The House Regrets The Rise Of A 'Hookup Culture'

This last decade has seen the potent rise of a hook-up culture; one which "accepts and encourages casual sexual encounters". Friday night activities of partying and clubbing have "taken over" the old-fashioned activity of "dating". These activities more often then not lead to casual sexual encounters, which can include any form of sexual activity (oral sex, sexual intercourse). This culture of casual "hook-ups" is leading to an unhappy, unfulfilled, and confused generation. These casual sexual encounters effect students emotionally, and physically, and is thus detrimental to there wellbeing. In this debate I will be discussing the harmful impacts on both men and women that have resulted from this sexually, based culture. A hook-up culture is physically dangerous, as casual sexual encounters encourage careless sexual behaviour amongst students. In a regular relationship, the STD factor is usually considered, and the right precautions are taken to protect against any form of STD. On the contrary, when someone is at a party and engages in a sexual encounter, a sexual disease is more likely to be contracted. "Casual sexual relationships" often involve partners who would not consider the possibility of contracting an STD, much unlike a serious couple, and may thus contract a disease. In 2011, only 26 cases of gonorrhoea were reported by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. In 2012, 65 cases were reported, a stark contrast. Students do not consider the implications of hooking-up with someone; their judgement is impaired. They are more relaxed and are thus more prone to contracting diseases. According to the California Department of Health Services, Kern County had 6909 cases of gonorrhoea, and more than 5000 cases of chlamydial infections. When someone is "hooking-up" with another person at a party, it"s not likely that they will ask questions and discuss their sexual safety. Furthermore, when many of these hook-ups are one-night stands, students are not accountable for what they do; as they will not see the person after that night. In Ontario, Canada, 26, 395 cases of chlamydia were reported in 2011, a 122 per cent increase from 10 years earlier. Similarly, in Alberta government statistics show a 125 per cent increase. It is expected that with the rise of casual sexual activity, STD"s rise steadily as well, impacting immensely on the students who have experienced the hook-up culture. This is why I strongly regret the development of such a culture. Casual sex also heavily impacts mentally and psychologically on students. A study, which was conducted by Donna Freitas, found that out of 557 students: 41 per cent reported feeling sad and regretful the morning after "hooking-up". This culture has created a raging desire for sexual pleasure, a short-term pleasure that leads too long-term loneliness. Due to this culture, students no longer admire chastity; it isn"t necessary to love someone before having sex. In fact, in many social circles there is a stigma associated with being a virgin. Due to this stigma, students who are indeed virgins feel it necessary to fit in, and thus experience casual sex. It is a case of""everyone else is doing it, why shouldn"t I?" But these are merely "meaningless hook-ups", and leave the student feeling an emotional emptiness by the next morning. After many parties and sexual encounters, students" mental states may begin to deteriorate and students may even experience severe cases of depression and anxiety. We can thus see the detrimental impact, which has resulted from the "hook-up" culture, as it has lead to the deprivation of healthy relationships for students. As human beings, we rely on sustaining healthy relationships, which can please us entirely: mentally and physically. Unfortunately, students are only experiencing the physical aspect of these relationships, and they are often left feeling empty, and lonely. 1.http://therunneronline.com... 2.http://www.theglobeandmail.com... 3.http://www.medicaldaily.com... 4.http://edition.cnn.com...