Never Let Me Go 7: The Concept of Sex

"The theory I think came closest was the one put forward by Ruth. 'They're telling us about sex for after we leave Hailsham,' she said. 'They want us to do it properly, with someone we like and without getting diseases. But they really mean it for after we leave. They don't want us doing it here, because it's too much hassle for them.'" pg. 97

I actually found this chapter pretty interesting because it reminded me so much of how American teenagers now view sex. It's almost seen as a fad. Both at Hailsham and in many American high schools, if you're not having sex, you're part of the minority. And, if you're part of the minority, you're viewed as "uncool".

The desire to fit in and be part of the "cool crowd" leads people to lie about things like sex at Hailsham, and American teenagers will lie not only about sex but about drugs and alcohol as well. Whether its curiosity or a desire to push limits, people are dying to try it. And if they haven't tried it, their dying to tell people they have. When something  like this becomes the "popular" thing to do, consequences and danger are pushed aside. The importance of waiting for the right time or until one is emotionally capable of handling sex is disregarded.

That is a statement that is true both in our society and in this fictional one. It is funny how no matter the circumstances, a person, like the author of the book, still sees teenagers as falsely invincible.