TPC_Journal Digests_Volume_2_Issue_1

A b s t r a c t This article presents a profile of college students’ degree of agreeing that oral sex is not sex. Over half (62.1%) of a sample of college students (N = 781) at a large southeastern university agreed and response rates across demographic groups are presented. Sexual script theory serves as the theoretical framework. Implications and limitations are explored. Kylie P. Dotson-Blake David Knox Marty E. Zusman E xploring S ocial S exual S cripts R elated to O ral S ex : A P rofile of C ollege S tudent P erceptions TPC Digest Young adults and college students report engaging in oral sex at rates likely startling to counselors and sex educators. In a national survey of 10,208 young people age 15-19, more than half of male (55%) and female (54%) respondents reported engaging in oral sex (Mosher, Chandra, & Jones, 2005). Richters, de Visser, Rissel, & Smith (2006) found that almost a third (32%) of respondents reported oral sex as part of their last sexual encounter, revealing that many young people and college students are having oral sex. College students’ perceptions and behaviors are shaped, in part, by peer perceptions (Carter & McGoldrick, 1999). Sexual Script Theory further situates perceptions of sexual interactions within the social context explaining that social cultural messages shape sexuality (Frith & Kitzinger, 2001). Consequently, what is perceived to be “real” sex is shaped by one’s society. Thus, understanding sexual scripts impacting the college age population is critically important for counselors working with these clients. Although this understanding is important, little is known about how young people perceive oral sex and what meaning they attribute to it. In an effort to better understand college student perceptions and the social sexual scripts impacting these perceptions, this TPC Journal Volume 2 Issue 1