Prince Charming kisses the pure bride, and they ride off into the sunset.
And then what?
For some, sex is something to be saved, ideally for marriage.
Students offer many different reasons for practicing abstinence.
Freshman Nathan James said that his religion is one reason he is against premarital sex.
James added that the Bible says not to have sex before marriage, but he understands that not everyone believes in the Bible.
“I think marriage is important to try to discourage people [from] having multiple partners or having sex before they’re ready,” James said.
Junior Jacob St. Aubin, who is also Christian, said that his choice to wait to have sex is not based on religion.
“Sex is not something you can use or abuse,” St. Aubin said. “It’s something to cherish when it happens.”
Senior Ross Darwin agrees that religion doesn’t factor into his decision. He said that he is Jewish, but his faith is not the reason he practices abstinence.
“Sex is a special connection between two people in love and should wait until after marriage,” he said.
Sophomore Allison Ezzo agrees with Darwin. She said students are pressured to have sex when they are too young.
Ezzo thinks that part of the problem is that girls lack self-confidence.
“Girls should love themselves and who they are,” Ezzo said. “They should respect their bodies and not need a guy to make them feel special.”
Ezzo said that some girls are afraid they will lose their boyfriends if they don’t have sex.
James said it bothers him when people talk about virgins as losers, seeing it as superficial, adding that people don’t understand the commitment sex represents.
Some students, such as junior Preston Phillips, feel that pressure to have sex goes beyond high school.
Phillips said that society discourages abstinence.
“With movies like ‘American Pie,’ it’s the cool thing for people to [have sex],” Phillips said. “It makes it seem like everyone’s doing it.”
St. Aubin agreed, mentioning song lyrics, music videos and advertisements as part of the problem.
“The value of sex has been lost due to our media,” St. Aubin said. James agreed. “I think it’s unethical to use sex to sell products,” James said. “It’s manipulative.”
Ezzo said that the media today exposes children to sex when they are too young.
St. Aubin agrees that students have sex before they are ready.
“They may do it because it makes them feel older,” he said.
For St. Aubin, it’s the strength of the relationship that is important.
“If [a couple is] old enough to have sex, [they’re] old enough to start a life together,” St. Aubin said.
Darwin said that once you are with someone you want to share your life with, you are ready to handle sex responsibly.
“I take the Disney view of love and relationships,” Darwin said. “I believe in true love.”
