DEAR ABBY: I am disturbed that the responses to your "just say no to sex" column were exclusively from women. To me, this one-sided representation only serves to reinforce the double standard.
When are young men going to take responsibility for their own sexual behavior? Why are young women still burdened with the sole responsibility of decision-making when it comes to sex? And finally, why are we not hearing from teen-age males who are virgins?
Abby, young men need to be taught to respect women regardless of their virginal status. Young people in general need to hear that there is only one "first time." When young people feel self-worth and self-respect, they in turn respect and value others, which helps them make responsible choices.
If you have not already asked young men to share their views, I suggest you do. -- KATHY KIRK-MALTERS, M.S.W., BRAINERD, MINN.
DEAR MS. KIRK-MALTERS: The original question posed to my readers was "how do you just say no?"
I asked both sexes to respond, commenting that people of all ages (and both sexes) also struggle with this dilemma. The responses came almost exclusively from women and girls, offering advice only for girls.