Tagged:

abstinence

February 8th 2010

Science and Sense in the Abstinence Wars

- Laura Sessions Stepp

News organizations carried a story last week about a successful, experimental sex ed curriculum focused on abstinence. What follows is my blog post about the study, which ran in The Huffington Post, and a short sample of reaction to the post.

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When I read the lead paragraph of last week’s news story on the success of an experimental, abstinence-only sex ed curriculum, my first thought was: “Yes, but…”

11.30.09

Hot Chastity, Promise Rings, and Taking it Slow...Perspectives on Abstinence

Abstinence. Few would deny that it evokes strong reactions for a variety of reasons. But what does it mean to those who abstain? How do they experience it? Three people share their stories with Laura Stepp. [12 min 53 sec]

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November 30th 2009

Can There Be Middle Ground in the Abstinence Wars?

- Laura Sessions Stepp

Abstinence wars are in full swing on the Princeton University campus.

A group of students, some belonging to a conservative group, The Anscombe Society, are lobbying university administrators to create a Center for Abstinence and Chastity, similar to existing LGBT and Women’s Centers.

The students argue they need their own space to discuss pro-abstinence, pro-marriage views they say are unpopular on campus. Their opponents have responded that spending money on a center is an inappropriate use of university funds; moreover, it implies – wrongly - that the other two centers do not support abstinence as a lifestyle choice.

November 23rd 2009

Words to Scrap: Chastity

- Laura Sessions Stepp

I’m about to toss another word into my trash bin. It can rest nicely there alongside “wedlock" (marriage is not necessarily a prison); “lost my virginity,” (have you found it yet?) and “practicing abstinence” (let me know when you’ve got it down).

The word this time is “chaste,” defined by Webster’s New World Dictionary as “not indulging in unlawful sexual activity.”

I’m okay with chaste’s first cousin, “abstinent.” Being abstinent implies something you choose to do or not do. You decide whether or not to abstain from smoking, drinking, or sex.

September 18th 2009

'Bright Star': Naked Passion, Fully Clothed

- Laura Sessions Stepp

In her new cinematic love story, “Bright Star,” filmmaker Jane Campion reacquaints us with delicious sexual passion and reminds us that it need not be accompanied by intercourse. I, for one, thank her for that.

Not that I have anything against "doing it." But many of today’s media and entertainment figures, as well as political pundits on the right and left, reduce the bountiful buffet that is sex to one dish – intercourse. One kiss and the young partners are bouncing on 300-thread count sheets. A sexy voice, lingering glance, hungry eyes, stolen kiss, tender touch, poetic language…all are hardly more than appetizers, and easily skipped.

August 11th 2009

Never Not Been Kissed

- Anya Alvarez

It was a dark and stormy night. Literally. As Ryan and I sat beneath a gazebo and watched the lightning and the rain, we held on to each other and I kept wondering when he was going to kiss me. This was our fifth date and in my mind he had already kissed me…several times. However, as the minutes passed I realized he wasn’t going to do it. I certainly wasn’t going to either, although it wouldn’t have been out of character. So I asked him bluntly, “Why haven’t you kissed me?”

“I knew this would come up,” he nervously responded. “I want to wait until I know I love someone until I kiss her.”