UK Government concerned too many people could be trying anal sex

[LurkingHusband]

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.

[imwithspud]

I agree the government should be interested in this, as it's essentially them that pick up the bill for any damage caused. They also have a responsibility to debunk the notion that what happens in porn is something to aspire to in the bedroom and try and prevent young people and people in general from being pressured into things that they might not feel comfortable with.

[DiggersRest]

I'm glad they are realising that free-for-all porn is doing damage. I have 2 dd and l feel terribly sad for how their future relationships may be.

[ouryve]

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).

Now there's a job you don't want to have to explain to a potential mother in law.

"So what do you do for a living, then?"
"I watch porn and count the anal sex scenes."
"Oh, that's, er, nice."

[BungoWomble]

There was a recent thread in the Feminist section about this and similar issues.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/2609569-Very-sad-article-about-porn-and-how-it-affects-relationships-for-young-women

Unfortunately it does seem that the internet has increased not only the availability of porn but the extremes of its content. Or perhaps that is just a part of the general trend for increasing shocking and unpleasant content across all 'entertainment' and media. Anyway it's happening and it's having some very bad effects. I'm glad the government are concerned, perhaps sex education needs looking at, but more than anything we need decent parenting of both boys and girls.

I'm also glad I'm not a teenage girl now: at least official attitudes to sex crime have improved, but our culture is so sexualised and brutal online. Not looking forward to my dc getting to that age.

[urbanfox1337]

Maybe it wasn't normal for older people to indulge in bum banditry, or maybe we are just more open about it now. If it is more common for younger people to analize, norm's change, it doesn't make them wrong. Since when did men not try and pressure women into any type of sex, only I didn't call it pressure I called it begging persuading, when I was a teenager. And a lot of people get a lot of pleasure from buggery, it's not all sore bums and nappies.

How is this any different than people feeling pressured into buying an expensive car and then finding out it was very bad for their finances. Should the government then try and stop car porn like top gear?

[guerre]

The very fact that you're using leet speak shows you aren't old enough to remember times pre-internet! Anal was far less prevalent, and only featured in hardcore, which was not readily available to people without contacts.
Now anyone worldwide can view hardcore, and if 56% of porn scenes contain it them people do think it's the norm.
And car porn is a misnomer, it does not damage children they way pornography does. Don't be daft. Top Gear does not feature sexual acts in cars, AFAIAA.

[imwithspud]

Since when did men not try and pressure women into any type of sex

That doesn't make it okay though, it just means that we as a society are becoming more aware of the pressure/coercion girls and women experience when it comes to sex. This is a good thing. It's about time sex was seen as something both parties get to experience and enjoy, not just something women should submit to because men 'need' to get their rocks off.

You cannot compare the effect readily available porn has on young people (and sometimes people of any age) and their relationships, to the loss of finances someone experiences when they waste money on a naf car.

[urbanfox1337]

guerre, I wasn't talking about anal sex on the internet. I was referring to it in real life, being far more prevalent than was spoken about in recent the past. It's well documented historically as something normal in Greek and Roman literature.

And yes you can compare the effect of pop culture to pornography on young people. From eating disorders, to drugs to being bullied for not having the latest trainers they can all be worse than anal sex. I used Top Gear as an example because I recently lost a distant family member to a car crash caused by a youth videoing himself going over 100 mph so he could post it on youtube, in court he cited top gear as one of his influences.

imwithspud, pressure might not make it ok but it also doesn't make it wrong. I am not talking about forcing someone, or anyone vulnerable but just to say 'lets have sex tonight', is pressure. Pressure is a part of life and should not be used to imply forced.

[imwithspud]

Of course pressuring someone to have sex when they don't want to is wrong.

Saying "let's have sex tonight" isn't pressure. It's a suggestion that gives the other person the chance to accept or decline. If that suggestion was declined, then the person decided to continue suggesting in a bid to try and get the other person to 'give in' - then that would be pressure.

[aginghippy]

I disagree fox, to me pressure does imply coercion. Saying 'let's have sex' can be just a request. I can say 'yes good idea' or 'no not tonight' to a request.

Pressure can take many forms, but is not part of a healthy mutually enjoyable relationship IMO.

[Peppaismyhomegirl]

How much damage does it do? I have had, and enjoy anal sex in my late 20's/30's with my husband. Not every week, every few months. Done properly, I didn't realise it could do such damage?!

[imwithspud]

It can be dangerous when people, especially young impressionable people try to emulate what they see in porn and don't look into how to do it in the safely.

It will always carry a risk but there are ways to make it safer.

[imwithspud]

*how to do it safely

[Peppaismyhomegirl]

Ahhh right i understand. I can't imagine doing it as a teenage and unless you know what your doing a bit. The great thing about it is that you need to fully trust the other person, not to hurt you and to go and your pace and depth Ect. I can't even imagine the pressure teenagers are under to want to do it!

[guerre]

Urban, i was talking about rl. Lets face it, pederasty was normal in Ancient Greek culture. We do not accept it as OK today.
Slavery was also completely part of Greek life. Ditto.

I am older, but not old, and i have never been asked for anal sex, let alone pressurised for it. Maybe its a class thing, but tbh I've had liaisons across all sections of society. My MIL (in her late 70s) worked on the fringes of the sex industry in the fifties and sixties, and she says that obviously homosexuals did it, but only a few sex workers did, and they were known for it, but not great in numbers.

[urbanfox1337]

guerre, I was not making the point that because it was done in the past it is ok to do it today. The point was that we are pretending it's something that is just happening because of internet porn. I was explaining its not something that has just started happening in recent years because it used to be more common historically than is being made out.

How is a little pressure to have sex bad, yet it is ok to use pressure to get anything else in life? How many people have nagged their partner to stop habits we don't like, bribed kids to clean room, nagged a girl/boyfriend for sex in the front bum. Pressure is a normal part of a functioning society and just to say it's coercion if it's for anal sex is being selectively bias.

[Boogers]

Urbanfox Are you serious? "How is a little pressure to have sex bad?"

[ClimbedEveryMountain]

It's making me sad that people are completely missing the point with this story. It's to do with how porn is becoming ever more degrading, pushing more and more horrible boundaries, and yet is also becoming ever more accessible to young children. These children (mainly boys) are then growing up thinking it's totally fine to expect these sorts of sex acts from young girls. And it's really not fine. It's a huge, huge issue that needs to be acknowledged and addressed and all credit to the government for doing this. And shame on those who think it's all a bit of a laugh.

[ClimbedEveryMountain]

And I'm not just talking about anal sex and waxing off every last pubic hair.

[Itisbetternow]

It scares me to be honest - the pressure on young people regarding sex. I have 2 boys.

I'm 50. Prior to getting married when 35 I had never been asked to try anal sex. To be honest didn't even know it existed in heterosexual relationships. I'm now separated and have been dating. All the men (in their 50s) I have dated have asked about anal sex. They all watched porn. I can only conclude that porn has changed. I'm still not interested. I have a weak bladder from child birth the last thing I need is a week anus :-)

[imwithspud]

I think the majority of posters here would agree that pressure to have any kind of sex is wrong.

And pressure to have sex is vastly different to pressuring your children to clean their bedrooms

[urbanfox1337]

I think a lot of prudish posters have their heads in the sand. No one has yet explained why anal sex is wrong. The UK has tried sweeping sex under the carpet, just say no is something I heard in my youth a lot. Result UK has rate of teenage pregnancy in western Europe. Sex is beautiful and there is nothing wrong with exploring all parts of your body, if there is a risks to anal sex then the answer is sex education not censorship.

Re pressure: If you are going to tell teenagers that if your boy/girlfriend tries to persuade you to have sex its undue pressure and you should what, dump them? Yea, what do you think is going to happen? There is acceptable, maybe even flattering pressure, commonly known as persuasion. And unacceptable pressure, aka coercion where No is not accepted as No. To lump it all together as 'pressure' and it's all akin to rape is just going to make things worse not better because teenagers will just ignore the message as background noise.

[urbanfox1337]

Result: UK has highest rate of teenage pregnancy in western Europe.

[OddSocksHighHeels]

I do think something needs to be done on porn but I'm no expert on the internet - I wonder if something like having everything pay to view would minimise teens seeing this stuff but I don't know how that would work with websites being based in different countries. Is this something like that feasible at all?

urban I'm as far from prudish as you can get. Adults wanting and enjoying anal sex (or any other sex act) isn't wrong, people all like different things and should be free to do whatever consensual acts that they want. I don't think anybody on here wants sex swept under the carpet (and just say no was drug related wasn't it?), people want more information given to teens so that they can be fully informed and confident and able to make decisions over their bodies.

Pressure/persuasion is never ok and never flattering. I also want teens to learn that pressuring other people is wrong - respect what they tell you and respect their boundaries, keep communication open and listen to each other.

[ouryve]

No one has yet explained why anal sex is wrong

Really?
In the first few posts of this thread, it's been explained that anal sex can do real physical damage which can be irreversible
It's been explained how it isn't necessarily at all pleasurable for the person on the receiving end.

But you think that getting a message across that it's absolutely fine to say no to any amount of pressure to participate in anal sex is tied in with being prudish?

I wonder how many of the men who persistently ask for anal sex would be as keen to have it done to them? It's not like there's any anatomical reason why they're less able to be on the receiving end than a woman.