Talking about sex’ has been dressed in Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak in India. Sexually explicit scenes from The Dirty Picture have replaced prayers prior to dozing off, yet when they must be aired on national television, Indian lungs scream in protest. Let’s attempt to analyse why we are so uncomfortably hesitant even when we hear the word SEX.
PRETEEN INDIAN:
‘Beta, sex is the biggest sin’
Channels are switched when a condom ad appears. Suspicious parental brows are raised when the preteen merely smiles at the oppossite sex. Research has shown that the curbing of all these events, directly or indirectly related to sexual exploration and realities, create an inhibited area in one’s mind to talk openly about sex.
TEEN INDIAN:
‘Children, the male reproductive organ is called *BLEEP!*’
Sex education in India is a one-minute silent lecture that is held for the sake of it. It’s a human anatomy lecture that does not focus on useful aspects like safe sex. More importantly, no questions or queries are welcome. No wonder unprotected sex is on an alarming rise.
YOUNG INDIAN ADULT:
‘I dun wanna demean myself’
Aren’t we all a product of sex? Yet, due to almost two decades of conditioning, the young Indian adult’s psychology holds that an open attitude towards talking about sex is a front row ticket to a doomed future called ‘you don’t get marriage offers’.
THE NEW TRANSFORMERS: INDIAN SEXUAL TRENDS
Over years, the sexual trends in India have undergone a huge change. We thankfully aren’t in an era where love making is depicted by intertwined roses. So are we getting crazier, bolder or just more sexually complicated?
I’m not the only dreamer
65 per cent of couples fantasise about various sexual positions. Yet over half of them don’t experiment.
WHY: Shyness – the much-wanted Indian trait – welcomes the conventional position. Most satisfy fantasies by watching porn, NOT in company of their partner. Maybe they have taken Emraan Hashmi’s comment too seriously! Quoting him- “You don’t have to kiss someone to know if you are a good kisser. You have to feel it while watching a kiss.”
Facebook, help me with sex
43.1 per cent people feel that social media like Twitter and Facebook have improved their chances of finding sexual partners.
WHY: With increasingly hectic work schedules and lesser time to bond, the internet comes in, even for finding prospective sexual partners.
First sex bites
40 per cent say their first sexual experience was when they were 20, while 24 per cent confessed they were only in their teens when they had their first sexual experience. In 2008, around 37 per cent had claimed to have had their first sexual experience at or before the age of 20. In 2007, the average age to lose one’s virginity was 22.
WHY: With every passing year, the average age of losing one’s virginity drops. This is due to elevating pressures from peers and attempts to increase status among one’s peer group. Many reported that the first time they had sex, they were under the influence of alcohol.
Add to get in bed
35.1 per cent people who were introduced to other people online have met up in person. 58.3 per cent of these respondents confessed that such a meeting ended up in bed.
WHY: Sexual deprivation along with increasing low self-esteem.
Wanted: a virgin bride
83 per cent feel virginity of a female does matter till marriage. Only 19 per cent people felt that one should be sexually experienced before marriage.
WHY: Patriarchal dictatorship still runs subtly.
Sati Savitri trend?
37 per cent men have had more than one sexual partner in their lives as against 12 per cent women. In 2008, 41 per cent men and 8 per cent women reported to have more than one sexual partner.
WHY: Urbanisation is impacting sexual behaviour. 55 per cent men and 43 per cent women agree that working women contribute to infidelity.
Oh no! live-in
61 per cent respondents said live-in relationships were unacceptable.
WHY: Marriages are still looked upon as the only valid reason to cohabit.
WHERE DID WE BAG THE TOPPER TAG?
1. The Sex-Seeking Indian Holidayer
Indian holidayers top in seeking sex whenever they set out.
2. The Great Indian Flirt
Indians are most likely to flirt with their partner and even strangers on a holiday.
3. Why no protection?
India tops the list in unprotected sex. 72 per cent of sexually active young Indians have had sex with new partners without any protection.
4. Start-Stop and Stop!
Worldwide, Indian couples spend least time on sexual intercourse – 15.1 minutes!
Volume 2 Issue 6
