“On March 18, 2008 customers were shocked to hear what happened just inside the entrance at Merced Mervyn’s store. Security guards called police after a surveillance camera caught two 14-year-olds having sex on the floor Saturday afternoon.” ABC3merced.
The only thing shocking about two fourteen year olds having sex in Merced is that it was in the home furnishings department at Mervyn’s. The youth of 2008 have been bombarded by images of sex in the media for their entire lives. Is it really that surprising that two teens would find it exciting to have sex at Mervyns?
Young people have always been intrigued by sex, but growing up in 2008 encourages these young people to explore their sexuality. When schools cut sex education class students are taking it upon themselves to teach each other about sex.
Most teen’s sex education is done through the media which continuously shows sex as a fun and casual activiity. Lizeht, 28 year old DeAnza student, says, “shows like “Sex and the City” are used as a tool to talk about sex, when something that happens to the character on “Sex and the City” happens to you, you feel free to talk about it with your friends.”
Other students feel that the sexual nature of the relationships on TV shows and movies made it OK for them to have sex. Keisha, a 20 yr old female at DeAnza felt more comfortable losing her virginity at 16 because of the images she saw on TV, “I felt it was OK because I loved him and the people on TV had sex when they were in love.”
Media isn’t the only factor. Celebrities have a huge impact on the way our generation views sex. In 1984 Madonna rolled around the stage simulating sex acts while singing “Like a Virgin” on the MTV Video Music Awards. In the 1990’s Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee caused quite a stir with the release of their X-rated home video. Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian have carried sexual freedom into the 21st century with graphic sex tapes. In the 1950’s Marilyn Monroe was judged by the general public for being promiscuous, but Kim Kardashian gets her own television show after her sex tape was leaked.
Is all of this sexual freedom among teens and college students a good thing or a bad thing? Many feel it is good that sex is discussed openly and not as taboo. Others feel it makes it more difficult to get to know your partner. “Most guys expect sex or sexual acts after 3 months of dating, it’s a lot of pressure” said Paula an 18 year old DeAnza student.
However, sexual freedom can be beneficial. The Internet has made it easy for people with similar sexual interests to meet and explore what once were only fantasies. In 2008, more are allowed to express their sexually without judgement or punishment.

Virgins in 2008
two deanza students with two very different perspectives, share what it’ s like to be a virgin in 2008

by Mariela Vargas

Because of the sensitivity of the topic, we have agreed to withhold the identity of our virgins.

Male Perspective

Q: NAME, AGE & STATUS?
A: James, male 20, virgin

Q: HOW DO YOU VIEW SEX?
A: I think sex is a tool used for greater emotional intimacy.

Q: HOW LONG WOULD YOU WAIT TO BEFORE YOU HAD SEX WITH A GIRL IF YOU DECIDED TO DO SO?
A: About 3-4 months

Q: WOULD HAVE A PROBLEM DATING ANOTHER VIRGIN?
A: I wouldn’t say it’s a deal breaker

Q: DO YOU THINK ITS HARD TO BE A VIRGIN IN 2008?
A: Not to hard be a virgin, our generation seems more mature about sexuality; our generation is less willing to force points of view.

Q: HOW DO YOUR FRIENDS REACT TO YOU BEIING A VIRGIN?
A: They tease me a little but not too much.

Q: DO YOU THINK YOUR STATUS IS JUST A LACK OF OPPORTUNITY?
A: No, it’s a personal choice.

Q: ARE YOU WAITING FOR MARRIAGE?
A: No not necessarily just for the right girl.

Q: WHY DO THINK WE’RE SO FOCUSED ON SEX AS A SOCIETY?
A: Because its taboo.

Q: ARE YOUR PARENTS OPEN ABOUT SEX?
A: My parents our conservative. They were born in Taiwan.

