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The Daily Utah Chronicle > Opinion

Casual sex can be damaging

By Andrew Cengiz

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Published: Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Updated: Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Andrew Cengiz

Andrew Cengiz

Casual sex is not unheard of on college campuses today.

Sexual promiscuity, under the wrong conditions, can pose a lot of problems, including STDs and unwanted pregnancies. One of the more overlooked problems is the regret and emotional damage many students experience after having casual sex.

“Women are more likely to experience regrets when it comes to (casual sex),” according to “Hookups and Sexual Regret Among College Women,” an article written in the Journal of Social Psychology in February 2008.

Women tend to conform to the sexual pressure of their social surroundings more than men.

When it comes to casual sex, females tend to feel the pressure of a “put out or get out” atmosphere.

In March 2008, the Journal of Interpersonal Violence printed a study by 12 college professors called “The Red Zone.” The red zone, according to the study, “refers to the first few weeks of the first semester at college, when female students are believed to be at greatest risk for experiencing unwanted sex.”

The U needs to start taking action to help reduce the risk of unwanted sexual experiences for female students.

First, the U administration needs to start making students aware of the sexual red zone. The U should have a campaign to make female students aware of the problem and inform them about the issue. The U can follow the example of Hartwick College in New York, which warns students of the red zone in student handbooks.

Female students need to be more aware of the risk. They need to learn what parties, people and organizations will put them in risky situations.

There is no discussion going on at the U about this problem. There needs to be one. Right now, we’re in the red zone, and the administration can’t afford to wait.

This culture of casual sex on campuses was started to “defy traditional standards,” according to an August 2008 Sex Roles magazine study. Maybe those traditional standards are right after all.

letters@chronicle.utah.edu

Comments

28 comments
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U student
Tue Jun 30 2009 02:23
To Jeremy,
I happen to know that the writer of this article is married, so if he's never been laid, talk about awkward.
U student
Tue Jun 30 2009 02:22
To Jeremy,
I happen to know that the writer of this article is married, so if he's never been laid, talk about awkward.
U of U girl
Thu Dec 11 2008 12:33
As a woman, I appreciate this writer's concern for womenkind. It is rare to find a man who actually cares about such an issue. Most men think there should be initiatives to get women to wear less clothes. Thanks, Andrew, for your concern for our emotional well-being. Besides, happy women = better sex!
Mudkips
Tue Sep 30 2008 10:54
Enjoy your hand, churchie.
Jeremy
Tue Sep 30 2008 00:52
This guy has never been laid. Just like me.
Brutus
Fri Sep 26 2008 15:04
If women want to whore themselves out, then they should have to accept the consequences. Learning from your mistakes is called "life."
Mike Yocom
Thu Sep 25 2008 22:34
"Unwanted sex" is when coercion (which can include, amongst other things, verbal abuse, blackmail, or intimidation) or outright violence is used to get sex from someone. It is not the sex itself, but the lack of respect for the victim's decision regarding her own body that makes it traumatic. The author seems to assume that casual sex leads to unwanted sex, when in fact it is a lack of respect regarding a person's choices about her own body that makes for unwanted sex.

The article also, subtly, puts the blame on the victims by saying that females are the ones that need to be educated. There are certainly still things that need to be done to educate women regarding this topic, but there's a bigger lack of education for males, particularly where the boundaries are: that reluctance is as good as a "no".

Finally, as an aside: "You on the other hand are doing nothing, so your opinion means about squat!" Nice ad hominem there, "Go Andrew".

