological Effects, Sexual Minorities, Knowledge of Sexuality, Correlation With Other Risk Behaviors
Famous quotes containing the words united states, adolescent, united and/or states:
“The white American man makes the white American woman maybe not superfluous but just a little kind of decoration. Not really important to turning around the wheels of the state. Well the black American woman has never been able to feel that way. No black American man at any time in our history in the United States has been able to feel that he didn’t need that black woman right against him, shoulder to shoulder—in that cotton field, on the auction block, in the ghetto, wherever.”
—Maya Angelou (b. 1928)
“Although good early childhood programs can benefit all children, they are not a quick fix for all of society’s ills—from crime in the streets to adolescent pregnancy, from school failure to unemployment. We must emphasize that good quality early childhood programs can help change the social and educational outcomes for many children, but they are not a panacea; they cannot ameliorate the effects of all harmful social and psychological environments.”
—Barbara Bowman (20th century)
“Then the American flag was saluted. In general, in the United States people always salute the American flag.”
—Friedrich Dürrenmatt (1921–1990)
“My only rival, the United States cavalry.”
—James Kevin McGuinness, and John Ford. Mrs. Yorke (Maureen O’Hara)