Sexual Partnering among College Students: Challenge against Traditional Sexual Control?

Abstract

This study examines sexual partnering among college students in one province of Thailand. In addition, it explores the meaning of students’ sexual partnering among this group of students and it further addresses how the traditional social control matters for such sexual behaviour. Data was collected during 2006/2007 by using ethnographic approach from the college and university students, who had shared their sexual life as couples. The findings highlight that different meanings are associated with students’ sexual relationships, such as they feel love each other, their sexual desire, peers pressure and so on. So youth are resisting Thai traditional social controls, values and norms, and traditional customs. Traditional social controls institutions namely; family, school and state
are weaken to react with the transitional behaviour. Thus this phenomenon has become a subculture that is considered to be a main part of the youth culture. Thus, youth sexual health, education and well-being issues need to be considered for policy implications.