Hookup culture on college campuses

The Winonan

College means plenty of things to people: a time for new friends, a time for learning, a time for exploration, a time for growth, and what seems to be the most popular — freedom from our parents! College students are exposed to different degrees of hookup culture. I did some research. The American Psychological Association defines it as brief, uncommitted sexual encounters between individuals who are not romantic partners or dating each other. It seems that hookup culture has been around longer than I expected. According to this university article in , sex is common among college students and deeply ingrained in the culture.

REGISTER TO VIEW

Students must contend with this culture even if they are not especially sexually active. In fact, many students are not very active. The average graduating senior reports hooking up just eight times in four years; and a third do not hook up even a single time. Individual students can and do opt out of casual hookup sexual encounters, but few can escape dealing with that culture. Hookup culture is simply the newest stage in the evolution of sexual norms and behavior in America.

REGISTER TO VIEW

One of the most detrimental and perhaps overlooked factors in the mental health crisis facing adolescents and young adults is hookup culture. A recent Tinder ad is a great example. Yes, but so disturbing. The message distorts the hope of finding love and connection into the promise of a fleeting moment of disconnected sex. But how did we get here and how can we turn around a cultural movement that is so destructive to the health of our children?

REGISTER TO VIEW

‘It’s college. Everyone is hooking up’: Truths and misconceptions about hookup culture at Brown

Posted August 28, For example, surveys over the last decade show that about three-quarters of college students have hooked up. However, on further questioning, they report that only about half of those encounters led to intercourse.

REGISTER TO VIEW

REGISTER TO VIEW