There is a trend in popular culture—at least among the young—for people to be taking a vow of chastity, or something similar. For young men, this might mean staying single, or at least not getting married; for young women, it could mean avoiding pregnancy and becoming more involved in their careers. Is this a passing trend, or a lifestyle choice that will endure?
Why Are People Embracing Chastity?
It’s interesting that a growing number of people are choosing to forgo sex and marriage in favor of some sort of spirituality. After all, sex and marriage are two of the most fundamental and well-established institutions in society. Although there is an expectation that people will marry and have children in the near future, historically speaking, the choice to remain chaste has not been a bad one. St. Augustine, for example, believed that chastity was a sign of a well-balanced and spiritual character.
Nowadays, sex-positive, pro-pornography bloggers and Instagrammers claim that millennials are choosing to abstain from sex because of the stigma that surrounds it. In reality, there is no evidence to suggest that millennials are more likely to be chaste than previous generations. In fact, the opposite seems to be true. The most recent national studies on the subject show that millennials are the least likely generation to remain chaste relative to other generations. This is likely because of the influence of social media. In the last ten years, social media has altered people’s perception of sex. Many believe that sex is something that should be enjoyed, and it doesn’t necessarily have to be tied to marriage. One can find numerous examples of people who are happy being single and not having children. This is not a bad thing, but it does mean that people may be undereducated about the ins and outs of sex, which can sometimes lead to problems. For instance, many people may believe that the inability to have children hinders a woman’s career potential, when in reality, scientific evidence suggests that maternal performance is not affected one way or the other by a woman’s ability to conceive.
The Downsides Of Chastity
Although there are many advantages to choosing to remain chaste, there are also some significant downsides. Chief among these is the difficulty in forming meaningful relationships with other people. One of the major draws of sex and marriage is that it provides you with the opportunity to meet new people and form new connections. This is made doubly difficult when you are choosing to remain chaste. It’s no secret that people who have chosen to forgo sex and marriage for a while have reported a dearth of romantic opportunities. The loneliness that comes with choosing this life-style can be all-consuming, making it difficult to see your friends and family, especially when you are not working towards a physical bond with anyone.
There are also cultural and societal implications that come with this decision. If you abstain from sex and marriage, it can be difficult to fit in with the generations that come after you. Your parents and grandparents may expect you to continue the family’s legacy of having children, and society at large may expect you to enter into sexual relationships. This can lead to pressure and guilt. One can fear that one’s decision may be misinterpreted as a reflection of the current state of the world’s (or their own) morals. In reality, one’s morals may be quite different from what others expect of them. The decision to remain chaste is a matter of personal integrity and self-respect.
The Impact Of Social Media
One of the main reasons why millennials are less likely to be chaste is because of the influence of social media. If you follow a large number of sex-related accounts on social media, you will see a clear trend: they are all about sex positivity and promoting sexual relationships. This is in part the result of the permissive and promiscuous culture that has become prevalent on social media. If you want to learn more, just type “sex positivity” into the Instagram search bar. This is one of the primary reasons why many millennials support President Trump’s “ban” on social media. They believe that it is a place where bad habits and unhealthy relationships are promoted. It is no secret that millennials are often considered to be the most digitally influenced generation, and it shows in their attitudes towards sex. One of the big questions that surrounds this trend is whether or not it will last. People who have chosen to abstain from sex and marriage for a while are more likely to be confident that their choice is the right one, but it is difficult to predict whether or not this choice will find popularity among millennials in the future. One can hope that this trend will level out as more people get to know what it means to be chaste, and those who have made the choice begin to see its importance.