Sex is an important part of life for many people, but it can be challenging to discuss openly due to taboos surrounding sexuality. It's especially difficult when sex education isn't given during childhood or adolescence, leaving young adults unprepared for intimate relationships later in life. Sexual ignorance leads to confusion, frustration, shame, guilt, anxiety, fear, embarrassment, and isolation. People may feel they are the only ones who have never had sex before, so they don't understand how to talk about it or express themselves comfortably. When these feelings persist into long-term relationships, couples may lose trust, respect, connection, passion, joy, love, support, security, empathy, affection, understanding, confidence, stability, creativity, freedom, imagination, exploration, and enjoyment. They may even break up because of their lack of emotional maturity around sex.
Religious beliefs often add another layer of complexity to this issue. Some religions believe that sex is forbidden outside marriage. Others think sex should be limited to procreation. Many teach abstinence as a virtue. These views can lead to misconceptions about what makes someone "pure" or "holy," causing some individuals to suppress natural desires or force themselves to stay celibate. This can cause problems with body image, self-esteem, identity, and communication.
Religious indoctrination around sex tends to stifle curiosity, diminish pleasure, and make people more prone to harmful behaviors like cheating, violence, coercion, manipulation, exploitation, pornography, infidelity, and sexually transmitted diseases.
To solve these issues, we need better sex education programs that address diversity, gender roles, consent, boundaries, sexual orientation, pregnancy prevention, contraception methods, pleasure, intimacy, openness, vulnerability, and communication. Religious institutions could also work on creating healthier attitudes towards sexuality by embracing all forms of love, including same-sex relationships. The goal would be for everyone to feel comfortable discussing their needs and wants without fear of judgment or shame. With this approach, couples could build stronger bonds through mutual understanding, trust, respect, honesty, kindness, empathy, compassion, generosity, patience, loyalty, commitment, compromise, tolerance, integrity, reliability, affection, intimacy, passion, romance, creativity, spontaneity, playfulness, adventurousness, novelty, exploration, fun, laughter, joy, and connection.