Generation Y-not
Although Emily Marks, Eliza Elkington, Alison Moore, Grace Cameron-Lee and Megan Gaudry, who we met in Manly last week, don’t engage in risky behaviour, they know people who have Picture: Tim Hunter Source: The Sunday Telegraph
THEY are the modern day invincibles. A generation of young women who blithely out-drink and out-smoke men, who routinely sunbake without protection and some engage in unsafe sex.
Health professionals are increasingly worried about the growing band of women who think they’re bulletproof.
The reckless behaviour is exposing some of them to sexually transmitted infections at record levels, with health officials saying Australia is in the middle of a chlamydia epidemic.
Adding to the concern is that some girls are having sex younger than ever. Research by Durex shows the average age teens have intercourse for the first time is 16 — two years younger than a decade ago.
An investigation by The Sunday Telegraph has revealed alarm about the health of young women and their attitude to sex, alcohol and even the sun.
“Young women aren’t taking responsibility for their health and safety,” Sexual Health Australia director Desiree Spierings said. “They have a relaxed attitude to unprotected sex as well.”
Many young women The Sunday Telegraph spoke to were open about the pressures they face from their social groups, egged on by edgy TV shows that feature sex, drugs and alcohol. Although the girls we spoke to at Manly last week didn’t engage in risky behaviour, they knew others who did.
“Sex is publicised as being really cool,” Eliza Elkington of Lapstone said, adding that Facebook has become a playground for full-on sex talk.
Emily Marks, 18, said: “The age girls are starting to have sex is much younger. In Year 7 there was no one doing it, but having just finished Year 12 we look at the younger students and they’re all doing it.”
Grace Cameron-Lee, 18, of Blaxland said: “It’s not that we think we’re bulletproof. It’s that we don’t always consider all the consequences.”
AIDS Action Council CEO Andrew Burry said: “We have a generation of kids in school with no real exposure to information about HIV, being taught by people, many of whom have also had no education or information about HIV.”
