Preview

Abstinence-Only Sexual Education

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
625 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Abstinence-Only Sexual Education
Abstinence-Only Sexual Education

The two forms of sexual education taught in America are comprehensive (abstinence, safe sex, diseases) and abstinence-only (no sex till marriage). Abstinence-only sex education in the schools of the United States of America are bad for teenagers and won’t make a large difference in this country to a great extent because they don’t fully inform and aware students. States with abstinence-only sex education rank the highest in the numbers of underage pregnancies. Abstinence-only sex educations’ exclusive purpose is teaching the social, psychological, and health gains to be realized by abstaining from sexual activity. But, this program excludes other types of sexual and reproduction health education, particularly regarding birth control and safe sex. By excluding this information, abstinence-only programs may end up deterring contraceptive use among teens that do have sex, risking underage teen pregnancies. This information can help protect the health of teenagers, and by not showing any big positive effect, this program is considered ineffective. In order to prevent teen pregnancies and risk of disease, teenagers need to be able to comprehend every major aspect of sexual intercourse and need to know about safe ways to engage in such activities.
Teenagers who undergo comprehensive sex education are 60% less likely to become pregnant or get someone else pregnant than teenagers who undergo abstinence-only sex education. Comprehensive sex education is a program that conveys complete and medically accurate information about contraception and condoms, and also promotes abstinence. By educating students, you allow them to see the consequences that go along with sexual intercourse, but you also allow them to understand how to prevent these consequences, and how to protect themselves. To prevent pregnancies and disease, teenagers first need to be able to understand them, and then they need to be able to comprehend what they can do to
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    Sex Education In 1984
    • 1646 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Sex Education In 1984

    Previously, sex education in the United States has been taught using a variety of scare tactics and questionable metaphors. A favorite that teachers across the country use is to compare a person’s virginity to a piece of tape. The tape is passed around and stuck to the arm of every student in the class, gradually becoming dirtier and losing its stickiness, in order to show “ that the more people you get “stuck” on, the dirtier and less valuable you become” (Smothers). The abstinence-only method of teaching “is one of our worst enemies because of the overwhelming shame and fear that it attaches to healthy sexual behavior” (Sanoff). Of course teachers should not promote unrestrained sexual activity, but neither should they “make everyone feel disgusted about sex” (B. Sharpe). Adolescents are taught throughout their lives that sex is “a dirty and damaging trait that must be controlled” and that is greatly harmful to their mental, emotional, and physical health (Sanoff). They grow up not understanding that their urges are completely healthy and natural and not knowing how to cope with…

    • 1646 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    LUT1 Speech Outline
    • 974 Words
    • 4 Pages

    LUT1 Speech Outline

    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…

    • 974 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Sex Education Dbq
    • 916 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Sex Education Dbq

    Gaining no education on how to have safe sex before marriage, these teens are left unguided, sometimes resulting in teen pregnancy. In source B, "Abstinence-Only Education and Teen Pregnancy Rates: Why We Need Comprehensive Sex Education in the U.S.", the graphs depict an uneasily high amount of teen pregnancies in regions where abstinence-only programs are practiced, in 2002-2005 72.2% of teenagers reported to have been pregnant due to not being taught about safe sex. These numbers are in normally high as compared to other countries such as France, Germany, and the Netherlands never going above 30%, and the U.S has done over twice that much. It shows the downfall of only being educated of only having sex until you are married. Not educating children on safe sex practices could lead to far more damaging outcomes than parents could think of such as teen pregnancies and the spread of sexually transmitted…

    • 916 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Abstinence-Only Education In Schools
    • 587 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Abstinence-Only Education In Schools

    My learning throughout this course was different than other courses. I read from a textbook, which was similar, but the application was different. Seeing as this is a foundations of education course, it was about the history of education for most of the course and how the history shapes the present, and will shape the future of education. The application was a lot different, however, due to the fact that the information learned throughout the course applied to different projects. For example, while gathering information for the debate on abstinence-only education in schools, it was important to take into account what life was like, and how our culture has evolved into one where sex is not a taboo topic anymore. With that in mind, having abstinence-only education made sense for students of a different time, but the information provided to students needs to change with the times. This is different due to the fact that for other courses, the projects would include information on current topics instead of cumulative information.…

    • 587 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Abstinence-Only Education
    • 1464 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Abstinence-Only Education

    The two authors gathered all available state information about abstinence only programs in the year 2005 and came to the conclusion that: “…abstinence only education does not reduce and likely increases teen pregnancy rates across states” (2). The article provides different types of charts that create a visual of the data collected. The use of the visual aids helps the reader interpret the research in a manner that is easy to understand and seems more tangible. The authors also examined whether certain factors, such as socio-economics, educational attainment, ethnic composition, and Medicaid waivers for family planning influenced the data collected, played a part in determining data results. Their research did find that these factors had an impact of the information collected and the results were published in the article with the other…

    • 1464 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    What Are The Benefits Of Abstinence-Only Education
    • 551 Words
    • 3 Pages

    What Are The Benefits Of Abstinence-Only Education

    Abstinence-Only Education teaches abstinence as the only morally correct option of sexual expression for teenagers. It usually censors information about contraception and condoms for the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and unintended pregnancy.…

    • 551 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How To Write A Research Paper On Abstinence-Only Education
    • 654 Words
    • 3 Pages

    How To Write A Research Paper On Abstinence-Only Education

    Abstinence only education programs do more harm than good for the nation’s youth. These sex (or lack there of) education programs aim to teach adolescents to avoid unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) by simply abstaining from all sexual interactions with a firm “Just say no!” attitude. People in favor of this approach argue that if teens are taught not to have sex then there is no reason to teach them how to have safe sexual encounters. It is believed by some that the act of teaching…

