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A couple of thoughts about condoms
Apr. 20th, 2009 07:47 pmDoing a bit of research here, which has prompted two thought balloons:
1. If promoting condoms does not encourage promiscuity, then is the flipside of this also true - that fear of adverse consequences doesn't deter people from having sex? (Obviously we're talking about averages here; individuals will vary.)
2. I found a letter to the editor which stated that "abstinence works every time - condoms don't". Now any health worker handing out the French letters will agree that abstaining from sex, delaying first sexual intercourse, and so on, are excellent strategies. However, it only takes a few moments' thought to realise that abstinence is not a guarantee of avoiding STDs or unwanted pregnancy. I don't mean in the sense that everyone makes mistakes and has moments of weakness: I mean that having sex is not always a choice.
1. If promoting condoms does not encourage promiscuity, then is the flipside of this also true - that fear of adverse consequences doesn't deter people from having sex? (Obviously we're talking about averages here; individuals will vary.)
2. I found a letter to the editor which stated that "abstinence works every time - condoms don't". Now any health worker handing out the French letters will agree that abstaining from sex, delaying first sexual intercourse, and so on, are excellent strategies. However, it only takes a few moments' thought to realise that abstinence is not a guarantee of avoiding STDs or unwanted pregnancy. I don't mean in the sense that everyone makes mistakes and has moments of weakness: I mean that having sex is not always a choice.
