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UK Government concerned too many people could be trying anal sex

115 replies

LurkingHusband · 13/04/2016 09:47

Apparently

The Government is concerned that increasing numbers of young people are trying anal sex, according to an official consultation.

Officials at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport are baffled at the increased popularity of the act despite apparent “research” suggesting it is not pleasurable for women.

The warning is included in a consultation document issued by the Department about plans to further restrict access to online pornography. It argues that young people are trying anal sex as a result of having viewed pornography, and that this is an unwelcome development.

“Many people worry that young people will come to expect their real life sexual experiences to mirror what they or their peers see in pornography, which often features ambiguous depictions of consent, submissive female stereotypes and unrealistic scenarios,” the consultation reads.

“There is also a question about the effect of pornography on ‘unwanted sex’ – for instance more young people are engaging in anal intercourse than ever before despite research which suggests that it is often not seen as a pleasurable activity for young women.

“While the increase in anal sex cannot be attributed directly to pornography consumption, it does feature in a large percentage of mainstream pornography (for example, one content analysis found it featured in 56% of sex scenes).”

The consultation suggests that restricting access to pornography might reduce the numbers of people trying anal sex.

Officials supported their view by citing a 2014 British Medical Journal paper from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine which collated interviews about the practice with 130 16-18 year olds.

That study actually however concluded that “accounts revealed a complex context [of people trying anal sex] with availability of pornography being only one element”.

The Government’s negative view of anal sex recalls opposition to the practice by Margaret Thatcher, who in 1986 watered down an anti-AIDS campaign so as not to acknowledge the act's existence.

According to Cabinet minutes released at the New Year Mrs Thatcher sent a memo asking for a section on “risky sex” to be scrubbed from the campaign because “it could do immense harm if young teenagers were to read it”.

When the newspaper advert warning of the dangers of AIDS went ahead, she said: “I remain against certain parts of this advertisement. Adverts where every young person will read and learn of practices they never knew about will do harm.”

Homosexual anal sex was criminalised under law as “buggery” in England and Wales until 1967.

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dotnet · 13/04/2016 12:21

I really like The Inbetweeners, I know it's filthy but a lot of it is so funny.

But I hate all of Jay's references to anal sex. I can't help thinking Jay's character is bringing anal sex into the mainstream and making teenage girls think they maybe 'have' to do it.

How scary is that - well, I think so anyway.

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LurkingHusband · 13/04/2016 12:25

Wasn't there an old canard about the 60s generation thinking they invented sex ?

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HelpfulChap · 13/04/2016 12:25

My DD worked in a central London sexual health clinic for many years. The by product of long term anal sex are very unpleasant. Unless wearing a nappy in middle age is your thing.

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guerre · 13/04/2016 12:31

I think the availability of hardcore pornography has contributed to it greatly, whether or not it is a provable link!
From personal conversations I know anal sex is favoured by young British Asians as technically women can then still be virgins on their wedding night! Both Muslim and Sikh friends have told me this. (Having sex with clandestine long-term partners in the main, a few having ONSs)

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ProfessorPreciseaBug · 14/04/2016 08:33

If we think about media portrayal of ideas... perhaps we should be very worried about the images of corrupt violent government agencies subverting civil rights as in the Bourn frqnchise, leading to acts of terrorism against the state..

Just my lateral thinking...

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OTheHugeManatee · 14/04/2016 08:39

Am I the only one who thinks the government has no business being concerned about people's sexual practices? Since when is the government the arbiter of public morals?

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Lightbulbon · 14/04/2016 08:46

Since it's the government who picks up the NHS bill for the damage done by anal sex it is certainly a public health issue and young people should be taught about the risk of harm.

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LurkingHusband · 14/04/2016 09:04

Since when is the government the arbiter of public morals?

Since forever Sad

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123itsme · 14/04/2016 09:14

I find it a PITA ! Blush

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FrozenAteMyDaughter · 14/04/2016 09:23

It really worries me tbh that DD's generation might grow up thinking it is just one of things you do, as opposed to a fairly niche practice you might experiment with when you are older and more experienced.

Apparently the damage done to teenagers can be particularly serious and long term (so I read).

