E-mail
Print
RSS
G-bookmarks
Live
TechnoratiI searched the site for any mention of the relationship between casual sex and depression in young women to no avail. According to Dr. Anonymous, I should not waste my time, I won't find anything to help students limit their sexuality, only express it.
In Unprotected, Dr. Anonymous advances a plausible theory that one reason college health services are inundated with depression, eating disorders and sexually transmitted diseases is the failure of the health professions to address the medical and psychological risks of unrestrained sexual behavior. She also takes on the consequences of sexual license on long-term infertility in women, the effects of abortion on the mental health of women and men, as well as the role of religion in promoting good mental adjustment - all topics Dr. Anonymous says are ignored by today's psychiatric profession.
I asked Dr. Anonymous what parents of college aged students should do in response to reading her book. She advised, "Send them the book and use it to start a discussion. Tell your child these are true stories of students just like them: Smart, responsible young men and women who were not accurately informed, thought they were protected, and are now paying the price." Perhaps, parents of university students should send a copy of the book along with their next tuition check.
The author intends such conversations, at all levels of the university. The back cover of the book predicts, "...Unprotected will infuriate the health establishment and start a debate on campuses nationwide." Indeed, fury and debate would be a good beginning. After that, I hope those inside and outside the academy heed the warnings and common sense advice of Unprotected.
Unprotected is published by Sentinel, an imprint of the Penguin Group.
________________________________________________
Warren Throckmorton, PhD is an Associate Professor of Psychology and Fellow for Psychology and Public Policy at the Center for Vision and Values, Grove City College. He is the producer of I Do Exist, a documentary about sexual identity. His columns have been published in over 100 newspapers and he has appeared on the O'Reilly Factor, Fox News Live and numerous other television and radio programs. Dr. Throckmorton can be contacted via his website, www.drthrockmorton.com.
