A Switzerland-based condom manufacturer (Lamprecht AG) recently started marketing extra-small condoms, under the name “Hotshot” for boys age 12 to 14, who often have problems with regular size condoms being too large.
A survey of 13 to 20-year-old males revealed that 25% said a standard size condom was too large– which probably means it’s too large for about half of those surveyed. (And I’m honestly surprised the numbers were that high!)
The condoms have been for sale in Switzerland and are expected to be distributed in the U.K. as well; the United Kingdom has the highest teen pregnancy rate in Europe, in spite of various sex education efforts. Switzerland, on the other hand, was cited as having low teen pregnancy and abortion rates.
It’s unlikely the condoms will ever be for sale in the U.S., as having sex under the age of consent in the United States is a crime.
“Glorifying” Teen Sex?
One complaint mom-bloggers had was not so much the manufacture of the condoms, but the marketing efforts. It’s one thing to provide a product that can help prevent teen and pre-teen pregnancy and perhaps offer the condoms free in schools or at Planned Parenthood. It’s another to glorify adolescent sex by calling the condoms “Hotshot” brand and actually marketing it to the under-14 set.
I see their point about the marketing tactics, but if it helps the pre-teen and teenage boys feel more comfortable buying the condoms of a smaller size, then I can’t argue with it. I presume the ads aren’t telling the boys to buy Hotshot condoms and go out and have sex.
Instead, it’s providing them with an option for safe sex that lets them feel good about themselves. Even if the girl buys the condoms and asks her partner to wear them, he’ll probably do it. If the condoms had a name that sounded demeaning, comical, boring, or even medical, the intended customers wouldn’t use them — and condoms still in a box on store shelves don’t help anyone fight STDs or prevent pregnancy.
Too Young for Sex, But Having it Anyway…
It’s true that at 12 and 13, some readers of this blog were still playing with Barbie dolls and Hot Wheels — and, as adults, that’s what we’d like to think of as the primary past times for pre-teens. (Or maybe Xbox and Wii, today.) But many others were just beginning to explore our sexuality, and some had even had sex for the first time. Guess what? Not much has changed in that regard. Some kids are still having sex before they’re ready, while others are not.
I’d like to believe it has to do with upbringing, but I think it has more to do with biology and opportunity … and more the first than the latter. Kids who are curious about sex and experiencing sexual feelings and interest in their early teens will find a way.
Some moms at BabyCenter commented that they were never left alone with a boy at such a young age. I wonder how practical that really is, while still conveying that you trust your child and permitting them some level of freedom? Unless you’re with your child 24/7, there’s no way you can say they are “never” alone with a member of the opposite sex. And what about gay and bisexual teens, who are at an age where most are not out to their parents? Where do you draw the line on parental supervision?
Some mom-bloggers and readers who posted comments said, “If the condoms don’t fit, you’re too young for sex.” While this sounds very clever, it’s somewhat idealistic. If we are to help prevent STDs and pregnancy, we do need to provide sex education to pre-teens before they begin experimenting on their own, and they do need to have access to condoms that fit.
people need to stop looking at the issue as it was when they were children…times have changed and we as adults need to look at this in a pro-active manner. To prevent teen pregnacy, the spread of sextually transmitted disease.
Condoms would cut down on the abortion rates and save younger females the trauma of an abortion.
We as mature adults need to take our heads out of the snad and get real sex is as natural as our eyes blinking and it need to be taught to our youth in a manner in which they are able to control themselves as well as protect themselves.
[...] for boys age 12 to 14, who often have problems with regular size condoms being too large. (Vibrator) Something that would sell less than a Lloyd Bridges sex doll. Bold choice. Of course, moms who are [...]
stlkween-
I couldn’t agree more. Burying our heads in the sand will not teach our youth about the dangers of unprotected sex. To talk about the “trauma” of abortion is another topic altogether, but I think we can both agree that avoiding the need for abortions through safe sex is the best option for anyone. (Barring abstinence, of course, which isn’t always the best – or most practical – solution).
While England has one of the highest rates of teen pregnancy in Europe, Switzerland, where the condoms are being manufactured and distributed first, has one of the lowest. They must be doing something right in how they teach sex education. It makes sense for the U.K. to follow their model.
You know they are doing it younger, but i Think there real market is for small men. We all need to wrap our willies. So this is not a bad idea.