Carly passed this article along with a “this seemed blog-worthy” and Carly tends to be right when it comes to the blog.
We’ve touched on this before – the question as to whether or not “hook-up culture” is damaging to our development – sexual people and people hoping to build lasting relationships.
These sociologists explore it purely from an angle of whether or not hooking up – both the culture but also simply the act (or series) of – is harmful to women. Does it make them more or less prone to be in relationships? Does it negatively impact their moral code (or was it already negatively impacted)? How many of them are really doing it? And, and most importantly, how do they feel about? Do they feel harmed? Are they miserable? Do they want us all to go back to the days of the dance card?
Read today, and we’ll discuss tomorrow. Below is a little excerpt from the intro.
“Following on the heels of the mass media obsession, sociologists and psychologists have begun to investigate adolescent and young adult hookups more systematically. In this essay, we draw on systematic data and studies of youth sexual practices over time to counter claims that hooking up represents a sudden and alarming change in youth sexual culture. The research shows that there is some truth to popular claims that hookups are bad for women. However, it also demonstrates that women’s hookup experiences are quite varied and far from uniformly negative and that monogamous, long-term relationships are not an ideal alternative. Scholarship suggests that pop culture feminists have correctly zeroed in on sexual double standards as a key source of gender inequality in sexuality.”
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ive played with this question almost my whole teenage life. I was concerned about just hooking up, feeling that it would diminsh me as a person who deserves love and respect before opening up my legs.
Well now being 23 i decided to go ahead and try the whole hooking up thing. You know what? i in no way felt diminished as a woman, nor do i feel empowered either. I feel like i wanted to get some, i got it and then went on with my day.
I guess i was hoping there would have been some huge change in emotions or self, after i went againts my “virgin mary” personality, and decided to ‘just fool around’ with someone i hardly knew. maybe i need to do it again! you know for educational purposes of course.
Unhooked is a fabulous book!
good read.
I wonder whether it is the actual hooking up which is negative to women, or if it is societies response to women who hookup that causes the negativity. I’m not convinced that hooking up effects men and women differently.
Another interesting article if you haven’t seen it.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/22/magazine/22Adulthood-t.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&hp
It’s not up to me to say how it is for women… cause, honestly, I’ll never know. But I did write about the subject of “hookup culture” on Howtodealwithaniceguy.com. And I’m working on another one.
I am 25 years old i work a full time and part time job, i also go to school full time. I see no harm in just hooking up, i don’t feel like less of a person and i dont think guys feel any different. I think its perfectly natural to explore your sexual disires and as long as you know your limits and dont start losing site of your emotions and how you feel about yourself, its fine. Do it up, but keep it safe, use the proper protection.
I think it is bad for women and men for that matter…on the Eye Appeal…even Emotion Appeal…ALL SYSTEMS GO!! write it down first…
Emotions can get going and speed ahead of The Pros and Cons of getting things going. A Woman from my experience wants to Trust ..and the guy should be trust worthy..and if that is the case..Can he handle that before the lights go out? Ask him to write it down and he will fade back…
His way of hooking up may be a lot different than the woman’s idea..
Think it through before the complications become a sad thing instead of a glorious thing because you took valuable time crossing all the Ts..
Hello. 1984 here. I’m remarkably disappointed, and impressed, with your sense of entitlement.
I guess that’s part of what you’ve been saying. But since you’re a woman and you only relate to the subject in regard to having a vagina, I think you’re remarkably skewed in a way that was only apparent to the people living life on the cusp of grunge.
Boo. Boo.
Boo.
I don’t care what your label is. “Hooking Up” has been going on for all humanity, with and without intimacy. Hooking Up leads to Sexually Transmitted Diseases, damaged reproductive organs, ectopic pregnancies and the worst of all, the very worst of all…abortions. I have been on this planet twice as long as the twenty nothings. The compulsive behavior you promote, can come with a very dear price, no matter what you call it…
I think even women talk badly about other women hooking up and it is up to us to destigmatize the whole negative connotation of it. There’s nothing wrong with hooking up. I’ve never done it myself but seriously! How is it okay for men to sleep with 10 different women in one week and then a girl has a one night stand and all of the sudden she’s labeled promiscuous. That’s just nonsense.
Hooking up is emotionally damaging for women…..men want sex, women want relationships and marriage. As long as women let men have free sex, men will not have an incentive for marriage. WOMEN HURT THEMSELVES. Think the way you want..there is a vast amount of research to prove this theory.