Notable and Quotable

There is indeed a dark side to emerging adulthood on campuses, and it does seem to be more problematic for women than men. One professor here polled her students and found that they agreed with sociologist Christian Smith’s concerns. But they thought there is even more peer pressure on young men than young women to be sexually active. The pressure on women students is to be good at everything and look good doing it. Young adults live in a culture in which one can ask questions like, “Who am I? What does it mean to be a responsible sexual being? How ought I to live?” and get no meaningful response, no wisdom, no counsel from the world around””just the ubiquitous reply, “Whatever.” Since that is what emerging adults typically hear, it is often also what they say.

–Jennifer Koenig and Bruce Benson in the January 25, 2012, Christian Century, page 27 (emphasis mine)

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Posted in * Culture-Watch, Education, Ethics / Moral Theology, Pastoral Theology, Psychology, Religion & Culture, Sexuality, Theology, Young Adults