Q: ANY LAST THOUGHTS ABOUT SEX?
A: The less we focus on others sex lives and the more we focus on subjects that actually matter the better off the world would be

Female Perspective

Q: NAME, AGE & STATUS
A: Esther, 23 was a virgin until marriage

Q: HOW OLD WERE YOU WHEN YOU GOT MARRIED?
A: 22 years old

Q: WHY DID YOU WAIT UNTIL YOU GOT MARRIED?
A: I’m Christian and I made a promise to God.

Q: WAS EASY BECAUSE IT WAS A PROMISE TO GOD?
A: It was easy because it was a promise to God.

Q: HOW DID YOUR BOYFRIEND DEAL WITH IT?
A: Well it was great because we both shared the same values and were able to motivate each other to wait.

Q: WERE ALL THE GUYS YOU DATED AS UNDERSTANDING AS YOUR HUSBAND?
A: Definitely not. They would always say it was cool but then they would expect me to give in 3 months later. I had to compromise a lot which made me feel a bit ashamed.

Q: DID ANYONE EVER CHEAT ON YOU BECAUSE OF THIS?
A: Yes one of my boyfriends in high school slept with another girl while he was with me.

Q: WAS IT HARD TO BE A VIRGIN IN COLLEGE?
A: Yes especially since everyone I knew was always talking about the guys they were dating and sleeping with I felt very different. But it was ok.

Q: DID YOU EVER JUDGE THE PEOPLE THAT HAD PREMARITAL SEX?
A: No, I felt if they could respect my beliefs and choices why shouldn’t I respect theirs.

Q: WHAT ARE THE POSITIVE ASPECTS TO WAITING?
A: I see sex as something that came with marriage as opposed to all those people who say the sex stops when they get married.

Q: WHAT WERE SOME NEGATIVE ASPECTS?
A: Before my husband, guys would cheat on me. I did some sexual things that I didn’t feel really proud of as a compromise with other guys. I felt like an outcast in college with the peer pressure

Oral Report
Insider mouths off on mouthing off

by Dae Kim

69* is great, isn’t it? It looks cool. It’s hip. It’s fun. Fools! Do you know how sexily ridiculous you look? Oral sex = the giving OR receiving of oral pleasure. There is no and. No buts about it.
Oral sex is a selfless show of affection. One gives and one takes. The idea behind oral sex is total devotion to giving or maximum enjoyment of receiving. No middle line. No gray area. Give or take.
When giving, nothing is more gratifying than that moment she’s wide-eyed and breathless, panting “You bastard!” with a seemingly permanent smile affixed to her face.
When receiving, nothing is more satisfying than when you’re forced to continue beyond the initial climax, past the point you instinctively try to pull away, when you’re nothing more than a concentrated ball of that specialtinglyallovergood feeling.
69 cheapens those moments. It forces you to share a mutually watered down experience.
When concentrating on the task at hand, you’re more aware of subtle reactions like a leg twitch or a change in breathing. Since you aren’t locked in that constricting 69 position, you are given full access to the thighs and stomach. Remember, there is more to sex than up and down and there is more to oral sex than just the privates.
You cannot fully appreciate receiving if you have to perform at the same time. You cannot squirm and squeal. You don’t have that luxury to assume the dominant position. Guys like to look down. Girls like to put their feet on the shoulders. It’s one of those, “Yeahhh” moments.
Don’t do it. Don’t 69. Don’t order a cheeseburger with no cheese.
All relationships are based on give and take. Doesn’t it feel good when you’re pampered? When you do nothing but enjoy yourself? Doesn’t that make you want to return the favor? Isn’t that what oral sex is about? Taking turns receiving pleasure? Enjoying that pleasure so much you want to give it back? For those of you who 69... why? Don’t you like oral sex? Don’t you want to enjoy yourselves?
*69 is a sexual position in which the two partners are simultaneously giving each other oral sex. Usually the man is laying down and the woman is kneeling above him, each mouth oriented toward the other’s genitals.