Sex: going beyond talk

A survey by a BHU research team provides interesting insights into the sexual behaviour of teens in small town India, reports Gargi Mishra.

A research team of the department of statistics, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), has stumbled upon a reality that not only highlights an age-old urban-rural divide but also underscoring the sharp differences that exist between boys and girls in matters related to sexual awareness and behaviour.

The BHU survey focused on Varanasi-bred teenagers (primarily 11th and 12th Standard students of private schools) aged 14 years to 19 years. The team surveyed 542 boys and 116 girls and the results are indicative of the changing trends sweeping small town India. The survey established that the exact connotation of sex among teens still varies quite significantly and is impacted by upbringing and social background.

According to the findings, 18 per cent girls and 24 per cent boys believe that sex means reproduction; 3.4 per cent girls and 16 per cent boys perceive hugging and kissing as sexual activity; whereas 23 per cent girls and 26 per cent boys define sex as intercourse.

The survey found that Varanasi teens derive information about sex from different media sources and their own surroundings. Internet serves as the key source of information (as well as misinformation). It has been reported that in the holy city of Varanasi, whose air is imbued with spirituality since times immemorial, 29 per cent girls and 62 per cent boys read magazines related to romance and sex; 12 per cent girls and 47 per cent boys watch porn on the internet; whereas 12 per cent girls and 46 per cent boys watch blue films.

It is believed that parents are the most important sex educators for children. Family communication is the healthiest way of educating teens about sex issues. The survey found that 78 per cent girls discuss their sexual problems with their parents (only the mother) and only 10 per cent boys discuss their problems with their parents.

Teenagers are understandably more comfortable discussing their problems and personal experiences with their friends. It has been found that 51 per cent boys discuss their problems with their friends where as only 15.5 per cent girls share their personal experiences and problems regarding their sexual behaviour and tendencies.

According to the research, a majority of boys in the city were aged 14 to 16 and a majority of girls were 16 to 18 years old at the time of their first sexual intercourse. In these age groups, 43 per cent girls and 23 per cent boys had indulged in same-sex activity, whereas 57 per cent girls and 77 per cent boys were involved in sexual activity with the opposite sex.

The BHU study revealed that 67 per cent of girls and 76 per cent boys know how pregnancy occurs. Shockingly, however, 24 per cent girls and 13 per cent boys still believe that any sexual activity can impregnate the girl.

The survey also showed that while much has changed, much still remains rather grey in the minds of youngsters. “Although today’s teenagers are quite smart and do learn at a rather fast pace, there still is much room for improvement with regard to awareness and knowledge about sexual issues,” says Professor KK Singh, head of the department of statistics, BHU.

“There is a need to keep a check on the modes of information that teens access. It has been observed that they are not properly informed. Parents should have conversations with their children regarding sexual issues so that they can be educated in the best possible way,” says Dr Brijesh P Singh, assistant professor of statistics, BHU.