Sex vs.
Love
Love and sex are
NOT the same thing. Love is an emotion or a feeling. There is no one
definition of love because the word "love" can mean many
different things to many different people. Sex, on the other hand,
is a biological event. Even though there are different kinds of sex,
most sexual acts have certain things in common. Sex may or may not
include penetration.
Differences Between Love and Sex
Love
- Love is a
feeling (emotional).
- There is no
exact "right" definition of love for everybody.
- Love
involves feelings of romance and/or attraction.
Sex:
- Sex is an
event or act (physical).
- There are
different kinds of sex but all kinds of sex have some things in
common.
- Can happen
between a male and a female, between two females, between two
males, or by one's self (masturbation)
Abstinence
The word for not having sex is called abstinence. Some people,
especially people who think it's not cool to wait to have sex, think
that abstinence is a completely bad thing. Actually, there are some
really good things about abstinence and some of them might apply to
you.
- Abstinence,
or not having oral, vaginal or anal sex, is the best way to
protect yourself. It is possible to get an STD even without
having intercourse (penetrative sex) through skin-to-skin
contact (herpes and genital warts can be passed this way).
- You also
have to think about your own personal values and feelings. Your
young years bring a lot of changes in how you feel about
yourself, family, friends and potential love interests--even if
you don't think about sex. No matter what your feelings on sex
are, it may be smart to wait until something "feels
right."
Ways to
Express Love Without Sex
There are millions of nonsexual ways to show someone you like them.
You can show a person you care for them by spending time with them.
Go to the movies. Or just hang out and talk. If you are with someone
you really like, then anything can be fun. There are other ways to
feel physically close without having sex. These ways include
everything from kissing and hugging to touching and petting each
other. Just remember that if you're not careful these activities can
lead to sex. Plan beforehand just how far you want to go, and stick
to your limits. It can be difficult to say NO and mean it when
things get hot and heavy.
|