That was one of the many reasons I hated the last scene in Kingsman, making it out to be some sort of massive reward for a man, and I agree about the endless references in the Inbetweeners.

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pinkcan · 14/04/2016 09:23

Well I think the government has every right to be interested if it is going to need to provide medical care as a result of loads of damaged arses!

It appears Thatcher was correct on this one.

I know plenty of gay men who absolutely will not have anal sex. My best gay friend says oral is the way to go.

We learnt in biology at school that parts of the body have a structure which was suited to their function. Arse - shit.

Anyway I did try it as a student, it felt like taking a shit.

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FrozenAteMyDaughter · 14/04/2016 09:25

Although if the Government start issuing warnings, that will probably just make it more popular Sad

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LurkingHusband · 14/04/2016 10:02

Well I think the government has every right to be interested if it is going to need to provide medical care as a result of loads of damaged arses!

How about dangerous sports then ?

Personally I don't think there is any place for the state to get involved in "morality". Because one persons meat and all that...

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AugustaFinkNottle · 14/04/2016 10:09

But they're not getting involved for morality reason, are they? It seems to be (1) health and (2) a concern that the rise is attributable to viewing pornography, which in turn is of concern given the sort of stereotyping of women that often comes out of porn, and, as the report puts it, "ambiguous depictions of consent."

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OTheHugeManatee · 14/04/2016 10:14

If you ask me the government meddles in more and more morality issues by reframing them as public health. Alcohol, drugs, diet, parenting, you name it - just call it a drain on the NHS and behold, a whole raft of new measures for micromanaging people's lives.

I agree that all this arse damage sounds revolting. But I fail to see what the government can or should do about it. Add arse banditry to the already groaning national curriculum? Like that will make any difference Hmm

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guerre · 14/04/2016 10:16

In a secular society, when religion is no longer the arbiter of public morals, then surely the government needs to be?
Who else will pick up the reins? Where are the great and good in society nowadays?

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Boogers · 14/04/2016 10:21

Tried it once, felt like I needed a poo throughout, not a pleasurable thing for me. But that's just me.

It's the idea that's promoted with young people that anal is the holy grail of sex, when it's actually really not. Boys feel under pressure to refer to it as 'mainstream' and girls who say no to it are uptight and frigid. There's a pressure to conform to what other people say they're doing, and if your mates say they've given it / taken it up the arse then you're going to think you're the odd one out.

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TomHaverford · 14/04/2016 10:21

They are suggesting that reducing the availability of pornography may reduce the rate that it happens. There was a thread on here this week about an Australian survey of young people showing how easy access to pornography was damaging to teenage boys perception of what was normal in a sexual relationship, and in turn they were demanding it from girls. Surely making pornography harder to access is a good thing.

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Boogers · 14/04/2016 10:24

It's not adding arse banditry to the curriculum, it's reiterating the message that it's not all that it's cracked up to be and you shouldn't feel under pressure to indulge if you don't want to. It's debunking the myth that porn sex is normal sex.

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Happyat40 · 14/04/2016 10:25

Another HCP here who knows only too well the consequences of anal sex practiced over a number of years.

It's an exit not an entry and I'm afraid Mother Nature will have her last say on that !

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KanyeWesticle · 14/04/2016 11:29

I don't disagree with reducing the prevalence of porn - but I don't think anal is the worst side effect. There's a whole load of consequences related to the objectification of women in porn.

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NNalreadyinuse · 14/04/2016 11:36

It's not often that I agreecwith the government, or Mrs T for that matter, but in this case I think they have a point. Porn is everywhere and I certainly don't want my kids growing up to think this is normal or expected.

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aginghippy · 14/04/2016 11:56

I agree with Kanye

The bigger problem is not anal sex as such, but the way women are pressurised into doing things they don't like during sex.

How is 'unwanted sex' different from rape? Hmm

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LurkingHusband · 14/04/2016 11:59

arse banditry to the curriculum

I soooooooo hope that's a Googlewhack (the mind boggles if it's not). Although it's the perfect example of something NSFW ....

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Boogers · 14/04/2016 12:00

For me it's also the weird shit that goes on in porn that I'm scared my children will think is normal when you're just discovering sex and what you like.

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