    • 654 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Essay On Abstinence Education
    • 637 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Essay On Abstinence Education

    According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the average teenager engages in sexual intercourse by the age of seventeen, but do not marry until the mid-twenties (citation). This means that young adults are at an increased risk for unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections for nearly ten years or longer. The numbers of students engaging in sexual activity of ages thirteen to twenty-four continues to grow each year, as does the number of unplanned pregnancies and HIV infections due to not being fully educated about the risks. Today, the duty of educating students and teenagers about sexual intercourse and the risks involved is left to the government and public school system. Abstinence education programs in public…

    • 637 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Comprehensive Sexual Education
    • 456 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Comprehensive Sexual Education

    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…

    • 456 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Abstinence Vs Sex Education
    • 1249 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Abstinence Vs Sex Education

    Teen pregnancy rates throughout the nation are very high, and many people are trying to figure out how to cut theses rates down. Teaching abstinence or sex education in school has been a major issue throughout the United States for years. Many high schools teach abstinence- only in an attempt to lower the teenage pregnancy rates throughout the country. Many people believe sex education is what needs to be taught in high schools so teenagers are not going in blind and wind up pregnant. “Studies show that sex education reduces the likeliness for teen pregnancy by 50 percent.” Are either of these programs the most effective ways to prevent teenage pregnancy and unsafe sex? The government is funding both types of educations…

    • 1249 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    An End to Ignorance
    • 2748 Words
    • 11 Pages

    An End to Ignorance

    The United States has the highest rates of sexually transmitted diseases and teen pregnancy of any developed country. Each year, unprotected sex results in almost four million teenagers contracting an STD. The HIV/AIDS epidemic is also a serious health concern for young people. Of the 40,000 new HIV infections in the US every year, about 20,000 occur in people under the age of 25, unprotected sex being to blame. (1) The National Abortion Rights Advocacy League says, “By denying teens the full range of information regarding human sexuality, abstinence-only education fails to provide young people with the information they need to protect their health and well-being.” (2) Surveys done by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that “students who have sex education know more and feel better prepared to handle different situations and decisions than those who have not.” (3) If the abstinence-only approach continues, it is expected have serious consequences by denying young people access to the information they need to protect themselves. These…

    • 2748 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Why Are Abstinence Programs In Schools Effective
    • 1835 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Why Are Abstinence Programs In Schools Effective

    The issue of sex education in schools has been a debate among parents, school administrators, health officials, and religious organizations for years. We all know that the safest sex is no sex at all, yet we continue to engage in that activity. If we are not, then we are thinking about it, planning on doing so in the future, or being bombarded by it in the media. Abstinence-only sex education persuades teens to wait until marriage before having sex, but totally ignores all other aspects of comprehensive sexual education, like safe sex and the use of contraceptives and birth control ("Truth About Abstinence-Only Programs," n.d.). Abstinence-only programs are not effective at delaying sexual activity, preventing unwanted pregnancy, or reducing Sexual Transmitted Diseases (STD’s).…

    • 1835 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Comprehensive Sex Education
    • 972 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Comprehensive Sex Education

    Concern for public health and safety have resulted in regulations of medical practices to standards of living enforced by social services and so on; sex education for today’s youth should be based on this same premise, to control the risks that are involved with the sexual activity of youth in the U.S. which are a potential threats to public health and safety. Among these concerns for youth who become sexually active outside of the context of marriage are the threat of STI’s and HIV and unwanted pregnancy. Looking at sex education from the perspective of public health and safety, it is clear that the most logical approach to effective sex education for today’s youth is the comprehensive approach which address several options for protecting oneself from the risks of sexual activity, as opposed to the abstinence only approach which has a biased “one solution for all” approach that does not address youth who are at a high risk for negative outcomes of sexual activity.…

    • 972 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Discuss The Links Between Harm Reduction And Risk Taking Behavior.
    • 1261 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Discuss The Links Between Harm Reduction And Risk Taking Behavior.

    If children and adolescents are educated about sex practices at too young of an age it can encourage them to partake in sexual activities prematurely. This can result in teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and negative mental health or low self-esteem. If students are educated about sex with abstinence based program it can reduce the amount of teen pregnancies that occur. For example, Project IMPPACT in New York City “focuses on the importance of abstaining from sexual intercourse” (Lieberman, Gray, Wier, Fiorention, & Maloney, 2000). This program discovered that “Lower rates of adolescent sexual activity are associated with having parents who demonstrate a combination of traditional attitudes toward sexual behavior and effective communication practices” (Lieberman et al, 2000).…

    • 1261 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Abstinence Programs
    • 1411 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Abstinence Programs

    Abstinence programs can be found all around The United States. Abstinence programs can prevent interactions of sexual activity, and teach young teens the provided source which is abstinence. There are many statistics shown that abstinence programs are effective, how these programs will help young teens proform abstinence, and the effectiveness of using abstinence correctly. Abstinence only programs are the best and most efficient ways to prevent unwanted pregnancies, or having the problem of the effects sex can do to someone. Abstinence only programs also provide great life lessons for teens and their future. The programs are underrated and should be taken more seriously through schools. With abstinence teen that “practise sexual abstinence are less likely to have depression, less likely to attempt suicide, and less likely to live in poverty as adults” (HealthResearchFunding). Abstinence programs should be available and put into sexual education classes throughout all schools in the United States and in other…

    • 1411 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics