Chastity, is a word which calls forth ridicule. A sign of where we
are as a culture. Procreative sex necessary, but technological
advances have made recreational sex "safe and healthy". Sex outside of
marriage no longer a problem. Catholic Times visits the topic showing
that Korea is no different than most of the West.
We are given some examples of the ways we are
being desensitized in the area of sex by the mass media: advertising,
movies, sitcoms, drama. Subtle and not so subtle dialogue and pictures
that work on our mental faculties, move the heart and can easily
influence our actions.
One example from an
advertisement we have a woman being compared to food which the man finds
attractive and wants to eat. These and similar examples show how often
we objectify the opposite sex. In this case the objectifying of the
woman degrades her to less than human, to satiate the need of the man.
Dramas,
movies and the like when romance begins we have physical contact and
intercourse as the natural course that will follow. Dating without a sex
mate is 'no fun', romance requires the 'honey and fun'. These words
have become common among the young on the Internet.
The
popular media has accepted the premarital sexual encounters of the
young and chastity before marriage is understood as a quaint 'left over'
from the past. Those who want to live chastely are odd balls, stuffy
people out of touch with reality: considered by some as not respecting
the freedom of women. In a word you are made to feel guilty for your
antiquated understanding of sexuality: a sign of the desensitization
that has occurred in culture.
In a recent survey made
among unmarried 2113 young people: 47% have had a one night experience.
71% see no need to worry about premarital sex. Only 9% found it
necessary to be chaste before marriage. A survey made among those in
their twenties, about half feel no need to be chaste before marriage.
The head of a research institute is quoted as saying that to objectify a
person gives pain; when sex loses its meaning life also loses its
meaning.
Premarital sex, by many, is seen as a good preparation
for marriage but the article mentions the studies made in the States
show the number of divorces of those who have had premarital sex
are two times the number of the chaste.
Recently on TV we had young celebrities who have made known their desire to remain chaste before marriage. You have those who feel that in our society this
kind of talk is playing to deaf ears, and not necessary; the other side
thinks giving oneself to another in the loving embrace of
unity is done too easily and without preparation. The article concludes
with a wish for more discussion on the meaning of sexuality in our lives
and society.
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