Many sexually active young women do not believe that they have the right to communicate about or control aspects of their sexual behavior, according to "Is Lack of Sexual Assertiveness Among Adolescent and Young Adult Women a Cause for Concern?" by Vaughn I. Rickert of Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health et al. The study, published in the July/August issue of Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, reports that nearly one in five women surveyed believed that they never have the right to
• stop foreplay at any time, including at the point of intercourse;
• refuse to have sexual intercourse, even if they have had sex with that partner before;
• make their own decisions about contraception, regardless of their partner's wishes;
• ask their partner if he has been examined for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs); or
• tell their partner that they want to make love differently or that he is being too rough.
Moreover, more than two in five young women surveyed believed that they never or only sometimes have the right to tell a relative they are not comfortable being hugged or kissed in certain ways.
These data, collected in 1997 from 904 sexually active 14-26-year-old female clients at two family planning clinics in Texas, suggest that many young women may be unable to clearly communicate their sexual beliefs and desires, and are therefore at risk for unintended pregnancy, STDs, sexual coercion, violence and other negative sexual experiences. Further, black and Hispanic women and younger women were less likely to be sexually assertive than whites and older women, which might help to explain why adolescents are more likely than adults to acquire STDs, and why minority adolescents are at greatest risk.
The authors posit that sexually assertive beliefs, behaviors and practices—including acquiring knowledge about preventing pregnancy and STDs; adopting health-promoting values, attitudes and norms; and building proficiency in risk-reduction skills-are important components in the development of sexual health during adolescence.
In a viewpoint piece in the same issue of Perspectives, Patricia East and Joyce Adams of the University of California, San Diego, argue for comprehensive sexuality education programs that inform young people about their sexual rights and options and bolster necessary skills as one key element in ensuring sexual assertiveness and sexual health.
Also in the July/August 2002 issue of Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health:
• "The Transition of Adolescent Males to First Sexual Intercourse: Anticipated or Delayed?" by Renata Forste and David W. Haas;
• "Factors Affecting British Teenagers' Contraceptive Use at First Intercourse: The Importance of Partner Communication," by Nicole Stone and Roger Ingham;
• "Consequences for Infants of Parental Disagreement in Pregnancy Intention," by Sanders Korenman et al.;
• Research Note: "The Extent of Pregnancy Mistiming and Its Association with Maternal Characteristics and Behaviors and Pregnancy Outcomes," by LeaVonne Pulley et al.