How Does Masculinity Affect Early Adulthood

Males have always been the symbol for protector and caretaker by helping the partner emotionally, financially, or socially. Whether or not their relationship was sexual did not stop them from stepping into this role. A characteristic that adolescent males seem to develop rather quickly as they get older is impulsiveness. Impulsivity can make a person more willing to have sex at an earlier age. Those that develop at an earlier age face many consequences such as unplanned pregnancy and contracting a sexual transmitted disease from lack of knowledge on how to practice safe sex, and increased number of sexual partners. It is estimated that only thirty-five percent of adolescent males use condoms during every sexual encounter. Adolescent males that range from 13 to 19 have one of the fastest increasing rates of HIV, gonorrhea, and chlamydia reported cases. Approximately 1 in 8 males will face an unintended pregnancy. When this happens we end up with a culture that is under educated, reduced opportunities for employment, and an increase for welfare dependency. Those that decide to take on the responsibility of being an active father face many challenges. Such as low self-esteem, addiction issues, and

They put less importance on having a relationship that involves intimacy and more focused on increasing the number of sexual partners. Also, becoming a father is almost a rite of passage for masculinity because they become more content with the idea and prevention is no longer a factor. Family and peers are factors that influence a change in masculinity attitudes. The most important part of the family dynamic is the role a father plays in a son’s life. Adolescents that have a father in the home are less likely to initiate sexual relationships, have fewer sexual partners, and are less likely to experience an unplanned pregnancy (Ellis, James, Schlomer,