Why STI Testing & Consent Matter in Hookups & Dating
What do you think of when you hear someone talking about “good s*x?”
“Good” is subjective, but I find that many people prioritize and protect spontaneity—especially when it comes to more “casual” relationships. Society sees this as the gold standard of hot hookups.
When I talk about STI testing as a requirement for informed consent, a lot of people immediately respond with some variation of, “But do I have to talk about it?”
This response ultimately stems from people wanting to preserve this standard. And, honestly, it’s not your fault if you’ve felt this way. Many of us (including myself) have at one point or another.
How often do we see media talk about getting tested as a norm versus an “omg” moment? How often do we see partners talking about their STI status? Most often, they’re getting straight to business.
Health education classrooms aren’t helping to shift the narrative, either. Most people haven’t had a course on how to talk to your dates about this, and only receive lessons on symptoms and avoidance.
It takes time to shift your perspective, but it’s important that we all start leaning into what someone’s denial and resistance actually means when it comes to our s*xual health and dating life.
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[SOURCE: Kaiser Family Foundation (2020) Public Knowledge and Attitudes About STIs: KFF Polling and Policy Insights]