Your name
Thu Sep 25 2008 21:22
Only in Utah........
Go Andrew
Thu Sep 25 2008 17:22
Wow, instead of complaining about how awful the writing is in the article, why don't you get off your butt and try to write something? It's easy to sit and bash, but the biggest difference between Andrew and yourself, it that Andrew is doing it...he is trying. You on the other hand are doing nothing, so your opinion means about squat!
Your name
Thu Sep 25 2008 15:36
too bad the writing is so awful for a topic that could actually use some awareness and discussion
Your name
Thu Sep 25 2008 01:21
Maybe we can invite Sarah Palin to campus to give a talk about abstinence-only programs.
Tera
Wed Sep 24 2008 23:39
When is it the victim’s fault in the case of unwanted sexual contact? Since when do we start putting responsibility of others uncontrolled action on those who are hurt by the action? Suggesting that “Female students need to be more aware of the risk. They need to learn what parties, people and organizations will put them in risky situations” you’re saying that it is okay for these conditions to exsist and those who don’t want to experence them should just aviod the situation. Trust me, as a female, we are fully aware that these conditions exist. The question, why do people, male and female continue to allow “parties, people and organizations” that “will put them in risky situations?” This isn’t an administraton problem, or just a woman’s problem. This is everyone’s problem. Women: stand up for your sisters. Men: stand up to other men, and look out for your sisters.
N.
Wed Sep 24 2008 21:07
Garrick, welcome to the 21st century! Not everyone is a good molly or peter! And even those that claim the title probably have their moment's of weakness too. I think it's wise to assume that everyone, someday, will have sex and education isn't a bad thing regardless of your personal position. But really claiming that abstinent students are "normal" is about as accurate as claiming that keeping your money under a mattress is the safest place to safeguard your fortune.
Lets get it on
Wed Sep 24 2008 17:32
Hey David...there is a big difference between giving it up and being forced to give it up...its called rape. Women who like sex and enjoy having sex and have sex are just confused victims of male pressure? Hate to burst your bubble, but the sexual revolution has long begun and women can now have sex even in the RED ZONE because they want to and not because they are pressured.

cOnFuSed was stating the fact that women who have "promiscuious" sex are not considered lady like by MEN...nothing to do with chauvinisticness.

Your name
Tue Sep 23 2008 17:14
Dear editor,

Why is the opinion section so terrible this year?

P.S. The new website is equally bad.

David Alder
Tue Sep 23 2008 16:25
Hey boys... how about this:

Let's ally in support of women by helping to deflate these potentially damaging situations. If you see one of your guy friends hitting on a girl who clearly is uncomfortable, say something. Step in and play defense for her.

And Mr. cOnFuSeD... I suggest you become familiar with the statistics of sexual violence toward women. The majority of these girls on campus during the "red zone" aren't "dishing it out" as you so chauvinistically state; they're pressured by men.

Check your privilege!

my name is
Tue Sep 23 2008 14:13
There's a typo in your headline. It should read "Casual sex can be *fun*"

Seriously though, if you think the U is "in the red zone," please cite some figures. Is sexual violence a problem at the U? If you think so, back up that claim.

You say "the U administration needs to start making students aware of the sexual red zone," while you make absurd claims and conflate 2 separate issues ('casual' sex and sexual assault). The first (responsible) step in educating people on sexual interaction is honesty. And you've failed that step.

Garrick
Mon Sep 22 2008 18:55
I am a freshman who has no plans on having sex in the near future. This arrangement of arguments makes normal abstinent students look like idiots. Implying that premarital sex=casual sex=rape is pure nonsense. I love the way the article fuses patriarchy and feminism as well.
Your name
Wed Sep 17 2008 11:45
This article is like something from the Onion
Joey
Wed Sep 17 2008 10:28
The fact that this article begins with sexual promiscuity, mentions sexual violence (which is not the same thing), and then concludes with promiscuity again is detrimental to efforts to end sexual violence. In one short article, the author hits on two major problems with this situation. First, the conflation of promiscuity and sexual violence leads us to see women as some how at fault if someone assaults them because they were dressing for it or acting slutty. This is one of the most dangerous assumptions we can make in this situation. The second related problem is that there is NO mention of the necessity of programs to teach males that violence is not acceptable.
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