Discussion on premarital sex is a discourse dominated by conflicting ideologies in the current dispensation because of the changing cultural perceptions that have pitted conservatives against modernists. Premarital sex refers to sexual activity practiced before marriage by unmarried individuals. In ancient times, premarital sex was labeled as a moral issue that was taboo across many different cultures. Premarital sex is still considered a sin by a number of religions. In contemporary times, premarital sex has become more widely accepted, particularly in western countries. However, in predominantly Muslim nations such as Pakistan, Turkey, Indonesia, and Jordan, premarital sex is abhorred and considered unacceptable (Goodwin, 2013). It is evident that variations exist across cultures in regards to the extent to which premarital sexual relations are accepted. Various factors exist that are determinant in shaping attitudes towards premarital sex including ethnic and gender differences. The rapid globalization and technological advances witnessed across the globe have contributed to adoption and exchange of cultures across various continents and countries. As globalization takes a foothold in the 21st century so too does intermarriages across cultures and the interfusion of cultures which alters previous beliefs and practices among individuals who had differing views on issues such as premarital sex (Goodwin, 2013). This paper takes a look at the attitudes towards premarital sex across various cultures and addresses the contributing factors towards the rising number of adolescents, youths, and unmarried people engaging in pre-marital sex.
Perceptions of Premarital Sex Across Cultures as Evident through Literature
Premarital sex is absolutely forbidden in Islam. Malaysia, whose official religion is Islam, has however, faced a dilemma due to increase in the number of adolescents involving in premarital sex. The Malaysian society has been rocked with the increase in number of baby dumping and teenagers involved in premarital sex. A study by Ghani et al . (2014) found that 75.2% of adolescents aged between 16 and 18 had engaged in premarital sex (Ghani et al ., 2014). The lack of moral values and coping strategies are posited to be the two main contributing factors in the rising number of premarital sex among adolescents in Malaysia. There is a call for female adolescents and their parents to receive sex education in a bid to prevent premarital sex and other negative outcomes related to it. A study conducted by Hindin and Hindin (2009) noted that despite restrictive social norms, there is a rise in the number of youth engaging in premarital romantic and sexual partnerships in New Delhi, India. Hindin and Hindin (2009) uncovered attitudes towards and behavior within romantic relationships among unmarried youth. In the study, it was established that 32% of males compared to 6% of females were likely to engage in heterosexual premarital sex (Hindin & Hindin, 2009). This shows that females are more conservative towards premarital sex compared to males in India. The authors contend that such disparities exist because there is a double standard for social norms between males and females in India; with young women experiencing strict supervision and prohibition from socializing with males outside their families. Young men, in contrast, find it easier to explore premarital sex. The gender power imbalances in India encourage secrecy and inhibit negotiation between partners enabling males to demonstrate dominance in sexual relationships. The study indicates that conservative or strict environments do not inhibit sexual relations among children. Young adolescents have devised mechanisms to interact sexually in conservative environments.
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In a study by Zubairu et al . (2013) conducted in Northern Nigeria, it was established that premarital sex prevalence among young adults male was at 10.1%. This figure was considerably low compared to the country’s national statistic which is at 36.3% (Zubairu et al ., 2013). The low prevalence rates are attributed to the predominant Hausa culture in the study area that practice Islam which prohibits premarital sex. The authors note that factors such as religiosity, sociocultural characteristics and attitudes towards premarital sex are determinant in the number of premarital sex. The study of pre-marital sex among young males in Nigeria posits that stakeholders are more concerned about the risky nature of sexual encounters among these young males. Half the number of youths who reported engaging in premarital sex, claim to not have used protection during their first sexual encounter. Consequently, there is a surge in calls to develop innovative strategies for reaching young men with accurate sexual and reproductive health information. Ghani et al . (2014), note that premarital sex has been increasing yearly among adolescents. The findings were established through examination of the relationship between Islamic moral values and coping strategies among female adolescents engaging in premarital sex. A significant relationship exists between moral values and coping strategies among adolescents involved in pre-marital sex. There is a need for female adolescents and their parents to receive sex education as a measure towards preventing premarital sex and the diseases involved with it. There is a need to develop preventive and rehabilitative programs for high-risk teenagers. Teenagers need to develop positive self-esteem and self-respect and coping strategies through assertive training.
Agreements and Disagreements on Premarital Sex from Literary Works
Across all the research articles employed as sources for this paper, there is a consensus among the various authors of the rise in premarital sex among adolescents in varying cultures. A rise in pre-marital sex is even recorded in cultures practicing Islam where it is absolutely forbidden. The various studies all point to the fact that strict or conservative environment no longer control or determine premarital sexual abstinence among young teenagers. Teens have adopted coping mechanisms within these environments in fulfilling their sexual desires (Saedah et al., 2014). The studies posit that different factors contribute to the rise in pre-marital sex across different cultures, but the predominant reasons appear to be a lack of moral values and coping strategies among teenagers. There is need to back up religious teaching with moral and spiritual values to help decrease the number of adolescents and youths engaging in premarital sex (Ghani et al ., 2014). Such teachings can be provided through government education programs that target the youth, parents, religious leaders, and community elders. These programs can be taught in schools or rehabilitative centers. Young adolescents require constant teaching on the benefits of having and maintaining moral values especially in regards to premarital sex. According to Ghani et al . (2014), an adolescent with high moral value is likely to choose a positive adaptive strategy towards coping with stressors. Such adaptive strategies also address the need for adolescents to develop high self-esteem and self-support mechanisms that ensure they are able to turn down the lure of premarital sex. More important, is the need to develop social support systems, such as families and community support systems, across the different cultures where adolescents can receive help and advice in solving their problems. Adolescents need to know and be aware of available social support to ensure that they do not resort to passive coping strategies where they become vulnerable to self-blame, low self-esteem, and depression. Moral values and coping strategies go hand in hand and show a positive correlation.
