Chastity
From Encyclopedia of Sex and Sexuality
To be chaste, or to practice chastity, generally means to live a life-style in which one refrains from sexual intercourse. In youth, chastity implies virginity.
There are many reasons why a person—especially a young person—may decide to practice chastity. For some, religious or family values may proscribe sex prior to marriage. For others, the question of when and with whom to first have sex is guided by highly personal values.
Today, it is estimated that eight out of ten people have experienced sexual intercourse by the age of twenty. Chastity is clearly not the prevailing trend for young people today. Yet, despite the tremendous pressure within our society for young people to be sexually active, many teenagers choose to follow their own very personal sexual timetable—to wait until they feel they are ready, married, or with the right person to first experience sexual intercourse. There is even an informal chastity movement among young people today, who are choosing at this time in their lives to say “no” to sex.
Advocates of chastity for young people make many good arguments against teenagers rushing into sexual intercourse. In the heat of passion it is easy to forget that sex has consequences — potentially bad as well as good — and, in fact, needs to be handled responsibly. If young people are not quite ready to take on sex and all that goes with it, abstinence makes a lot of sense.
For example, sex requires a decision to use contraception and an understanding that contraceptives sometimes fail. Pregnancy can occur even when a couple is using contraception. Abstention is, in fact, the only sure method of birth control. sexually transmitted diseases, including aids, can also be the consequence of sexual intercourse. A condom must be used every time one has sex, and even then accidents do happen. Again, abstention is the best protection. There are also emotional consequences of sex—the intimacy it brings can open one up to hurt as well as joy. Sex with the wrong person—one who tricks you, pressures you, or uses you—can be very hurtful, especially during adolescence.
Advocates of chastity for young people make the point that teenagers have an entire lifetime ahead of them in which to enjoy sexual relationships. While sex may seem like an urgent matter for teenagers, in fact, it is always better for a young person to wait until he or she feels truly ready to engage in it. Sex at the right time and with the right person is better sex and well worth waiting for.
