Joanna Tayamen

Joanna Tayamen

April 28, 2011

NCLC 203

Praxis Phase IV

People have sex; but how many people use condoms? There are multiple excuses to not use a condom during sex. Students have a tendency to think that they are better than the average person and they think they will not contract diseases. Depending on the type of relationship between partners, it may affect how often they use condoms during intercourse. Although condoms are used to prevent STI’s as well as pregnancies, college students knowingly tend to stop using condoms as their relationships progress.

One article entitled “Sexual Decision Making for the ‘Better than Average’ College Student” by Ross and Bowen talked about how students believe that they are better than other people and thus do not need to take the same precautions as the average person. When faced with an ad telling people that the average person can get a STI from not using a condom, people may not feel the need to use condoms because they believe that they are better and will not get the STI. On the other hand, when faced with an ad saying that the average person gets a STI, and asks if the consumer is an average person, the consumer may feel the urge to use a condom just so they do not feel as if they were at the same level as the average person. Additionally, even though there are warnings that people may still become pregnant if they use a condom, there are some people who would rather not use a condom because they feel that they are not like the average person and will not get pregnant / their partner pregnant. If a partner trusts the other enough to believe that they will not become pregnant, they stop using condoms.

Negative relationship qualities lead to a higher likelihood of consistently using condoms while positive relationship qualities lead to a lower likelihood of consistent condom use. A negative relationship quality would be lack of trust. If the partners do not trust each other, they are more likely to keep using condoms because they do not feel that it is worth the risk with the partner. On the other hand, if the partners trust each other, they no longer feel the need to use condoms and show trust and vulnerability to each other by not using condoms every time they have intercourse. People feel that they are showing their trust in their partners by having intercourse without a condom. When someone sees that another person is letting themselves be completely vulnerable, it shows that they have a close relationship. Ross and Bowen’s article show that only 35% of students consistently use condoms; as trust grows the consistent use of condoms decline.

Although relationships and condoms make people think of the partners who are engaging in intercourse, there are also other types of relationships that affect condom use. Studies have shown that relationships between parents and children affect condom use. There was one interesting study in particular titled “Relationship Dynamics and Consistency of Condom Use Among Adolescents” that mentioned that children with parents who graduated from college were less likely to use condoms than students with parents who only graduated from high school. Furthermore, it was shown that parents who did not talk to their children about sex had children who did not use condoms consistently. If the parent and student had negative relationship qualities, the student was less likely to use condoms consistently. In addition, if the parent and student had positive relationship qualities, the student would most likely use condoms consistently.

Through research, people have discovered that with a longer a relationship, partners stop using condoms. Because the two people have been together for so long, they begin to trust each other more and more, which leads to more trust in one another; as discussed earlier. The partners begin to think of their future together and feel that since they will stay together, they do not need to take precautions anymore. When people were questioned, they revealed that they do not use condoms with people that they are friends with. Furthermore, when people were questioned if they would use condoms with acquaintances, they said they would use a condom. Because the partners do not know each other that well, they feel the need to protect themselves from each other. The trust level between acquaintances is much lower than it is between friends.

The two articles “Sexual Decision Making for the ‘Better than Average’ College Student” and “Relationship Dynamics and Consistency of Condom Use Among Adolescents” relate to the RING project because it connects to the main question of if college students are using condoms properly. Since students do not use condoms consistently in a lot of the given examples and scenarios, we see that some students are actually not using condoms.

With the information from the observation group and the group that made the survey, the class was able learn how many condoms are being taken and used. If a person were to take twenty condoms, the class can assume that the person may not use all the condoms depending if they are in a long relationship because of the information gathered. On the other hand, since we have information about if the student is single; we can guess that they have a higher possibility of using the condoms if they go for the one night stand.

The part that I believe is the most accurate is that people tend to stop using condoms if they trust their partner and that if they do not trust their partner, they have a greater probability of using a condom. By far, it is much more believable to me that people would want to protect themselves against an acquaintance compared a friend. When two people have been in a relationship for a long time, they begin to think of a future together and later believe that they will mostly get married to each other one day. Once the partners have thought as far as marriage or at least have begun to think of each other in such a way, they let themselves be vulnerable to each other to show how much they love and trust one another. When partners stop using condoms, it shows that they fully trust them and are willing to go through almost anything with each other. In contrast, if someone were to have a one night stand, it is understandable to feel uneasy and use a condom for protection. The partners who are going to have intercourse barely know each other and do not plan on getting to know each other. One night stands cause negative feelings and is looked down upon by society. By having a one night stand, it shows that the partners do not have feelings toward one another, but just want the same thing from one other; there is no trust or love.

From what I know, people may stop using condoms after they have begun to really trust each other. I know many people who no longer use condoms because they believe that they and their partners will someday get married. Trust is a huge factor in relationships. If there is no trust in a relationship, the relationship will not go far. Basically, when people take off the condom, they take off the barrier between each other. A higher sense of trust is established when someone exposes themselves to another person.

It is true that there are other ways of contraceptives other than condoms which may be why some people do not use condoms. I have friends who take birth control pills and believe that because they take the pills, they do not need condoms. Although it is true that birth control pills typically prevent women from becoming pregnant, they do not protect against STIs. Even if a person was to take birth control, they should still be using a condom to have more protection against pregnancies. One acceptable way is abstinence. If a person is abstinent, there no need for a condom. Additionally, there are some people who do not have vaginal intercourse, but still have other forms of sexual relations in which although some people do not know it, condoms should be used. During things like oral and anal sex, condoms can be used. There are STIs that can be spread to partners even without having vaginal sex; many people do not know that, so it is a problem for people.

The other uses for the two articles can be used to educate teenagers and other college students about condoms. It was mentioned in the first article that students believe that they are better than the average student. By looking at situations through a third person instead of seeing themselves as the central figure, they may think differently and believe that they do not do the things they are reading about. By reading that they may be thinking they are better than the average student, they may come to consider what they are reading about and think about what they are doing before engaging in sexual intercourse.

College students know what they are getting themselves into when they engage in sexual activity, but they do not always use condoms. Whether it be because college students have a tendency to believe they are better than average students, they trust their partners, or because they have negative or positive relations with their partners and / or parents, they are not using condoms consistently. It is a problem that students are not using condoms when they engage in sexual intercourse because it can result in STI’s or pregnancy.

Works Cited

Ross, Lindsey L., and Anne M. Bowen. "Sexual Decision Making for the "Better Than Average" College Student."Journal of American College Health59.3 (2010). Web.

Manning, Wendy D., Christine M. Flanigan, Peggy C. Giordano, and Monica A. Longmore. "Relationship Dynamics and Consistency of Condom Use Among Adolescents."Journal of American College Health59.3 (2009). Rpt. inPerspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health. 3rd ed. Vol. 41. Web.