Anal sex. There, I said it. If the notion makes you clench up, I suggest you stop reading. Like, now.
As far as taboo sex goes, anal sex is definitely one of the higher-ranking acts. It falls somewhere between light bondage and incest on the naughtiness spectrum. It's not explicitly immoral, but it's not exactly something most people are willing to openly admit to over lunch either. Because it's taboo, everyone reacts to it differently. It completely freaks some people out. It tempts others. Then there are those who don't know what to think: They love it but straight-up refuse to admit it, or they brag about it when they haven't even done it.
What intrigues me is how when the topic of anal is brought up, most girls recite the usual "it's an exit, not an entry" chant while guys pounce on the subject with a huge grin and a sparkle in their eye you usually find in serial-killer mug shots. On most porn sites, anal is usually one of the most oft-clicked channels; I'm talking more than a million hits for anal compared to about 1,000 hits for tamer material. Do the math, people. Blame it on those dirty male scoundrels if you choose.
No matter how you spin it, it takes two for anal - unless you're really kinky. So I did some research (online, smart-ass), and the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth says that 34 percent of men ages 15-44 and 30 percent of women ages 15-44 reported engaging in anal sex at least once. That means one out of every three of your friends has at least tried it up the butt. Or maybe you're that friend, and in that case, good for you.
It starts with the finger. The shocker, if you will. I can't even begin to emphasize how many girls hate this. The consensus among my female friends is that this is something many men will attempt, although few will succeed. So guys, if you think that your finger will lead to the insertion of a decidedly larger appendage, think again. Your best bet is to find a girl who has a little bit of freak in her and buy her a few drinks. You'll never be the one man who turns a girl onto anal. That girl decided a long time ago whether she's into it or not.
What is it about anal that gets people so riled up on both ends of the spectrum? Is it an emotionally distant act or the epitome of intimacy? Is it the domination aspect that people find appealing? Or is it the thrill of the chase, of pursuing something that is decidedly more difficult to attain?
I'm not here to answer any of these questions. I'm not here to judge anyone one way or the other, and I'm not here to offend. Anal is simply a hush-hush topic that I think warrants discussion. Maybe we've adopted a back-door "don't ask, don't tell" policy, because even though I know a lot of people who are doing it, most have yet to admit it - a lot probably never will. And that's their decision. But love it or hate it, tell-it-like-it-is sex columnist Dan Savage calls anal "the new oral." So take it how you want it.
Stephanie Dunn is a senior majoring in journalism.
