Lutherology: Sex at Luther – A Call for Discussion

Sex plays a significant role in our society. This is apparent when one notes the tremendous attention the topic receives from religious organizations, educational institutions and the media. This focus on sex has a large impact on those in the college subculture. During these years, often called transitional, some students may have sex for the first time, while many others will have experiences with sexual activity that will affect their future. Though students are constantly bombarded with images and messages related to sex, meaningful discussion on the topic is often lacking, either in depth or altogether. This lack of conversation surrounding a topic of such importance has serious consequences both for students and for society. Expanding the conversation surrounding sex is necessary, and this article will attempt to explain why.

According to a recent survey administered by the sociology research methods course here at Luther, 41% (margin of error +/- 7%) of Luther students had participated in sexual intercourse (vaginal and/or anal) prior to their arrival on campus.* This same survey found that of all Luther students, 48% have never had sex, 26% have had one sexual partner, 15% have had 2-3 partners and 11% have had 4 or more (+/- 7%). Regarding current seniors, 70% (+/- 15%) had participated in sexual intercourse as of October 2009, while 50% reported having participated in sexual intercourse prior to college. This means 20-30% of seniors have participated in sexual intercourse for the first time while at Luther.

Considering the amount of sexual behavior and the great importance our culture bestows upon the topic, the dialogue surrounding the topic is lacking. Rather than openly addressing the topic, we hide behind the sexual images of popular media. Students allude to sex, joke around it or adopt acceptable social roles, but serious discussion is uncommon. Yes, on rare occasions in private or in the academic realm serious conversation may occur. However, these discussions typically come in response to crises, when we would be better served by calm conversation prior to emergencies.

Students are accustomed to hearing religious figures make arguments for abstinence, or Planned Parenthood volunteers complain about a lack of sexual education classes in public schools, but instead of arguments and complaints, students need dialogue. Such dialogue might help us figure out why one person finds it all right to have multiple partners and participate in sex without love, while another has chosen not to have sex until marriage and wears a purity ring to reinforce this belief. This essential conversation might be uncomfortable, perhaps even awkward. However, instead of masking our own beliefs and dismissing others’ views, we might transcend our previous understanding of acceptable sexual relationships and begin to discover common ground surrounding the topic. No one would be required to change views, for we might begin to see that different views exist for good reasons.

While being more accepting is a worthy goal, there is more riding on this discussion than fostering pluralism on campus. More important is eliminating the mystique surrounding sex. This does not mean eliminating what some religions might call the mystery existent in the relationship between a man and a woman, but instead further examining a subject which is placed on a pedestal but seldom discussed openly. This air of mystery that surrounds sex allows it to be the root cause of many societal problems. Looking at a quick list of classic political bantering points — abortion, homosexuality, overpopulation, extramarital affairs, rape, etc. — it is not difficult to see the impact sex can have. If we could create a richer dialogue, talking about what it means to us as a society, perhaps we would begin to chip away at some of these issues, better comprehending the circumstances that lead to high abortion rates or the questions surrounding homosexuality.

There will always be people who try to dictate the moral behavior of others, especially in regards to topics deemed important. Having strong morals or placing importance on sex is all right, even good. No one is suggesting otherwise. But, perhaps part of the reason there are so many issues that can be traced back to sex is because as a society we deem it incredibly important, yet seem to be opposed to having real, honest discussion about it. This should change. While it would be naive to presume that simply having discussion about sex will eliminate these problems, without opening the lines of communication we will never get anywhere.

* Participants in this survey were full-time Luther College students selected by a random stratified sample. Briefly explained, the Luther student body was divided into four categories based on class. A random number generator was used to get a sample of students from each class. Part-time students and those studying abroad were excluded from the original list. Surveys were distributed door-to-door and through the campus mailing system, allowing students living off campus to participate. Out of 370 administered surveys 207 were returned - a response rate of 56%.