Sexual Revolution

Risman and Schwartz focus on the apparent decline in sexual activity among teenage boys, whereas that of the females has stayed stagnant. They explain that this can be attributed to the girls' increasing power over the relationship situation. That is to say that girls are more likely to have sexual relations with a boy if they are in a "relationship" with that boy. So now, the boys who used to have sex with girls looking to satisfy their sexual appetites without any restrictions now have to wait until they are in a relationship with a girl. THe article claims that the number of girls who are looking to satisfy their sexual desires outside of a relationship is declining. This issue of relationship is defined differently than normal. This "relationship" in the language of teenagers can be as short as two weeks. The article attributes the decrease in sexual promiscuity to better sex education and the increasing fear of sexually transmitted diseases. They also point out that abstinence education seems to have more negative effects than positive.
In the second article the sexual and relationship scene in the college setting is described as very different from the old fashioned ways. College students are no longer dating as means of courting each other; instead they are "hooking-up", which is to have some type of sexual interaction. It is almost as if seeing how a person is sexually is more important than getting to know who that person is. The steps have changed: before it was dating to find out who each other was and how you got along, and then if that had a positive outcome then you might move on to sexual interaction, which might lead to a long term relationship. Now it goes: try out the sexual interactions to see if you like it, then see if you want to get to know each other, then get to know each other and lastly maybe a long term relationship. This hooking-up phenomena is not particular to either sex, but the repercussions of a more loose sexuality are different for males and females. We have not moved so far as to completely be rid of the stigma that comes along with a highly sexual female. THe college students told personal accounts of how a girl who is involved with many hook-ups is considered "slutty" whereas the man might be considered easy but only for a short period of time and only by certain people. Of course the situation is always worse for the females. Nonetheless, dating is out and hooking-up is in.
In my own experiences I feel that both articles have accurately portrayed the high-school and college atmospheres. I went to an all girls high school, and many of the girls were sexually active, but mostly with their boyfriends. The girls who were sexually active outside of a relationship were dubbed "sluts". Even at BC the hooking-up culture is alive and well. There are very few instances of actual dating outside of the college campus setting. Most people are just out to have a good time, which they define as "hooking-up" and then if something more comes out of their hook-ups, then great they might dive into a relationship, otherwise it was still great because they satisfied their sexual cravings for the time being. I also believe this is a national phenomena.