Discussion: STIs and Hookup Culture
The emergence of the hookup culture and the accessibility of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) have given
birth to a multifaceted discourse about risk-taking behaviors, sexual health, and cultural perspectives on sexuality.
Although PrEP has been heralded as a revolutionary approach to HIV prevention, questions have been raised about
how it can affect sexual promiscuity and the transmission of other STIs (Wade, 2021). The ongoing stigma and
moral policing around sexuality and reproductive health are highlighted by these worries, which are reminiscent of
past arguments against birth control for women.
Will risky sexual behavior and sexual promiscuity increase with the use of PrEP? It's a legitimate worry
since the apparent decrease in HIV risk can encourage some people to have more carefree or unprotected sex.
Research, however, indicates that higher risk-taking behavior is not always correlated with PrEP availability.
According to research that was published in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, those who
started PrEP did not report having more sexual partners or engaging in more condom-free sex (Winter et al., 2020).
Furthermore, a significant number of PrEP users still place a high value on safe sexual behaviors and routine STI
testing, indicating a persistent dedication to sexual health in general.
Will there be a rise in STI infections as a result of PrEP use? Although PrEP is quite successful in stopping
the spread of HIV, it offers no protection against other STIs. As such, those who use PrEP without taking additional
preventative steps run the risk of having a higher rate of STI transmission. Comprehensive sexual education,
frequent STI testing, and the encouragement of safe sex practices—such as the use of condoms and consistent
communication with sexual partners—can, however, reduce this risk.
Should HIV-negative individuals who are in monogamous partnerships with HIV-positive individuals be
the only ones using PrEP? Limiting PrEP's use to this particular situation would make it less effective in preventing
HIV transmission in general. People who have several sexual partners, people in serodiscordant relationships (i.e.,
one partner is HIV-positive and the other is HIV-negative), and people who could be exposed to HIV from other
sources (e.g., sharing needles or working with HIV patients) might all benefit from PrEP (Cain, 2017). We can
empower people to take charge of their sexual health and lessen the prevalence of HIV by increasing access to PrEP.
The controversies around sexual promiscuity and PrEP are reminiscent of the 1960s discussions regarding
birth control for women. Birth control opponents often brought up issues with promiscuity, moral decline, and the
idea that it would undermine conventional family units (Public Broadcasting Service. n.d.). These arguments,
however, ignored people's inalienable right to make educated decisions about their bodies and reproductive health.
In a similar vein, moral judgments on sexuality are often at the center of the PrEP and hookup culture argument
rather than a sincere concern for public health.
In order to effectively address this topic, it is essential to approach it from the perspective of damage
reduction while also accepting that sexual activity will always occur regardless of morality or societal conventions
(Belluz, 2014). There should be less of a focus placed on stigmatizing or shaming individuals for their sexual
choices and more of an emphasis placed on providing comprehensive sexual education, supporting safe sexual
practices, and assuring access to effective prophylactic treatments such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and
condoms.
In addition, the conversation that has evolved around the culture of hookups and pre-exposure prophylaxis
(PrEP) highlights the need to face deeply rooted societal biases and double standards that are associated with
sexuality (Speildenner, 2016). Despite the fact that being promiscuous is frequently stigmatized, particularly for
women and individuals who identify as LGBTQ+, it is essential to realize that everyone can make choices about
their bodies and sexual health without the fear of being judged or condemned.
In conclusion, the availability of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an opportunity to place emphasis on
sexual health and to prevent the spread of HIV; however, it must be accompanied by frequent testing for sexually
transmitted infections (STIs), comprehensive sexual education, and the encouraging of safe sexual practices. The
focus should not be on generating moral panics about promiscuity; rather, it should be on providing individuals with
the knowledge they need to make informed choices and giving them access to realistic prophylactic methods (Cain,
2017). The implementation of a harm-reduction plan and the confrontation of cultural preconceptions have the
potential to set the stage for the establishment of a society that is more welcoming and sex-positive, with a focus on
the right of every individual to sexual autonomy and health.
References
Belluz, J. (2014). Ten things you need to know about the pill to prevent HIV. The Vox. Retrieved from
https://www.vox.com/2014/7/14/5896887/explainer-about-the-pill-to-prevent-hiv-aids-TruvadaL
Cain, M (2017). Sex without fear – my experiment with the HIV-prevention drug PrEP. The Guardian. Retrieved
from https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/jun/22/sex-without-fear-my-experiment-with-hiv-
preventative-drug-prepL
Public Broadcasting Service. (n.d.) The pill and the sexual revolution. American Experience. Retrieved from
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/pill-and-sexual-revolution
Speildenner, A. (2016). Truvada whores and HIV prevention: The queer communication of PrEP. POZ. Retrieved
from https://www.poz.com/article/queer-communication-prep
Wade, L. (2021). Doing casual sex: A sexual fields approach to the emotional force of hookup culture. Social
Problems, 68(1), 185-201.
https://academic.oup.com/socpro/article-pdf/doi/10.1093/socpro/spz054/35925216/spz054.pdf
Winter, V. R., O’Neill, E. A., Cook, M., Rose, K. L., & Hood, A. (2020). Sexual function in hookup culture: The
role of body image. Body image, 34, 135-144.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1740144519303298
