Kim, Christine C., and Robert Rector. "Abstinence-Only Education Programs Are Effective." Teenage Sexuality, edited by Aarti D. Stephens, Greenhaven Press, 2012. Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, Accessed 15 Oct. 2017. Originally published as "Abstinence Education: Assessing the Evidence," Heritage Foundation Backgrounder, 2008, pp. 1-14. http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/ovic/ViewpointsDetailsPage/ViewpointsDetailsWindow?disableHighlighting=true&displayGroupName=Viewpoints&currPage=&scanId=&query=&docIndex=&source=&prodId=OVIC&search_within_results=&p=OVIC&mode=view&catId=&u=gtechclg&limiter=&display-query=&displayGroups=&contentModules=&action=e&sortBy=&documentId=GALE%7CEJ3010166269&windowstate=normal&activityType=DocumentWithCommentary&failOverType=&commentary=true…
Kohler, P. K., & Lafferty, W. E., & Manhart, L.E. (2008). Abstinence-Only and Comprehensive Sex Education and the Initiation of Sexual Activity and Teen Pregnancy. Journal of Adolescent Health, 42(4), 344-351. Retrieved from http://www.columbia.edu/cu/psychology/courses/3615/Readings/Kohler_2008.pdf…
The article describes how an increasing number of teenage pregnancies in Texas are increasing at an alarming rate. That around 172 pregnant girls are enrolled in the city’s public schools and some as young us 13 are pregnant. Even more astounding number is that around 22,000 students have reported to have sexually transmitted infections. This has led the school board to institute a new curriculum an abstinence-plus program for seventh and eighth graders, emphasizing that waiting for sex is right thing to do. With this curriculum they hope reduce teenage pregnancies.…
Comprehensive Sexual Education What has happened to today’s society that we are opposed to condoms because they might entice sex? When has allowing our youth to practice unsafe sex over safe sex been okay? We often think because we supply kids with condoms, birth control, and talks, that we are giving them permission to have sex, when in fact we are merely trying to protect them from STDs and pregnancy. We do not need to scare kids, but we do need to provide them with information about safe sex practices and what can happen if they do plan to explore their sexual urge. Facts are the most important thing we can offer those select few of youth who wish to engage in sex. Since when has providing information been a bad thing? Shouldn’t the youth know what they are doing and what can happen before they do it? Most schools and education environments that do encourage any sort of sexual education, teach kids to “just say no”. The one main problem with this “abstinence only” education is that it denies those who do say “yes” information, instead of providing other acceptable options other than abstinence. Throughout time, ratings have shown that teaching the abstinence only education doesn’t affect the rates at which teenagers decide to have sex. Though comprehensive sex education doesn’t stop kids from having sex, it does however teach them how to participate in safe sex. Teenagers in today’s society are not stupid. When they are told by teachers that abstinence is the only way that they will not get a STD, they know they are being lied to or misled. Giving teenagers’ information about the risks of different types of sexual behavior can help them make informed decisions about sex. The most effective programs are not the ones that try to divert teens from sex completely but rather the ones that try to steer teens away from dangerous sexual behaviors. Most teens who do not have the correct information on risky sexual behaviors veer away from vaginal intercourse, and…
The highest teen pregnancy rate resides in Mississippi, which has an abstinence only sex education curriculum. Abstinence means to restrain oneself from indulging in something usually not good for them or others. In this case, abstinence is a form of sex education, where it teaches students to restrain from having sexual relationships with others until marriage. Sex education shouldn’t be centered around abstinence. Although it teaches good morals, it has many downfalls as well. It leads to a higher risk of developing STDs and HIVs, more teen pregnancies, and abstinence doesn’t accommodate LGBT people.…
The problem with an abstinence-only sex education program is that it is rooted in a permissive sexual ideology. Generally, those who have a restrictive sexual ideology generally support sex education that focuses on abstinence. From this perspective, "The challenge now before the schools is to help young people in every way possible to make the moral decision not to get sexually involved" (Lickona p. 349). However, this is a battle that apparently is being lost as more than 60 percent of teenagers have had sex before the age of eighteen (Kristof A.21). These "abstinence-only" programs either make no mention of contraception and safer-sex practices or they actively discourage them (Sanderson et al. 28-29). It seems that these programs are more interested in promoting the values and ideologies of their proponents than the health of those whom they are designed to help. In all likelihood, these programs are more harmful then they are helpful.…
Over half of high school students engage in sexual activity, which is why it is important that comprehensive sex education programs inform the students (Schwarz 111). Keeping teens updated on contraceptives will help the students to make informed decisions. Educators “should [not] hold back information that can save lives and prevent unwanted pregnancies” (LeClair 292). Teaching the information to high-schoolers instead of avoiding it will help them in the long run to make healthy decisions. About 850,000 female teens get pregnant per year and 77% of…
