The Correlation Between Political Socialization and Sexual Activity among American Adolescents

Abstract

In the past half-century, culture in the United States has experienced a significant shift in the acceptance of casual sex. On the grounds of educational institutions, students have come to engage more freely with “hookup culture.” For professional-minded individuals, engaging in no-strings-attached relationships have benefitted their careers while not having to sacrifice intimate moments with others. During such a politically-charged moment in this nation’s history, when ideological polarization is so prevalent, it is important to ask just how much adolescents, who are on the cusp of engaging in sexual activity, are informed by the political circumstances that exist within their surroundings and daily lives. A review of literature on these intersectional subjects shows that, though both have been considered separately, little has been done in meta-data analysis to determine the relationship in adolescents between the two. This paper will determine whether sexual activity of individuals aged 14-18 is correlated at all to the socializing effects of the political ideologies within their upbringings.