Gen Z and Sex

#Opinion #Sexology #GenZ #CurrentCulture

Question: Are Gen Z as "puritanical" as people are saying?

First, let's examine the Question. For years now there have been think-pieces on Gen Z actions and beliefs surrounding sex. On one hand, we have less partnered sex, and on the other hand we are also prude! But according to what?

There isn't anything new under the sun, and older gens picking apart younger gens is a tale as old as time. I theorize that the assumption of Gen Z being prude is a result of internet algorithms. These algorithms favor topics that are inflammatory, leading older gens to wrongly perceive Gen Z as the bastions of said inflammatory ideas.

Let us take a look at some data and statistics..

"In the U.S., about one in four American adults in Gen Z (23%) identifies as LGBTQ, while 14% of Millennials, 5% of Gen X, and 3% of Baby Boomers do as well." (Gallup)

This showcases how generations are increasingly becoming more open with their sexuality.

"In a 2022 nationally representative U.S. survey of 2,000 adults from the Kinsey Institute and Lovehoney, one in four Gen Z adults said they were yet to have partnered sex. And there was a gender divide, with men being more likely than women to report never having had partnered sex (one in three men vs. one in five women)."

According to the article cited, the rates of American adults having sex has been declining since the turn of the millennium. The rate of unmarried adults engaging in sex has declined compared to their married peers. It is also true that younger people are not getting married at the same rates as older generations were at their age, resulting in less partnered sex.

"According to Pew Research Center data, two thirds (67%) of U.S. high school seniors surveyed in 2023 said they’ll most likely get married some day, but that’s down from 80% who reported the same in 1993."

We also have to take into consideration the political climate, dating apps, and the porn industry.

In America, majority of Gen Z were entering adulthood during a political climate with increased discussion surrounding sex and womens autonomy, resulting in the conservation Supreme Court over-tuning Roe V Wade. It is fair to say that right now sex is political. This is an anecdotal observation but many women don't want to engage with conservative men, let alone hookup with one.

This leads us to dating apps. A commodification of love. Less Gen Z are engaging with dating apps, opting to meet their partners in real life situations.

"Just 21.2 percent of Gen Z participants said that apps were their primary way of connecting, and 58 percent said they were focused on meeting in person."

Where does the porn industry fit into all of this? Well, as we all know pornographic content has only been rising year after year, and site visits are also increasing. In 2019 alone over 6 million videos were uploaded to PornHub alone. It takes quite a bit more energy to engage in partnered sex than it does to open up an adult website and engage in self-pleasure.

What can we deduce from all of this information? The reality is that Gen Z are socially isolated, less likely to follow traditional social norms, and are at the forefront of an internet culture that rewards inflammatory remarks and quick hits of dopamine. This does not mean that Gen Z is prude, puritan or sex-negative. We simply don't exist within the same social structure that older generations did, and we are trying our best to navigate the hand we have been dealt.