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Disturbing teenage sex trends blamed on 'over sexualization' of young girls

New survey reveals many Irish teenagers are having sex at a young age

DARA KELLY,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Monday, November 28, 2011, 7:09 AM

Updated Monday, November 28, 2011, 9:31 AM

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Irish teenagers on a night out in Marbella

Photo by Joe Dunne

Irish girls are more likely than boys to have lost their virginity by their mid-teens, a survey finds.

A new report by UNICEF revealed troubling sex trends among Irish teenagers, according to the Irish Independent.

Twenty percent of girls and 19 percent of boys who had lost their virginity had sex at the age of 15 or younger.

The age at which teenagers first engaged in sexual activity varied by region, with Dubliners more likely to have lost their virginity at a young age. Drinking played a significant part in a teen's first experience of sex. Four out of 10 respondents had their first encounter while under the influence of alcohol.

"For a significant minority of teenagers, often it is too much too young. There is a danger of a loss of innocence," said psychologist Allison Keating, who works with adolescents at the bWell clinic in Dublin.

"We are seeing an increasing tendency for girls to go out with older boys."

She added: "I would be concerned that girls of 12, 13, and 14 are just not emotionally capable of dealing with sex. They are being robbed of a time of their life when they should still really be children. That brings a lot of pressure that they cannot cope with."

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David Drumm: ‘There is a witch hunt ... I convince myself that this will pass’

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Keating blames the media for the over-sexualization of young girls.

"Young girls are now encouraged to be sexually aggressive and almost act like the predators in relationships. Singers like Rihanna desensitise kids to sex as young as 11.

"There is pressure on girls to dress provocatively at a younger age, while boys are encouraged to treat them like sex objects.

"Girls believe that they should be available, but there is a lack of genuine intimacy," said the behavioral expert.

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David Drumm: ‘There is a witch hunt ... I convince myself that this will pass’

Niall O'Dowd: Tragic suicide of head of Irish Democrats Abroad

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Aughavey | Nov 30, 2011, 12:18 PM EST

jamthecat - the age of consent in the Republic is 17 and was in Northern Ireland until last year when it was lower to 16 inline with England, Scotland & Wales. The trend is the same across the UK and is due to secularisation and the media, newspapers and TV and magazines sexualising teenagers and indeed as recently highlighted by politicians younger children where we have seen toy shop selling barbie like dolls and clothes with playboy bunny logos and such like.

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CaptainCon | Nov 30, 2011, 12:58 AM EST

Irishpeter I am referring to the practise of normalising the idea that women were only a vessel, were inferior to men and were subject to influence by the devil. That was most definitely taught to young adolescent males who were being groomed for the priesthood. That is why the ones who became twisted in their understanding of sexuality as it became mingled with authority used children instead of women and were able to persuade themselves that they hadn't broken their vow of celibacy. You may not have encountered that kind of training but it is very definitely mysogynistic and very definitely at the core of catholic dogma since that cult was founded. Check out the psychological reports commissioned by the church in the states in an effort to profile the sort of people who commit abuse. The catholic church is quite possibly the most mysogynistic organisation in the west and rivals only the Taliban in that respect. As for your attempt to persuade others that abuse is not unique to the catholic church you are quite right- but the church is one of the only organisations we know of that attempted to bully the victims into silence and facitated further abuse by criminals in its ranks by continuing to employ them and transferring them to new parishes. Get this into your head- it isn't the abuse per se- it is the official policy of covering it up and in turn endangering others. Sean Brady has the blood of two female suicides on his hands for his part in covering up Brendan Smyh's attacks. They would be alive today if it wasn't for Brady and Smyth. Cut that any way you want but it is the truth. Enough of your 'but-but-but' whinging.

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sirpeter | Nov 29, 2011, 12:49 PM EST

CaptainCon.I don't know where you grew up.But I grew up in Ireland and Irish society never told me or anyone else I knew that "women were evil,a path to the devil" That sounds more like the crazy words of some cult leader from the American bible belt.I take offense to your out-of-date view that Irish society see sex as something dirty.It is quite obvious from this article that the present generation and their parents generation were not as repressed as you think.While I concede that three generations ago Irish society had a repressive view to sex in general SO TOO did the grandparents of the present generation of Americans and English.The only difference is the never ending focus on Catholicism by predominately Protestant and anti-Catholic media.This is what has shaped your views along with hearsay.While the cover-up of sex abuse by the Catholic church was wrong.Covering up child sex abuse in general is wide spread.This goes for the Protestant churches as well.The only difference is the Catholic church is centralised and makes it an easier target for the media.Anyway sexuality among teenagers is a lot more complex than these shallow and also leading articles.IC has never put up an article that is balanced.I'm still waiting for that Ice Age here in Ireland in that article IC put up.It's a month over-due.That sums up the quality of the articles.

