There is a new advertisement which aims to teach young men how to use condoms properly. I remember, years ago, while I was a weekly columnist for The Herald newspaper, I warned the Ministry of Health that their attempts at condomisation would fail because of the strategy being used. I highlighted that in the USA the effectiveness of the Safe Sex campaign was hampered by the improper use of condoms. Therefore, this advertisement is plugging a loophole in the condom strategy and should be commended for its noble goal.

However, this advertisement has some weaknesses. It displays a seemingly mechanical attitude toward sex. The message to the young seems to suggest that sex is primarily about following a manual on how to put on a condom. One can almost sense that those who listen to it might get a ruler to measure the exact inch. This mechanical attitude to sex emphasises techniques rather than embracing sexual intimacy as a meeting of body, mind and soul in a committed relationship.

Lacking in affection

This mechanical attitude is further enhanced by the behaviour of the 'expert' young man who knows how to pinch, inch and roll a condom. This 'expert' is seen in an earlier scene as he 'spans up' a girl. It appears crude and lacking in affection. Another scene has the novice repeating and memorising the instructions 'pinch, leave an inch and roll' as if he is going to use some magical formula. What a potential calamity when a novice, having just learnt how to put on a condom, uses her as his guinea pig.

Furthermore, there is also no personal space for the sex act. The 'novice' is in a bedroom with his girl while the 'expert' is nearby in the settee of the living room turning it into a 'rompin' shop'.

Furthermore, the conversation between the novice and his girl appeared forced. Why did she wait so long to have sex with him? Was it because she was waiting for a special one? Why not longer? Was she giving in to peer pressure or boyfriend pressure? Why now?

This advertisement could learn from the successful and well thought out National Family Planning promotion of the 1980s. The slogan was 'Two is Better than Too Many' with the aim of countering the cultural practice of 'having out one's lot', meaning as many children as possible. The advertisement was encouraging smaller families. In that advertisement, there was an interesting conversation between two former primary-school students. One having many poor-looking children and unknowingly going to the house of the other to beg. The beggar was recognised and identified as the mathematics brains from primary school. The one being solicited was now married with the two children.

Stable family life

There were subplots to the main theme of 'Two is Better than Too Many'. It was saying that a brilliant student could compromise her future by having too many children as a single mother. It also reinforced the message that a stable family life with a male presence could make a difference. So we were encouraged to have two children while other subtle messages were being transmitted that could facilitate a small, healthy and prosperous family. This message was not lost on the populace even if some of us went above the prescribed two children.

It seems that there is far more to sexual intimacy than pinching, inching and rolling a condom. The other subtle and searching messages need to be added as minor plots to the main one of teaching the young how to roll a condom on to a penis.

My email address devondick@hotmail.com has been compromised. Please do not send or acknowledge any email from devondick@hotmail.com.

Devon Dick is pastor of the Boulevard Baptist Church and author of 'Rebellion to Riot: The Church in Nation Building'. Feedback may be sent to columns@gleanerjm.com