Chile's Frisky Teens Kiss Off Conservative Ways of Old

Parents, educators fret about sexual revolution

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 13, 2008 11:25 AM CDT

(Newser) – Chile's teenagers are going through a sexual rebellion unlike anything the once straight-laced Catholic country has ever seen before, the New York Times reports. Now parents and educators, who themselves grew up under the repressive Pinochet regime, are worried that sex education isn't keeping up with promiscuity fueled in part by the online boom. “Chile’s youth are clearly having sex earlier and testing the borderlines with their sexual conduct,” said one doctor.

"This is about being alive,” said one 14-year-old girl at one of the nation's popular teen discos, where making out with multiple partners, and perhaps finding one to meet up with later, seems to be the goal of many. “Well, it’s about making out with other boys.” Officials are working to step up sex education, but they are being outpaced by the explosive growth of online networks (and digital photo sharing) among Chilean teens and the efforts of promoters to put on the raunchiest teen parties possible.

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (1)]

Teenagers dance and kiss at a nightclub in Santiago on August 1, 2008. (Getty Images)

A teenage couple kisses onstage as the crowd cheers them on at a 'Pokemon' nightclub in Santiago on August 9, 2008. (Getty Images)

Teenagers wait for a bus on their way to a nightclub in Santiago on August 1, 2008. (Getty Images)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

We are not the children of the dictatorship; we are the children of democracy. There is much more of a rebellious spirit among young people today. There is much more freedom to explore everything. - 17-year-old Chilean Michele Bravo

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Chile Prez Slammed for Summit Sexist Joke

Pinera's CELAC remarks were 'prehistoric,' opposition says

(NEWSER) - Opposition lawmakers in Chile say President Sebastian Pinera embarrassed the country by telling a sexist joke to the other 32 heads of state at a regional summit over the weekend. "Do you know what the difference between a politician and a lady is?" he asked. "When a politician says 'Yes,' he means 'Maybe,' when he says 'Maybe,' he means 'No,' and if he says 'No,' he's not a politician. When a lady says 'No,' she means 'Maybe,' when she says 'Maybe,' she means 'Yes,' and if she says 'Yes,' she's not a lady." More»

Virginity Makes a Comeback

FBI: In '61, Ted Kennedy Rented Out 'Entire Brothel'

Classified memo describes decadent partying in Chile

(NEWSER) - While John F Kennedy sat in the most powerful office on Earth, little brother Ted was off renting out an entire Chilean brothel during a 1961 tour of Latin America, reports the Boston Globe . A previously redacted FBI memo, which Judicial Watch says it obtained despite a battle from the Obama administration and the FBI, says Kennedy, then a 29-year-old assistant DA, even invited an embassy chauffeur to partake in the festivities. More»

Chile Sends Troops to Stop Looters

Clinton to visit Santiago tomorrow morning

(NEWSER) - The Chilean government has sent in 10,000 troops to control looting earthquake survivors scrambling for food and water. Reports of looting are widespread despite government efforts to distribute food. "People have gone days without eating," a thief in the city of Concepcion tells Reuters . "The only option is to get stuff for ourselves." The mayor of Concepcion described the city as "out of control." More»

Point of Vampire Craze: No Sex Is Deviant Anymore

Bloodsuckers of today just want to fit in

(NEWSER) - A cultural obsession with vampires usually coincides with changing sexuality, writes Stephen Marche. The vampire is a realized sexual other—whether an aristocratic libertine or an AIDS victim—with the human characters representing the mainstream. Usually, the normals have killed the other, but our current vampire moment is different: Whether in Twilight or True Blood, the vampires are often the most normal characters. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Chile's Frisky Teens Kiss Off Conservative Ways of Old