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Searlit | Nov 29, 2011, 09:12 AM EST

CaptainCon says it well. Just be respectful to each other, is all I would add.

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CaptainCon | Nov 29, 2011, 07:33 AM EST

Well Irish society has deliberately attempted to protect teenage boys from sexuality by telling them that women were evil, a path to the devil and that they'd be better off getting the vocation and sticking with the 'holy spirit'. We all know how that worked out and what diverted sexuality through encouraged narcissism ends up doing to the mind through repressed male libido. See Ryan Commission Report. Quite frankly in our culture before the virus came down the gangplank with the Welsh chancer sexuality was a lot healthier than it is even now. Use protection, young 'uns' and never mind the repressed little minds of Irish society who see sex as something dirty- thats their handicap, not yours. Play safe- and best of luck to you.

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BishopSean | Nov 29, 2011, 07:26 AM EST

Thanks to Dara Kelly for this important article. Some recent surveys say that youngsters are now exposed to pornography (internet, etc.) on average by age 8. Some years back it was at age 11 or 12 and that was softer porno. Should we parents and adults really want things to be this uncontrolled? Should we want young girls to be confused about their sense of purpose, of personal worth and dignity?

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bogsidebunny | Nov 29, 2011, 12:35 AM EST

Surprising how the average Irish teen has the same cultural values of inner city American youths of the same age. The positive Social Evolution in Ireland is seriously laging behind America

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jamthecat | Nov 28, 2011, 09:25 PM EST

Amazing how boys and older men apparently don't have all that much to do with it. The girls are now the "sexual aggressors". For what it's worth, the age of consent in Ireland is 17, so if adult males are having sex with girls under that age, they're technically guilty of rape, even if the girl wanted to have sex. same for teenage boys having sex with girls under the age of 15 (tougher penalties there). Yet the article focuses on the girls' behavior. Amazing.

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Pittsburghkid | Nov 28, 2011, 07:11 PM EST

Irish women in my family are and were wild. My grandmother, born in 1900, had 5 husbands although the last 3 were not official. She was ahead of her times. My mother was raised by her grandmother, who watched her like a hawk. My greatgrandmother knew how to raise an Irish girl. My mother would complain to her grandmother, I'm a good. Why are you so strict? Her Grandmother would say, "Never you mind, and do what I say". Celtic women were never under the Paterical Society, until the Roman Catholic church took over Ireland in the 1500. Now Irish women are going back to their natural state.

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SingleDonald | Nov 28, 2011, 04:08 PM EST

Girls having their 1st experience before boys?? I agree with Collette2. Even if they don't meet "Mr. Right" until a later age (30s-40s), they should wait until they are ready emotionally, say 18. Also, they should use good judgment and choose a guy who will be sensitive to their physical, psychological & emotional needs, besides his own.

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Collette2 | Nov 28, 2011, 02:57 PM EST

Girls mature earlier than boys, I'm sure most would understand that. It doesn't mean they are mentally capable of being aware of the psychological changes in their bodies, many going on to regret their early sexual activities, especially when they meet Mr right.

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simplesandy | Nov 28, 2011, 12:19 PM EST

Well considering the role models these girls have to look at it is no wonder, I have seen girls staggering down the sidewalks drunk wearing high heels shoes and short dresses so short they look like they are wearing a shirt and forgot to put on pants. Out 3:30 in the AM while driving home from a gig.

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Springfield9 | Nov 28, 2011, 09:53 AM EST

This is true, unfotunately. I was in Tipperary Town on a saturday night this summer and the fashion show was definitely "high thigh" regardless of age.

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sunspotter5 | Nov 28, 2011, 09:20 AM EST

1000 years ago? We didn't have Internet until Al Gore.

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StevieVirginia | Nov 28, 2011, 07:33 AM EST

I bet if you check the records from 1000 years ago the results would be the same.

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