From the article: Tween Dating Abuse & Violence - Facts on Tweens & Dating Violence
There's tremendous pressure on girls and young women to start having sex early. But statistics show that the younger a female engages in sexual activity, the more likely she'll be a victim of abuse or partner violence. One question commonly asked by teen and tween girls is how old they should be before they have sex. What's your opinion? Is it based on your own experience? What should a girl or young woman know before having sex, and what are the benefits of waiting until she's older? What's Your Advice?
Not before you're 18
- Being in high school is tough enough without having to worry about pregnancy, AIDS, STDs, or whether or not that guy you hooked up with is going to tell everyone he knows that you two had sex. There's nothing romantic about trying to have sex when your parents are out of the house, or in the back of somebody's car, or in the woods, or in a locker room or bathroom or empty classroom at school. Even having sex in the hotel room you rented after prom won't feel the way you hoped it would be. Wait until you're out of high school and in college when you have your own place and your own room and a roommate who's cool about giving you some privacy. Wait until you can be an adult about it instead of sneaking around like some guilty child caught with her hand in the cookie jar. Trust me, it'll be a lot better experience that way, and you'll be able to look yourself in the mirror the next day and say, "Yeah, I chose to have sex, and I feel damn good about it!"
- —Guest Caitlin
