The American College of Physicians (ACP) recently published a resource called Sexual Health in the SARS-CoV-2 Era. The publication outlines the dangerous possibility of contracting COVID-19 when engaging in sexual activity. According to the report, "Abstinence is the lowest-risk approach to sexual health during the pandemic." Despite the admission that abstinence is the safest, healthiest option, the researchers concluded that abstinence was simply "not an achievable goal" in society. Researchers thought it best to direct the public to tips from Planned Parenthood on masturbation, sexting and pornography.
What message is being communicated to young people when the ACP does not think individuals are capable of abstaining from sexual activity? Should we not raise the bar on what we expect people can achieve when it comes to sexual purity? Is pointing people to the false satisfaction provided by pornography, masturbation and sexting really the best option? Pornography desensitizes viewers to the cruelty and mistreatment of human beings and teaches them to see individuals as sexual commodities. This can ultimately lead to lower self-esteem and self-harm.
In this time of crisis, we must send young people a message of empowerment, safety and hope found in sexual abstinence until marriage rather than a message of false satisfaction, risks and despondency. Abstinence is far from an impossible standard. We must continue to raise the bar.
To read more about the dangers of our sexualized culture, check out The Truth About Pornography Booklet.