Dating and Sex

1. What is the difference between love and sex? A quick summary.

Love

• Love is a feeling (an emotion).
• There is no exact "right" definition of love for everybody.
• Love involves feelings of romance, attraction.

Sex

• Sex is an event or act (physical).
• There are different kinds of sex, but all kinds of sex have some things in common.
• Sex may or may not involve penetration.
• Sex can happen between a male and a female, between two females, between two males, between more than two people, or by one's self (masturbation).

2. How do I deal with peer pressure?

First off, remember that almost everyone has to figure out how to deal with peer pressure. It doesn't happen by magic, but here are some tips for keeping the pressure off:

• Date several people and hang out with different groups of people.
• Go out with a group of friends rather than only your date.
• Think of what you would say in advance in case someone tries to pressure you.
• Be ready to call your mom, dad or a friend to pick you up if you need to leave a date.
• Never feel obligated to "pay someone back" with sex in return for an expensive date or gift.
• Say "no" and mean "no" if that's how you feel.

It's when someone that you know or you've gone out with hurts you sexually. REMEMBER: If you have been sexually hurt, it is NOT your fault. You should NOT feel guilty or ashamed.