PDA and Hugging

PDA. An evil snake this is, camoflauged in what seems like an innocent school rule. Most of us can agree that PDA (Public Displays of Affection) is not what school was intended for. None of us want to see a couple making out as we walk down the hall, or a butt-grab as we head off to lunch. Though these rules can help us, the school system has found problems in innocent activities that would be fine in other social circumstance. For example, frontal hugs. Unless there is butt grabbing, tongue hockey, or strange moaning, I see nothing wrong with a simple hug. Yet the school finds hugs inappropriate, ESPECIALLY the frontal hugs. Why? Because a frontal hug, hugs that you probably gave out freely in preschool, are SEXUAL. Yes, I said it. You were sex driven even before you could count to 5. This is not only ridiculous, but the school has nothing to back the sexuality of hugs. Granted, it's probably because when you were in preschool, you didn't have boobs, or a strangely determined obsession to feel them, but that's life! Men, you are going to have to see hot (and not so hot) girls wearing bikinis or dressed like sluts and be able restrain yourself. And girls, it's not your fault you have something growing on your chest, and you can't help when puberty arrives.
Well, I was offended by this, and did a little research. Here is just a small bit of what I found.

 

The Science Behind the Hug

1. Hugs increase oxytocin and lower blood pressure. It also lowers heart rate and increases nerve activity.

2. Hugs make people feel safe and help people bond.

3. From a young age, lack of hugs can cause delay in IQ developement.

4. Hugs lower stress and depression.

 

These are a few basic hug facts, but they make the "sex driven" hug seem innocent. In fact, a Wikipedia article states that a hug is "not necessarily sexual". So when you see your daughter hug one of her friends, it doesn't mean she's a lesbian. Even if she's hugging everyone, it doesn't mean she's the school slut. And hugs help with bonding. Isn't that why you sent your child to school instead of homeschooling? Bonding with people our age is important, we need it. If that isn't enough, just consider that being a teenager is supposed to be the most confusing, stressful time of your life and you just denied them one means of lowering their stress. The other stress lowering options that are looked at are drugs, alcohol, bullying, smoking, dropping out, and even suicide. 12-17 are the most common ages to begin smoking and drinking. Do we not see a connection? Even as adults, these are common forms of stress relief. If hugs can help lower these alternatives, even just a little, I am in full support of them.

To wrap this up, I dare YOU to give a hug to someone at your school. Be it a teacher, a friend, a stranger. SPREAD THE LOVE! And in the comments, write an interesting story of your "on-campus" hugging experience.

Bibliography

• Examiner. "Health Benefits of a Hug". http://www.examiner.com/healthy-living-in-tampa-bay/health-benefits-of-a-hug 3 October 2010
• Six Wise. "How Hugs Are Proven to Help Your Health". http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/06/07/26/how_hugs_are_proven_to_help_your_health_have_you_been_hugged_today.htm 3 October 2010
• Wikipedia. "Hugs". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hug 3 October 2010