Real Life. Real Talk. Real Blog.

Voluntary AND Wanted

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 17:04:17 GMT

Yesterday, the newest data from the National Survey of Family Growth 2006-2008 was released covering teen sexual activity, contraceptive use, and childbearing in the U.S. The most significant finding is probably that so little has changed since the last data set in 2002 - as teen pregnancy and birth rates have stayed steady in that time, so has the rate at which teens are using contraception or delaying first intercourse.

As I read through the findings, what really struck me was the data surrounding whether teen girls' first intercourse was "voluntary" and/or "wanted." It seems like these two constructs would measure the same thing, but they don't.

To Sext or Not to Sext?

Tue, 11 May 2010 18:26:41 GMT

Written by Amy Russell, MSW Student Intern with Real Life. Real Talk.

In April, RLRT Program Coordinator Lauren Grousd and I stepped outside of our normal Sex Ed for Parentsä programming to talk with local high school students about “sexting.” For those unfamiliar with this new term, sexting refers to using social media (most commonly text messaging on cell phones), to send sexually explicit messages or photos to others. As this phenomenon becomes more common, it is important that teens and their parents understand the impact sexting can have on the lives of teens and how both parties can intervene.

The New RLRT Blog!

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 01:47:33 GMT

There are so many opportunities to talk about sex, love, and relationships in today's culture. The news media seems to engage in an endless stream of discussion about celebrity relationships and mishaps, new trends in teen media use, and developments in sexuality education and teen pregnancy research. We at Real Life. Real Talk. decided to join the discussion and invite you to join, as well!