A vital issue that seems to cross the premarital sex debate is the risky sexual practices that adolescents engaging in premarital sex display. Various authors contend that adolescents engaging in premarital sex appear to practice unsafe sex which may expose them to sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS, and unwanted teen pregnancies. With the increasing numbers of premarital sex across cultures, there is also a rise in the number of STD infections, HIV/AIDS transmission, illegitimate births, baby dumping, drug abuse, and teenage mothers. The issue of premarital sex thus brings about the need for measures to contain the menace in a bid to avoid the unlikely outcomes of the practice. The risky nature of sexual encounters among adolescents is a source of concern. The risks associated with premarital sex are further flamed by the lack of access to information and services related to sexual and reproductive health among young adolescents. The availability of such information, services or programs concerning sexual health reproduction may benefit young adolescents in preparing them to make more informed choices regarding sexual relationships, marriage, and childbearing (Zubairu et al ., 2013). Globally, studies have indicated that sex education programs can delay sexual debut and enhance the use of contraception as well as practicing safe sex. Parents and religious leaders need to be affirmed to the fact that providing age appropriate sexual education may assist in delaying premarital sex and not lead to promiscuity. As focus is placed on the rise of premarital sex, so too should focus be placed on prevention of the risky nature of premarital sex among young adults.
It is important to note that despite the consensus on the increase in the number of adolescent and youths engaging in premarital sex and the use of sex education programs as a counter-active strategy, these studies were carried out in different contexts where socio-cultural norms and practices vary significantly. One can argue that while examination of the phenomenon is a crucial step, socio-cultural factors that are both influencers of engagement in the practice, and inhibitors of consumption of information that is essential in curbing it, must be explored. This is the area where the studies reviewed herein contradict. For instance, Ghani et al . (2014) explore the underlying socio-cultural factors in the Indian community that bring about the differences in sexual perceptions between boys and girls that are critical in their involvement in premarital sex; while on the other hand, Zubairu et al . (2013) focus on coping strategies in the form of sex education programs for disseminating information across the society. It is worth noting that a pragmatic approach is necessary for dealing with this culturally sensitive phenomenon. The two studies were conducted in cultural settings of Indian and Islam where conservatism in relation to discussing sexuality, especially among teenage girls, is epitomized. Under such settings, implementing coping strategies as suggested in Zubairu et al . (2013) without first investigating the underlying socio-cultural factors may fail to yield the intended outcome.
Conclusion
Historically, premarital sex was outlawed across many cultures worldwide. Statistics point to a rise in pre-marital sex over the last 50 years. In predominant Muslim nations, premarital sex is still absolutely forbidden. However, a paradigm shift is being witnessed with the rise of premarital sex among young adolescents across various cultures. Conservative cultures that practice Islam have seen a rise in the phenomenon. The rise is attributed to a lack of moral values and coping strategies among teenagers. With the rise of premarital sex, so too do other unforeseen problems such as transmission of STD, HIV/AIDS, unwanted pregnancies, baby dumping, and teenage mothers rise. There is a need to encourage sexual health education and programs to combat the issue of premarital sex. These programs should be fronted at the family, community, religious, and government levels. It is vital to provide moral, spiritual, and coping strategies to young teenagers to assist in combating premarital sex across cultures. More importantly, it is paramount to tailor these sex education programs to the specific target community because of the variations in perceptions towards discussion sex with teenagers. Therefore, it is crucial for future studies to explore not just the effectiveness of failure of sex education programs in preventing or reducing premarital sex in different contexts, but also to examine the underlying socio-cultural factors, such as acceptance, that led to the realization of the outcome in question. This is informed by the understanding that measures that may prove to be effective in the Western context where cultural norms are of little significance may need significant modification before implementation in societies such Indian and Muslim where conservative and strict norms towards premarital sex still exist.
References
Ghani, S. A., Abdullah, S., Akil, S. M. S., & Nordin, N. (2014). Muslim Adolescent Moral Values and Coping Strategies among Muslim Female Adolescents Involved in Premarital Sex. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences , 114 , 637-643.
Goodwin, R. (2013). Personal relationships across cultures . New York: Routledge.
Hindin, J., & Hindin, M. J. (2009). Premarital romantic partnerships: attitudes and sexual experiences of youth in Delhi, India. International Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health , 97-104.
Saedah, A., Salhah, A., Mariam, S., Akil, S., & Noratthiah, N. (2014). Muslim adolescent moral values and coping strategies among Muslim female adolescents involved in premarital sex. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences , 637-643.
Zubairu, I., Isa, S. A., Hadiza, S. G., Babam-Maryam, A., & Muktar, H. A. (2012). Premarital sexual experience and preferred sources of reproductive health information among young men in Kumbotso, northern Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Medicine , 21 (3), 343-349.
