Promiscuity
From Encyclopedia of Sex and Sexuality
The dictionary definition of promiscuity is the casual or thoughtless joining of individuals without regard to reason. In sexual terms, a man or woman who is promiscuous is someone who is non-discriminating in his or her sexual partners; that is, someone who engages in a great deal of sex with many different partners. In colloquial terms, it is someone who, by their actions, is sexually “easy” to a wide variety of people.
It is important to remember that the concept of promiscuity is a relative one. The question of how much sex with how many different partners one has to have in order to be considered promiscuous is, in reality, a judgment call, and will depend on a person’s religious, moral, or ethical values. However, generally speaking, promiscuity does imply that one’s attitude toward sex is casual; one seeks a quantity of different sexual partners rather than the intimacy and quality implicit in one or a few sexual relationships.
In some cultural settings, promiscuity is admired. In ancient Rome, where orgies were commonplace, the desire to have sex with many different partners was more than accepted: it was celebrated. Even today, in America, there are individuals who regard sexual conquest as an achievement; they will brag about the “scores” they have made. However, most Americans today regard promiscuous behavior as both destructive and dangerous.
The drive to seek sexual opportunities outside a marriage can be particularly destructive, making trust impossible between a husband and wife. Promiscuous exploits have broken up many families, hurting children in the process as well. Habitual promiscuity can have negative consequences even if one is single. The relentless pursuit of new and different sexual partners may make the forming of a single, solid, reliable relationship very difficult. Promiscuity almost always brings with it problems of jealousy and mistrust. For most relationships to be stable, monogamy is preferred.
Today there is also a very real health risk associated with promiscuous behavior. The more sexual partners one has, the greater the chance of contracting aids or other [[Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)|sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). This holds true for everyone—boys, girls, men, women, heterosexuals and homosexuals of all ages. With AIDS and other STDs at epidemic levels today, indiscriminate sex partnering is highly risky behavior.
