Unprotected Sex Essay Explains Youth Sentiment Toward Monogamy - Life & StyleThe Hilltop

"For a lot of my friends, the transition from having sex with to sex without a condom is seen as a symbolic engagement," says Pendarvis Harshaw, junior telecommunications major and Freelance Content Producer for National Public Radio's (NPR) Youth Radio organization. "It shows trust, commitment, and the prospect of a shared future."As bold as the statement may be, it is a part of Harshaw's essay, "Sex Without Condoms Is The New Engagement Ring," where he explores the way today's youth approach monogamy in relationships. The essay was submitted as a part of Youth Radio's "What's the New What?" series, a series that highlights new trends in youth culture.In the on-air essay, Harshaw acknowledges the dangers of contracting STDs and the risk of unexpected pregnancies. He emphasized that while youth may ditch condoms in their sexual activities, other forms of birth control are still widely used. After conducting an informal survey, Harshaw said he came up with the leading argument for his essay."[I spoke with] everybody from friends, to co-workers, to residents about relationships-how to approach getting into a monogamous relationship, and I saw a consistent trend," says Harshaw. "A lot of people were talking about the most major step is the step toward unprotected sex."The controversial issue tackled in Harshaw's essay has definitely raised eyebrows among the NPR audience and has received harsh criticisms and empathetic remarks alike."I believe the feedback was mixed because older folks just plain do not want to hear the truth about young people encountering heavy sexual situations at younger ages. These situations are definitely adult, and used to be taboo to even talk about, but children have been bombarded with so much sexual imagery by the media, that the situations themselves have become common," says senior Matt Cody, film production major and founder of HowHood University Records.