Preview

Abstinence-Only Sexual Education Research Paper

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
606 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Abstinence-Only Sexual Education Research Paper
Each of us deserves medically accurate and thorough information in order to make informed decisions about our health. Teenagers who are exposed solely to abstinence-only sexual education programs are not experiencing this right to information. Abstinence-only sexual education programs preach abstaining from sex until marriage, often omitting conversations about other significant topics of sexual health – such as contraception, STIs, etc. Although practicing abstinence is the only sure way to avoid STIs and unwanted pregnancy, it is not realistic to expect all adolescents to remain abstinent until marriage. Research suggests that implementing comprehensive sexual education programs – those that include information on an array of sexual health
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • 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

    Sex Education Dbq
    • 916 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Sex Education Dbq

    Sex instruction is critical, however numerous amounts of students complete sex education classes with a mutilated perspective of sexuality and without a decent comprehension of contraception and safe-sex practices. Schools without sex education, leave children confused and often misguided. Students are left to learn through their parents about sex, who could, in turn, be misinformed themselves by never having taken a course in sexual education. Without sexual education classes, little is accomplished leaving a defective and contorted, one-sided point of view of safe sex such as abstinence. The lack of knowledge also can lead to an increase in teen pregnancy, and the spread of sexually transmitted disease, Sexual education should be taught to…

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

    Carnal knowledge
    • 1245 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Carnal knowledge

    Soaring rates of sexually transmitted diseases among teens are adding urgency to the debate over sex education. Conservatives claim the alarming statistics illustrate why abstinence should be the single mantra when it comes to sex ed. Liberals counter that the increase in disease is the strongest case for more detailed information. Caught in the middle are America’s kids, who are more vulnerable than ever to potentially deadly diseases.…

    • 1245 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Abstinence-Only Education
    • 1464 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Abstinence-Only Education

    In recent years, the question of whether schools should teach abstinence only programs or comprehensive sex education has been debated rigorously. Through his 2013 published piece, “Educating for Character in the Sexual Domain”, author Thomas Lickona focuses on the benefits of abstinence only programs. He uses the argument that abstinence creates character in today’s youth and cites multiple sources that support his viewpoint. On the other side of the discussion, authors of the article “Abstinence-Only Education and Teen Pregnancy Rates: Why We Need Comprehensive Sex Education in the U.S.”, David Hall and Kathrin Stanger-Hall address the lack of efficiency abstinence only programs provide. Published in 2011, their article relies heavily on…

    • 1464 Words
    • 6 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
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Abstinence Programs Research Paper
    • 392 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Abstinence Programs Research Paper

    Abstinence programs are beneficial but not as effective as they should be . I consent to where the author is coming from because there is a difference in how younger people comprehend things than other people . Based on “Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine”, abstinence program only work to reduce teen sexual activity . With that being stated , it'll only be much more effective toward younger people . Younger people are easier to convince because they are still in the process of knowing whats right from whats wrong . Regardless of the situation of abstinence program not being effective , if there is more program available they'll be more less sexual activity . The more hear about it things you shouldn't do , you have the tendency/possibility…

    • 392 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory 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
  • Powerful Essays

    Reproductive Rights In The United States
    • 1641 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Reproductive Rights In The United States

    There are two broad techniques used to provide sex education, comprehensive sex education and abstinence based sex education (Mezey, 2011). The abstinence-based avenue explains to children that it is morally wrong to have sex prior to a heterosexual marriage, which leads to many problems such as higher rates of unplanned pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and a lack of knowledge on all subjects related to sex and healthy relationships (2011). This is especially true amongst LGBTQIA+ and people with disabilities because they are left to find out sex and sexually related experiences through trial and error, and the Internet. Comprehensive sex education on the other hand, is when students are presented with every possible contraceptive option, their benefits and risks, statistical safety from preventing pregnancy and STDs/STIs (2011). Students also learn about what a healthy relationship is and how to effectively communicate their wants, needs, and limits in a sexual relationship. Comprehensive sex education is essential for students to grow into functioning adults, and thus participating members of a democracy (2011). Historically, sex education was not viewed as a necessary aspect for students until the 1960s and the demand for evidence-based education began in 1964. During this time period, Planned Parenthood established the Sexuality Information Education Council of the United States (SIECUS) to effectively education the younger population on sex and sexuality (2011). SIECUS founded the National Guidelines Task Force in 1990 who’s mission was to make sex education a promotion of sexual health and providing a positive view on sex, in comparison to the immoral view that abstinence-based sex education provided…

    • 1641 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful 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
  • Better Essays

    Abstinence Only Programs in Schools
    • 1205 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Abstinence Only Programs in Schools

    Although the idea of using scaretactics and moral questioning to force teenagers into celibacy is an appealing one, it is hardly rational. Abstinence-only programs do not delay the initiation of sexual activity, a choice that many teenagers make regardless of what they’ve been taught (National Sexuality Research Webpage). In fact, regardless of the barrage of abstinence-only programs in the United States since the Clinton Administration, forty-seven percent of teenagers have sexual intercourse by the time the reach the age of seventeen. For this forty-seven percent, abstinence-only programs are violating their basic human right to make their own informed decision about sex, sexuality, and how to practice “it” safely, leaving the fifty percent of teenagers ages 12-17 who want more information about their sexual health (The Kaiser Family Foundation) in the dark.…

    • 1205 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better 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
  • Better Essays

    Should Birth Control Be Allowed In Schools
    • 1998 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Should Birth Control Be Allowed In Schools

    Young people in the United States may fail to protect themselves during sexual intercourse if they lack 1.) Accurate information regarding sexuality and contraception and/or 2.) Access to health care. Teens ' access to care may be limited by cost, time constraints, lack of transportation, inflexible clinic operating hours, fear that confidentiality will be breached, and apprehension about discussing personal health problems. School-based health centers (SBHCs) can deliver accessible, confidential, and comprehensive medical and mental health care specifically designed for and at little cost to teens.…

    • 1998 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Abstinence-Only Sexual Education
    • 625 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Abstinence-Only Sexual Education

    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.…

    • 625 Words
    • 3 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
  • Good Essays

    Fifty Shades Of Grey Analysis
    • 523 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Fifty Shades Of Grey Analysis

    Abstinence-based sexual education comes from a foundation of Christian morality and employs shame and fear to attempt to prevent teenagers from engaging in sexual acts prior to marriage. The goal is to reduce teenage pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and of course, the perceived sin of adultery. However noble these goals may be, abstinence-based education has been repeatedly proven to be non-effective, particularly when compared to more comprehensive sexual education programs. The result of multiple generations of ineffective sexuality…

    • 523 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics