There are many different reasons why college students engage in sexual behavior. Reasons like love, pleasure and fun are all great answers, but what if I had a better incentive for you. Why should college students be having even more safe sex? Because you, yes, even you who feels awkward walking out of the store carrying a box of condoms, can still do some good in this world.
This may come as a shock for many of you, but having safe sex can save people's lives. Whenever you buy a condom from Sir Richard's Condom Company, another condom will be sent to South Africa to help prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancies.
As many of you already know, most contraceptives are expensive and sometimes hard to come by on campus.
When condoms are not readily available, there is a higher chance that people will have unsafe sex. This situation is happening all over the world, specifically in poverty stricken areas. According to Partners in Health, more than 15 million children have been orphaned by AIDS, including more than 12 million in Africa alone.
Mathew Gerson, co-founder and CEO of Sir Richard's Condoms, said, ""There is a global shortage of free condoms and the idea to give away one condom for every one sold would be a great way to try and bridge the gap.""
Gerson's company is cooperating with Partners in Health in order to distribute the condoms along with education effectively in Africa. They plan to print condom instructions in the language of the region they're distributed to so that everyone will be able to use them correctly.
Around 30 percent of all condoms are purchased by college students. We shouldn't be embarrassed to buy condoms on campus. If anything, Sir Richard's Condoms is giving us incentive to buy more.
Gerson hopes to change people's response to sex from a negative to positive. He said, ""Let's have the whole exchange shift from being something about guilt and sort of a contracted sense ‘Oh god someone is judging me. I am having sex' to ‘I am having sex and I am going to buy these beautiful condoms and take them home to make love and isn't that a great thing.'""
You no longer need to be embarrassed about buying condoms, but rather proud that you are practicing safe sex while helping others across the globe.
According to Dr. Hugo Schwyzer, who specializes in the history of gender studies, ""Condoms don't just protect against pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. They are symbols of care, hope and possibility. Wearing a condom requires a basic belief in the possibility of a brighter future.""
People who insist on wearing a condom usually have a future in college and a career plan that could be altered by an unplanned pregnancy. Using a condom shows the trust between two people and their mutual respect for their future.
Although students on campus can no longer get free condoms from their house fellows due to liability issues, you might as well buy a brand that would be beneficial to not only you but others around the world. Sir Richard's Condoms are around $13 for a 12 pack and are 100 percent natural latex without the dairy product casein, which makes them vegan-friendly. For those who cannot decide on a specific condom to use, there is also a variety pack available. Although Trojan and Durex condoms are a few dollars cheaper, by purchasing Sir Richards condoms you would be supporting a great cause rather than throwing your money away to Wal-Mart.
Who would have ever thought you would be encouraged to have more safe sex? It's almost impossible to stop college students from having sex, so why not give them an incentive to do it safely. For every condom you buy, Sir Richard's Condoms will send one to a less fortunate country. You get what you want, while helping others and respecting your partner's future. In the words of Mathew Gerson, ""Doing good never felt better!""
Brittany Schmidt is a senior majoring in theatre and drama. We welcome all feedback. Please send responses to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
