Should Abstinence Only Sex Education - 928 Words

When I was in the eighth grade, I remember attending a sex education course. At the young impressionable age of fourteen, I listened quietly as the lecturer showed us grotesque pictures of sexually transmitted infections and warned us that abstinence was the only effective way to not get pregnant. At the end of lecture, everyone at the assembly was handed a little card that read, â€Å"Virginity Pledge† and we were all required to sign them. Looking back on this memory, I am appalled by the severe lack of scientific foundation of the lecture, the use of misinterpreted statistics, and the use of peer pressure in requiring students to sign pledge cards. Many students my age probably have a similar experience with this type of sex education, which is referred to as abstinence-only sex education. Students deserve a better sex education than what the abstinence-only sex education programs provide. Abstinence-only sex education should be removed from all U.S. schools and replaced wi th comprehensive sexuality education. Curriculum for abstinence-only sex education is restricted to heterosexuality and bares no mention homosexuality or asexuality due to the program’s affiliations with religious groups and their morals and beliefs. Abstinence-only sex education strives to prevent teens from having sex before marriage. Marriage in these programs refers to heterosexual marriage, which alienates homosexual individuals. Homosexuality is usually only mentioned during discussions of AIDS andShow MoreRelatedShould Sex Education Be Taught? Abstinence Only Education?1397 Words   |  6 PagesSexual education in schools has become a highly controversial topic over the past few years. Some people believe students should be taught abstinence-only education, while others believe students need the full on â€Å"sex talk†. While the sex education controversy may seem silly, it is very important that students receive the most efficient education possible. When it c omes to education parents want their children to receive the most effective kind. This is also very true in terms of sex education. SexRead MoreShould Abstinence Only Sex Education?869 Words   |  4 Pagesused sex education approach follows the beliefs of the church (Delamater, J. D. Lecture 9/29/14). The sex negativity of the Christian tradition stems from the philosophies of Stoicism and Neo-Platonism which both enforce that sex is solely for procreation. (Delamater, 2014, p. 483) The Christian belief that abstinence is the only moral way to avoid STIs and pregnancy has led to the incorporation of abstinence-only sex education courses in schools. The myth that abstinence-only sex education causesRead MoreTeenage Pregnancies And Std Contraction1342 Words   |  6 Pagesin rates of teenage pregnancies and STD contraction. What is it about the US and its approach to sexual education that produces such numbers amongst its youth? The prevailing sexuality education system in the US i s abstinence-only sex education programs. Abstinence-only-until-marriage education in schools is highly destructive to its students in multiple ways. Abstinence-only sexuality education does more harm to students than good, and is shown to have adverse effects on its students. The CDC YouthRead MoreThe Case For Rights Education1665 Words   |  7 PagesYouth to Undergo Sexual Education Courses Abramson, Seth. The Case for Rights Education Alongside Sex Education. The Huffington Post, 18 July 2016. The Huffington Post, www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/the-case-for-rights-education-alongside-sex-education_us_578d282de4b0d4229484d76d. Accessed 21 Nov. 2016. In â€Å"The Case for Rights Education Alongside Sex Education†, Seth Abramson states that the reason sex education is present in the majority of all American schools is because sex matters. He makes anRead More Abstinence-Only vs. Comprehensive Sex Education Essay2397 Words   |  10 Pagesthe early 1980s the issue of sex education for American youth has had the attention of the nation. There are about 400,000 teen births every year in the U.S, with about 9 billion in associated public costs. STI contraction in general, as well as teen pregnancy, have put the subject even more so on the forefront of the nation’s leading issues. The approach and method for proper and effective sex education has been hotly debated. Some believe that teaching abstinence-only until marriage is the best methodRead MoreEssay on Abstinence vs. Comprehensive Sex Education1339 Words   |  6 Pagesfunding was put to use in â€Å". . . sex education programs that promote abstinence -only-until-marriage to the exclusion of all other approaches . . .† according to the article â€Å"Sex education† (2010) published by â€Å"Opposing Viewpoints in Context;† a website that specializes in covering social issues. Since then a muddy controversy has arisen over whether that is the best approach. On one hand is the traditional approach of abstinence (not having sex before marriage), and on the other is the ideaRead MoreThe Effects Of Abstinence Based Programs On Actual Behavior Outcomes Essay1439 Words   |  6 PagesAdditional research has explored the effects of abstinence based programs on actual behavior outcomes. Kohler, Manhart, and Lafferty (2008) compared the effects of abstinence-only and comprehensive sex education programs, operationalizing effectiveness in terms of initiation of sexual activity and teen pregnancy rates. They found that teenagers who received comprehensive sex education rather than abstinence-only or no education were sign ificantly less likely to report a teenage pregnancy. In additionRead MoreShould Sex Education Be Incorporated Into Public Schools?1372 Words   |  6 PagesFor Sex Education in Public Schools An observation of the prevalent television programs and popular topics broadcasted in the media often depict teenagers with an air of promiscuity. Is teenage pregnancy really an uncontrolled epidemic, as depicted in shows such as â€Å"16 and Pregnant†? Are a vast majority of teenagers exchanging racy photos of their bodies with each other? If so, are teenagers acting out because of too much sex education? Or is the outbreak of hyper-sexualized activity linked to lackRead MoreHiv And Its Effects On The United States1440 Words   |  6 Pagesinformation on how to obtain contraceptives and most schools teach abstinence only education (Starkman, Rajani). Even more alarmingly there is little evidence that abstinence only curriculums are successful in encouraging teenagers from delaying sexual activity until marriage, and consequently, avoiding pregnancy, STD and/or HIV infection (Starkman, Rajani). Comprehensive sexual education, which emphasizes the benefits of abstinence while also teaching about contraception and STD/HIV prevention, hasRead MoreA Research Study On Sex Education808 Words   |  4 Pagespeer reviewed journal Sex Education, investigates childism, or systematic discrimination against children, which stems from conservative beliefs that parents have high authority and children belong in the private sphere. Within the context of sex education, childism is a primary factor in programs that place the values of parents and society over the needs and rights of the child. While including discussions about the importance of personal and family values in sex education is reasonable, it is unreasonable