Disadvantages of Federally Mandated Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs
Examining Sue Alford’s Article on Disadvantages of Federally Mandated Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs
Abstinence is a significant issue in the lives of teens in the status quo. Consequently, sexual education has had a major impact as the federal government promotes Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage programs in hope of preventing issues such as the rate of teen pregnancies and STDs, but may not be successful in comparison to comprehensive sex education programs. Thus, as stated in Sue Alford’s persuasive article ‘What’s Wrong with Federal Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Requirements’, AOUM programs deny information that is supportive of negative consequences as comprehensive programs are more efficient (Bishop, et al., 2008). Furthermore, Alford can better improve the writing style by improving on the organization of the article. Alford negates the issue persuasively through factual statistics and examples she exemplifies in four main points. She bases her arguments on credible sources of research such as the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and presents a strong and unique point-of-view by expressing the argument through the eyes of the majority of the American teenagers who have been involved in at least one strong relationship with a significant other by the age of eighteen.
In the first point Alford briefly explains that the abstinence programs mandated by the federal government deny the youth from learning significant information about condoms and contraception that can prevent unwanted pregnancies and STDs. Alford points out that diseases such as HPV are so common that “three-quarters of all sexually active people in the world have been infected” (Bishop, et al., 2008). A significant long-term study conducted by the Aids Research Institute at the University of California concluded that “if the goal of school-based sex education is to increase positive health outcomes for youth,” comprehensive sex education programs are far more effective.
Abstinence is a significant issue in the lives of teens in the status quo. Consequently, sexual education has had a major impact as the federal government promotes Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage programs in hope of preventing issues such as the rate of teen pregnancies and STDs, but may not be successful in comparison to comprehensive sex education programs. Thus, as stated in Sue Alford’s persuasive article ‘What’s Wrong with Federal Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Requirements’, AOUM programs deny information that is supportive of negative consequences as comprehensive programs are more efficient (Bishop, et al., 2008). Furthermore, Alford can better improve the writing style by improving on the organization of the article. Alford negates the issue persuasively through factual statistics and examples she exemplifies in four main points. She bases her arguments on credible sources of research such as the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and presents a strong and unique point-of-view by expressing the argument through the eyes of the majority of the American teenagers who have been involved in at least one strong relationship with a significant other by the age of eighteen.
In the first point Alford briefly explains that the abstinence programs mandated by the federal government deny the youth from learning significant information about condoms and contraception that can prevent unwanted pregnancies and STDs. Alford points out that diseases such as HPV are so common that “three-quarters of all sexually active people in the world have been infected” (Bishop, et al., 2008). A significant long-term study conducted by the Aids Research Institute at the University of California concluded that “if the goal of school-based sex education is to increase positive health outcomes for youth,” comprehensive sex education programs are far more effective.
References: Bishop, P., Hutchins, H., Ezell, S., Norwood, M., Stewart, B., Greenwood, K., & Waight, C. et al. (2008). Human Ecosystems and Technological Change. Boston: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages. Collins, C. "Abstinence Only vs. Comprehensive Sex Education:." University of California. 2002. AIDS Research Institute, Web. 5 Oct 2009. .