INTIMACY

I was 15 years old when I found myself rolling my tongue around the word “boyfriend” for the first time. The smothering darkness of the 2 a.m. sky could have hidden my smile, if it were not for the cheeky interference of my glittering fairy lights.

Our relationship was full of firsts. Our inexperience with sex forgoes being spelled out, but it was why we prioritized trust and caution. We believed intimacy takes time to grow. Before we could commit, we agreed the relationship needed to be built on unequivocal love. It was a conversation he and I embraced, but my friends weren’t ready for it — neither is society, in general.

My friend group met my decision with shocked faces. All around us, our peers were easily embracing their sexuality. Sex apparently has an unspoken deadline, even for high schoolers. It was certainly not the two years my boyfriend and I took to decide we were ready.

This unspoken deadline is a product of the TV shows teenagers grow up consuming. Nothing is wrong with high school sexuality, until real teenagers force themselves to participate because TV’s hypersexualized depictions of minors have convinced them sex is a fundamental part of high school culture.

Media focused on high school life is very popular, and these roles are often played by 20- and 30-year-olds. Many of Gen Z’s favorite teenage shows have depicted underage characters engaging in overly sexual acts. When teenagers watch these shows, their perceptions of teenage sexuality may be significantly distorted.

In “Euphoria,” 18-year-old Cassie Howard’s thirst for validation fueled her responsiveness to men’s interests in using her body. Yet, the overuse of nude, tantalizing scenes of a barely legal character suggested that young women turning 18 signifies they should embrace sexual exploration before they are comfortable with it.

“Gossip Girl” also trivialized sexual intimacy and glamorized unhealthy relationships. The underaged characters used sex to climb the social ladder and were romantically involved with adults, which conveyed teenagers can objectify themselves to achieve success and downplayed predatorial relationships.

Netflix’s critically-acclaimed original “Sex Education” embraced the sexual awkwardness encountered by every teenager. The show provides a unique yet refreshing perspective by delving into problems surrounding teenagers slowly but surely learning how to approach sex. Although the characters are played by adults, the realistic representation of teenagers figuring out their bodies was a long-awaited approach of authenticity toward teenage sexuality.

More media like “Sex Education” is essential to reassuring teenagers it is okay to treat sexual intimacy as a journey. However long they want their journey to last is up to them and not society. Teenagers should have autonomy over when to start exploring their bodies.

I do not regret my decision to wait because it was what I wanted. But that does not mean you have to follow what I did; you do not have to follow anyone. Do intimacy on your terms. Everyone’s path looks different, but our differences are what lead to valuable advice and realization. DANIELLA ALFONSO Design Larissa Aguiar, Chloe Girod

Models Noah Jones Fashion Hobby Photography Katalina Enriquez Design Dina Coletti, Liv Vitale