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Teen Sex: Everybody Else Isn't Doing It

Teen sex is on a downswing

By Gabriel Winant, Newser User

Posted Jan 27, 2009 1:29 PM CST

(Newser) – Kids these days, with their sex, their sex, and all their sex. Just look at Jamie Lynn Spears and Bristol Palin—it’s getting worse all the time, right? Nope. The portion of high-schoolers who’d had sex in 2007 was 47.8%, reports the New York Times—down from 54.1% in 1991. And the infamous oral sex epidemic? Only 16% of teenagers have had oral sex but not intercourse.

Of those teenagers who have had sex, a 2002 report suggests that they’re waiting until later in high school to do so. Though teen pregnancy is up, it’s due to changes in contraceptive use, not overall sexual activity. Everyone always thinks we’re in a downward moral spiral, says an NYU professor. “It’s very difficult to convince people otherwise.”

[Images (7)]

[Quotes (1)]

An image released by Fox Searchlight of the movie "Juno." Though teen pregnancy is up, it's because of patterns in contraceptive use, not overall sexual behavior. (AP Photo/Fox Searchlight Pictures, Doane Gregory)

Jamie Lynn Spears poses at the Teen Vogue Young Hollywood Party in Los Angeles in this Sept. 20, 2007, file photo. (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg, file)

Actors Michael Cera, right, and Ellen Page are shown in scene from the film "Juno". The film was nominated for an Oscar for best picture on Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008. (AP Photo/Fox Searchlight, Doane Gregory)

Ellen Page in a scene from "Juno," which received three Oscar nominations including best film, best director, and best actress, Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008. (AP Photo/Fox Searchlight, Doane Gregory)

This undated handout photo provided by Fox Searchlight shows Jennifer Garner, left, Jason Bateman, center, and Ellen Page during a scene from "Juno." (AP Photo/Fox Searchlight)

Studies show that teen sex has decreased in recent years. (©PBoGS)

Studies show that teen sex is on a downswing, and adults are confused by the different dating habits of modern teens. (©Ex-Smith)

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This whole moral panic thing misses the point, because research suggests kids who don’t use contraception tend to be kids who are feeling lost and disconnected and not doing well. - Maria Kefalas, associate professor of sociology at St. Joseph's University

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 10 comments

MarkFL

Jan 28, 2009 10:52 PM CST

Churches are always pushing the moral decline. People have a great deal of fear due to sensationalism in the media as well. People just won't admit that crime is down, schools are doing better all the time, and teenagers are making better choices now than ever before. Those in power have certain interests at stake and their tactics in promoting fear and prejudice actually work better than we know.

Doctor-Zaius

Jan 28, 2009 6:31 AM CST

That liberal NY Times that bent over backwards making a case to support Bush's unneccesary war in Iraq? That liberal NY Times?

Guest

Jan 27, 2009 11:27 PM CST

Yea when I was in high school I clearly remember lying my ass off on these silly surveys....

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Teen Sex: Everybody Else Isn't Doing It