(Sinorama file photo)

Today, when traditional moral stric-tures seem to have lost their effectiveness, what can be relied on to convince young people to postpone the age at which they begin sexual activity, to minimize the number of partners, and to avoid the pitfalls of sex?

Edwin Yen, executive director of the Mercy Memorial Foundation, says that Chinese have always dealt with the problem of youth sex by isolating boys from girls and repressing their desire. But this "first line of defense" has already been breached. Thus many people are urging that the example of more sexually open countries be followed, and that children be taught the "second line of defense"-contraception and how to avoid sexually transmitted diseases. In fact, neither of these approaches is adequate.

Safe sex, responsible sex

Edwin Yen says that preventing problematic sexual behavior in teens starts from teaching them a proper sexual outlook. The highest principles of sex ed are "love" and "respect."

Yen has never tried to scare children by telling them sex is dirty or shameful. But he does tell them that "sex is the most intimate of human relationships, and is the most precious gift you can give to the one you love." Besides love and respect, one should also consider the possible consequences of sex, and especially avoid hurting one's partner.

"I tell young people that at their age feelings change rapidly. One day they might be devoted to someone, and the next day feel tired of them. People's feelings will be hurt much more deeply if there have already been intimate relations," says Yen.

Retreating to the second line, if sexual behavior is going to happen, then it must be "responsible sex" and "safe sex." Lectures on condom use, which have started in schools only in the past two years, aim precisely at these goals.

Chiang Han-sun, head of the Department of Urology at Taipei Medical College and a director of the Chinese Association of Sexuality Education (CASE), says that condoms are the best method currently available for contraception and avoiding sexually transmitted diseases. Though in fact most students are very innocent, and won't have any use for this knowledge within the next three to five years, condom use is knowledge that all modern citizens should have, so it should be taught in schools.

Yet condoms are no panacea. There is much evidence that young people are impulsive and act without thinking, so that they will forget all about condoms.