The reality of sexuality

Sex sells.\nTurn on any television set and flip to MTV. Vocal groups sashay across soundstages, scantily clad in skintight vinyl. Sunbathing veejays pick at the strings of triangle bikini tops, desperately trying to report the very latest breaking music news while optimizing maximum cleavage effects.\nU.S. Surgeon General David Satcher knows sex sells.\nHe knows the image of so-called "healthy sexuality" the American media instill in the minds of impressionable adolescents. \nAnd he wants to do something to stop it.\nSatcher unveiled "The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Promote Sexual Health and Responsible Sexual Behavior" in late June, a project aimed at increasing awareness while implementing intervention efforts. Families will be targeted specifically, as will professionals dealing with sexual issues.\nAdditionally, Satcher strives to improve access to sexually-related health care services and eliminate social and economic bias in providing those services.\nCampus officials share some of the surgeon general's goals, but many are divided on the proper method of educating university students on matters of sexual health. But, they have agreed to expand on programs already implemented on-campus to facilitate a sexual dialogue that's broader in scope.\nExecutive Director of the Kinsey Institute John Bancroft feels the surgeon general's plan acknowledges the difficulties in increasing sexual awareness while inciting a broad dialogue on a variety of social levels.\n"I have no problem in encouraging young people to abstain from sexual intercourse until they are mature enough to handle it responsibly," Bancroft said, noting the "awesome responsibility" of raising a child, an issue he feels any individual of the age of fertility must tackle. "But I have problems in advocating abstinence from all types of sexual activity, including masturbation, until marriage."\nMasturbation, Bancroft said, allows adolescents to responsibly explore their own sexuality. Ways also exist, he added, to enjoy sexual intimacy without the exchange of bodily fluids.\n"I would prefer young people to learn to be sexual in stages, not button it all up until they've walked down the aisle," Bancroft said. "I do not want to see young people getting married because they want to be sexually active."\nAgreement on family involvement\nA key plank to Satcher's plan includes education at the family level, an inclusion Bancroft deemed crucial.\nFrequently, Bancroft said, the "abstinence-only" mantra is drilled into children through a combination of family, school and religious issues. \nJolene, a coordinator for Indianapolis-based herpes support group IndyHelp who wished not to be identified by her full name, said while abstinence works theoretically, the notion often fails in practical applications.\n"People need more sexual education than what is available now," she said. "Even with more sexual education, be it from the schools, church or home, many people still feel invincible and thinks this kind of thing would never happen to them."\nIndyHelp exists to further the sort of education lauded by Satcher -- allowing a forum for individuals of all ages diagnosed with herpes to discuss personal and health issues. Jolene said her personal goal in meeting and assisting individuals is to let them know the disease doesn't mark an end to dreams or goals. Patients with herpes are capable of maintaining healthy sexual relationships and having children as well.\nMore than abstinence\nWhile the surgeon general's report includes encouraging the delay of sexual activity, it aims to educate a broader mass of people across generations about sexual responsibility.\nSatcher included strategies geared toward parents, emphasizing their role as their children's "primary educators" in sexuality. But, because families address such issues using a myriad of differing methods, school education is also a vital component.\n"The important aim is to get people across the board to discuss what they believe to be responsible sexual behavior and to look for the common ground on which we can all build our plans and hopes for the future," Bancroft said. "It has been our impression all along, that although there are pressure groups on both ends of the political spectrum who make their views only too well known, there is a large and mainly silent majority of people many or most of whom would not have difficulty in reaching consensus."\nThe surgeon general's approach is geared toward that constituency. Bancroft feels the broad definition of "responsible sexuality" inherent in the plan is "broad and sensible," allowing greater understanding among larger, more diverse groups. But, he stressed, the process must not end with Satcher's plan. Bancroft feels the initiative marks the beginning of an ongoing effort to increase awareness of sexual health.\n"Dr Satcher wants to set in motion a process which will run and run," Bancroft said. "(That) involves our talking, debating, disagreeing and agreeing about what is responsible sexual behavior and sexual health, across the age span."\nSatcher's report said the exchange of information concerning sexual health should cover a wide range of topics and should "continue through the life span."\nThose topics include recognition of sexuality in everyday life, the value and benefits of abstinence, though not necessarily until marriage, and awareness concerning protection against STDs and unintended pregnancy.\nSTD stigmas\nJolene, coordinator for the herpes support group, also indicated many stigmas exist related to sexually transmitted diseases. Physicians, she said, often treat patients with herpes as a "dirty person who deserved it." As a result, Jolene said, many patients become clinically depressed or seclude themselves from the outside world.\n"Physicians need to understand the emotional side of herpes and other STDs and not be judgmental of us," Jolene said. "The problem is that for the stigma to end, faces of herpes survivors need to be shown, but people are afraid of doing so because of the stigma - it's quite the Catch 22!"\nMisconceptions exist, Bancroft said, concerning the definition of a responsible sexual person. Until adults can define that for themselves, he said, teenagers should not be expected to be capable of sexual responsibility.\n"Families are a crucial source of guidance and support, but many families need guidance and support in order to fulfill that obligation," Bancroft said. "And for that families need other responsible adults in their communities they can turn to for advice."\nSexual wellness on campus\nAnne Reese, Director of Health and Wellness Education at the IU Health Center, said many services exist to allow students to explore issues of sexual health at will. In addition to the Center's Web site, students may also take advantage of the Health Center's Women's Center as well as STD and pregnancy screening tests at a notably reduced cost.\nAdditionally, Reese noted, students are ensured full confidentiality in screenings. The charges appear on a student's bursar bill as "Health Center charges." Nowhere are the specific tests detailed or the results released.\nThe Health Center also provides information sessions to classes and in residence halls, as well as to clubs and organizations on campus. \nReese said many incoming students, especially those from Indiana high schools, where sexual education is not mandated, enter IU ready to explore their sexual identity unequipped with the information necessary to facilitate that exploration.\n"Students are getting their information from the media, and that generally shows on-the-edge sexuality," Reese said. "It's almost like we're not allowed to talk about healthy sexual functions, but we can watch anything we want on Jerry Springer about exploitative sex. When it comes to discussing positive sex, there's just nothing out there"