In order to provide a clearer distinction of the two, the n abstinence only sex education, the idea is pushed that, it is only acceptable to have monogamous sex within marriage. It can be argued that abstinence sex education often doesn’t touch on subjects such as sexual behavior and sexuality. Comprehensive sexual education on the other hand, teaches about topics such as sexual orientation, masturbation, and contraceptives. There are heated debates on what type of sexual education is most effective in battling teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. According to a peer reviewed article by Kathrin F. Stanger-Hall and David W. Hall; “The level of abstinence education was positively correlated with both teen pregnancy, and teen birth rates, indicating that abstinence education in the U.S. does not cause abstinence behavior. To the contrary, teens in states that prescribe more abstinence education are actually more likely to become pregnant” (7). This article is an example of the ineffectiveness of abstinence only sexual education as well as how the quality and caliber of sexual education can have an effect on sexual health and…
Most adolescent women have no intention of becoming pregnant. Within the past ten years, pregnancy rates among teenager’s have skyrocketed and a solution to this problem has still yet to be found. “School sex and relationships education has very little impact on teenage pregnancy rates, according to new research.” (Bloom, 2012) The increase of pregnancy has become an issue that has concerned American’s for the past twenty years. But the real concern we are faced with is what should we do about it? Prevention of sexual relations is one of the toughest things Americans have tried to find a solution to. The problem is that these young girls that are faced with having a child at such an early age has to deal with many other things that come along with adolescent birth giving. These factors include financial support, giving up their education possibly, family support, social life, and even the crumble of some relationships. And women who give their children up for adoption or get an abortion have to deal with the emotional suffering that come along with these things.…
This paper explores the benefits sex education for the teenagers of the United States. It shows cause and statistics for and against the issue of further education in the fight to prevent teenage pregnancy. It is a growing epidemic that affects our culture and has begun to cramp an already declining economy.…
Teenage pregnancy is a universal problem that accompanies the beginning of sexual activity at increasingly younger ages. Surprisingly, only one in 5 youth do not have intercourse before the age of 20, and in the United States alone, annually, almost one million teenagers between the ages of 15 19 becomes pregnant (Rector, 2007). Sexual activity among adolescents is a major problem confronting the nation and the world. Consequently, this has led to a rising incidence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), emotional and psychological conflicts, and out-of-wedlock childbearing. As a result, sex education should be taught at an early age as a preventative measure. Teaching abstinence and sex education at an early age is not only very popular; it also makes sense. Social science data shows that teens who abstain from sex do substantially better on a wide range of outcomes (Rector and Johnson, 2005). For example, teens who abstain from sex are less likely to be depressed and to attempt suicide; to experience sexually transmitted diseases; to have children out-of-wedlock; and to live in poverty as well as become welfare dependents as adults. The earlier children become sexually active the more detrimental it is to the health of the mother and child. Teenage pregnancy is a problem that affects nearly every society -developed and developing alike. In essence, it is a common public health problem worldwide. Finally, those who delay sexual activity are more likely to have stable and enduring marriages as adults. Therefore, there are vitally important efforts aimed at reducing out-of-wedlock childbearing among young adult women, improving children 's well-being, and increasing adult happiness over the long term.…
“Sex education courses, advocated to prevent teen pregnancy but denounced as encouraged sexual interest, appear to have little or no effect on teens’ sexual activity. Such courses also have no noticeable effect on contraceptive use and pregnancy rates among teenagers. It was found that while students do learn about sex and contraception, they do not appear to alter their behavior.” (Okie, 1996)…
53% of teens admit not understanding sex or birth control and this is a reflection of one of the most fundamental causes of teenage pregnancy, ignorance. Indeed, teens in America, especially girls, are bombarded with mixed messages concerning sex. Sex is seen as immediate gratification with no consequences, but preparing for sex makes a girl promiscuous. Sex is seen all over the television and in movies, but equal treatment for birth control methods is completely absent. Open discussions about sex are very rare.…
There are also different approaches to sex education. There are those that only focus on abstinence and those that include abstinence as contraceptive use. It has been shown that sex education programs that focus on only abstinence fail to produce significant effects on sexual behavior (Kirby, D. 2007). However, comprehensive programs such as those that include not only abstinence but also education regarding the consistent use of condoms and contraceptives did not in fact increase sexual behavior as commonly feared. Studies show that about 66% of comprehensive education programs had a positive impact on delaying sexual activity, reducing frequency of sex and number of partners, or increasing condom/contraceptive use (Kirby, D. 2007).…
One major cause of teen pregnancy is the lack of sex education. First, people expect teens to educate themselves on sex, but that not good enough because their minds will only acquire information they choose to retain. Majority of the time teens make unsuitable decisions on whether or not to engage in sex because they obtain false information from friends, movies, or videos. (Livestrong) Secondly, lack of communication between teenagers and their absentee parents is crucial because it is the parent’s responsibility to educate their sons or daughters on the biological and emotional aspects corresponding sex. (Unicef) Thirdly, sex education programs vary widely between individual…