Sex Column: Mental Health

Okay, I’ve been putting off this subject for a bit, but now is as good of a time as any to discuss. I’m talking about the responsibilities that come with sex.

You can stop groaning now. Seriously, I can hear you through this paper.

Our generation has seemed to bring on the death of dating. If you are in a committed monogamous relationship, you have it easy. However, Rowan isn’t exactly the perfect breeding grounds for committed monogamous relationships. We’ve all hooked up with someone, no need to be elitist about it. You just have to make sure you’re safe about it.

Yes, I mean safe as in keeping up with contraception and making sure you’re not going to bed with an axe murderer. But there are other kinds of safe. Intrigued? Well, how about your mental safety? You may know the person you’re hooking up with or you may not. Personally, I suggest you at least know their name in case you need to track them down in the future (“You gave me the clap!” or “Why did I wake up with a kidney missing?”).

Before you get to the Oompa Loompa with this new “friend” of yours, take the few seconds to ask yourself this: do I really want to do this? If you are all down for practicing the Kama Sutra with a stranger from Toledo, Ohio, good for you. If you are the least bit uncertain, don’t go through with it. Not only will it make the actual sex awkward, but then you have it plaguing your mind afterward.

If someone is telling you “no,” obviously you stop, no matter how far into it you are. No means no. I don’t care if the other person is drunk or you’re playing kinky S&M games. We have safe words for a reason, kids.

Sex should be fun for both parties involved. If you’re not into it, why are you there? You could be off working on your beer pong game or trying to figure out why the hell that one pathway at Rowan is called the “Meditation Walk.” You shouldn’t have to feel guilty about sex.

Well, unless it’s with your best friend’s significant other.

Laura Elizabeth Donnelly is a senior writing arts major. She is the president of Lucy/Vox and has, thankfully, never bedded an axe murderer.