Prized Possessions

Avery Gorman's book is about a girl who is date raped and her fight to regain her soul. It raises an important question about our whole approach to sexual morality. In our society it is increasingly suggested that we should by sexually desirable and experienced in order to be popular and happy, and that our qualities be publically and even aggressively transmitted. Sex comes first, then, possibily, respect, love, commitment. I suggest this is all back to front. ANY sexual encounter can lead to rape. If we viewd relationships differently, that truly fulfilling sex only follows after respect, love and commitment, there would be no date-rape. This is NOT to say that a girl who is date-raped was "asking" for it: there is no excuse for aggressive assault. But young people need to be educated to realize that true relationships develop from character rather than physical attraction and that true popularity wuill come from maintaining that stand.