College Sex - Philosophy for Everyone: Philosophers With Benefits Read Online Free Page B

experiment in homosexuality.This cliché misses
    that the opposite is also true. “The Straight Sex Experiment,” authored by Bassam Romaya, explores a widespread practice involving openly gay or lesbian college students who occasionally experiment with heterosex- ual sex acts. In tandem with their heterosexual peers, Romaya argues that the sexual experiments of gay and lesbian youth reveal a sense of mys- tery, intrigue, and social or sexual rebellion by stepping outside the limits imposed by group-specific expectations in matters of sexual conduct. Ultimately, these haphazard experiences serve similar beneficial objec- tives, such as confirming one’s understood and accepted sexual persona, eliminating mundane adolescent curiosity, or simply strengthening and broadening individual understanding of human sexual diversity. Romaya’s essay is a much-needed analysis of college sexual identity, and moreover it provides a window into an often unheard portion of the story of college sexual experimentation.
    It used to be a big deal to get a girl’s phone number, but with the popularity of social networking sites, has this step been bypassed alto- gether? Michael Bruce’s essay, “The Virtual Bra Clasp: Navigating Technology in College Courtship,” examines the ways in which tech- nology influences sex and love for college-age people. He first argues that there are certain socially acceptable steps of courtship for different technologies such as text messaging, My Space/Facebook messaging, phone calls, talking through friends, and old fashioned face-to-face communication. The ways students initially meet, stay in contact, break up, and reunite are all commonly mediated by technology in a way that is unique to the age group (though it may continue afterwards). Bruce reasons that technology has a tendency to alienate people who employ traditional methods – “Just walk up and talk to her” – and these direct tactics are viewed by younger generations as creepy. Bruce’s essay unpacks the layers of technologies in which modern courtship is enmeshed, and in doing so he argues that social networking tools often function in the opposite way of their intended function, namely, to fur- ther remove and disenfranchise people.
    Some college students have “one night stands,” and these can lead to incredibly awkward mornings. “Smeared Makeup and Stiletto Heels: Clothing, Sexuality, and the Walk of Shame” is both a light-hearted and compelling account by Brett Lunceford, a specialist in the field of com- munication. Lunceford uses semiotics, the study of signs and sign sys- tems, to analyze the relatively new phenomenon referred to as “the walk of shame.” This act is usually typified by a college coed walking home in the morning while still wearing her party outfit from the night before,
    suggesting a sexually promiscuous act had taken place the previous night. Having described the stigma surrounding the walk of shame, Lunceford argues that the clothing worn during the walk of shame functions as a specific type of sign of sexuality, which is marked, especially in young women, as shameful. Lunceford’s analysis is unique because it provides a framework through which to understand the walk of shame, which, though it is a common occurrence in the life of many college students, is often neglected in academic discussions of college life and sexuality.
    Many freshmen move to college and leave behind a significant other, daring to enter into the much discussed and much dreaded long-distance relationship. Bill Puka’s essay, “Relations at a Distance,” uses current cognitive therapy techniques to outline the range of personal difficulties and dilemmas, special anticipations, and delights of college couples try- ing to conduct relationships at a distance. The essay emphasizes the freshman experience of trying to maintain relationships that started in high school, but Puka also discusses more recent innovations that many