Abstinence programs are not working so what is the alternative?

Question

Should me move towards a more proactive educational approach? Please see the article and state your opinion.
http://www.feminist.org/news/newsbyte/uswirestory.asp?id=10481

Answer 1

1. Studies have shown literally forever that abstinence-only school programs do not "work." Bush Jr. has continued to increase the amounts of money he grants to states who agree to use the money for abstinence-only programs (they can't take the money if they use it for comprehensive). Many states (Wisconsin, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Montana and New Jersey) have begun rejecting the federal money recently (THANK GOD!):

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/040907T.shtml
http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/publications/factsheet/fsbush.htm

It's good to see at least state governments coming to their senses.

2. Simply, we all need comprehensive sex ed - that is, kids need to know, for practical reasons, HOW to use condoms and birth control. They need to be able to look at a condom, touch and examine a condom, understand that it's important to properly use the condom. They NEED to know that condoms are, truly, one of the best forms of birth control BECAUSE they are also the ONLY form that prevents STDs. Girls need information about emergency contraception and abortion - how to get it, NOT that they should be terrified of it.

Polls consistently show that parents, whether or not they talk to their kids at home, want their kids to learn about this stuff in school. Ha - I shouldn't say "kids," but definitely "teenagers." Obviously, things can be tailored to be age-appropriate. This is not a big deal. Kids need to learn about how their bodies *function* and girls need to learn about menstruation before they start learning about sex.

3. The funny thing about abstinence-only is that it is actually (brace yourself) the U.S.'s FOREIGN POLICY on AIDS. It is the U.S.'s official stance on sex education for countries around the world. Abstinence does not help prevent the spread of AIDS. What are married couples with AIDS supposed to do? Never have sex again for the rest of their lives? They NEED CONDOMS. This is how seriously President Bush takes AIDS as the modern bubonic plague/smallpox/influenza epidemic: not seriously at all.

http://www.pacificaids.org/news/ (see "Abstinence-Only Message Misguided," written the week of the 16th International AIDS Conference in Toronto by two former U.S. AIDS policy officials under both Clinton and Bush)
http://www.pepfarwatch.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15&Itemid=29
http://www.accessmed.msf.org/prod/publications.asp?scntid=29920031446277&contenttype=PARA&

4. You might be interested in the book _Harmful to Minors_ by Judith Levine. The book argues overall that it's worse to treat sex like a taboo around kids than to simply be honest about it with them, but Levine devotes (I believe) a few chapters to the ridiculousness of abstinence-only education.

Answer 2

What I did with my son seemed to work so I would suggest that as the alternative. Teach age related sex education. IE complete abstinance, stranger danger, abuse is wrong, don't let anyone touch you and all that to little kids. Then when they get towards adolescents teach them topics regarding that. Tell them what the choices are, who tends to make those choices, the most likely outcome of those choices, and so on. Always include what you feel to be the right choice and why.
Abstinance only seems to work for the young and the shy but not for normally sexual curious teens, many of who are already sexually active.

Answer 3

People have sex after puberty. You and I wouldn't be here if that wasn't the case. The difference of the past, was that marriage was encouraged. The man and woman needed each other to survive, they got married at a younger age, and they stayed married.
Maybe considering, going back to promoting marriage, and keeping sexuality confined to marriage, and making divorce taboo again would have helped.

Otherwise, when you go around asking how come people are called wh*ores when they sleep around, and condone the behavior by putting down the ridicule of the behavior, you're going to have diseases. The more people sleep around, the more diseases. Not a difficult concept... why do prostitutes get more diseases... they sleep with more people.

With that said, there's always a way to resolve an issue, despite changes that have occured. (There's a way to get rid of the negative affects/changes, without compromising the positive affects/changes). Now that we're heading towards a non-marriage society and 'what's done, is done', I would say promoting protection is the best case scenario.

In today's society, I'm not sure that it's just a teenager issue anymore.

Answer 4

i did no longer have intercourse until i became very nearly 20, yet i think of me being a greater robust lady that spent time with a gaggle of gay adult men had greater to do with my prolonged virginity than my abstinence based training. yet, i think of telling infants factually each and every thing that could pass incorrect with intercourse (from STDs, to being pregnant, to heartbreak, and so on.) is basic. i'm agnostic and does no longer help the moral discouragement, exceptionally in a public college, yet staying abstinent until you may shoulder those usual jobs is clever. Abstience must be greater suitable than a a million sentence determination straight away glossed over until now somebody shows you a thank you to place a condom on a banana.

Answer 5

There are a vast number of reasons that kids engage in sex at a much younger age than when were were 'young' - and none of them can be handled with an 'abstinence' approach. We need to understand the thinking of today's young teenagers and understand why they are leaping into a sexual relationship at such an early age. Once that is fully understood, you can approach it with education that addresses the situation with respect, understanding and effectiveness.

Answer 6

The Women's Movements have for many years advocated Male abstinence. Females have been hypocritical enough to try to "teach" Males how to be celibate, or less promiscuous. Doesn't that in itself reek of sexism and misandry? Society tends to castigate heterosexual men for seeking sexual gratification. Brothels and prostitution are frowned upon. Recreational intercourse is a social "no no". Monogamous heterosexual marriage is still the preferred partnership advocated by People of a religious propensity, and the Church preaches it every chance it gets.
Yet who amongst the Politically Correct is trying to close Male and Female Homosexual meeting places? Gender specific "Physical Fitness" Establishments and "Health Clubs" are on the increase. Striptease Clubs are being closed in the hope that Men will stay at home. Single Men are told that They are not wholesome unless They are married. Where do the double standards end? Do We (by that I mean everyone) have to be married and only fornicate in the name of the Lord so as to procreate on behalf of the Church? Enough of the hypocrisy that is being forced upon Us by those with a political agenda. Why shouldn't common sense be allowed to prevail?

Answer 7

Abstinence for young people is really the only way they can have a good life. I know its not a popular concept with the media and entertainment industry that likes to promote the single female, hero parent but all of us can see how far from reality that really is. Young people who have children will be seriously impeded and will miss out on lots of fun. The children won't get a good deal either.

As well as young peoples abstinence, how about a bit of moderation rather than the full-on hedonism thats going on today. I am finished with skanks. My last women was cheating, in fact she told me she has never been faithful to any one of her boy friends. She came in one night with *** leaking out of her rear end (they wouldn't let me say ****). That was all the evidence I needed. I told her I refuse to root her any further and kicked the little feminist ***** out of my life for good. That was three years ago and I have never been happier. As a male I don't need anyone to change my tyres, build an extension on the home or do anything else. I have great friends and enjoy their company much more than listening to some unstable woman exploring her unhappy feelings and complaining about all the things she doesn't have

Answer 8

Sex-education programs should teach kids the benefits of safe sex, but should also advise them to put it off until they're really ready, both physically and emotionally.

Answer 9

Treating the symptoms and not the cause. Typical moralistically inspired initiative.
If they could research what was causing youngsters to start early sexual relations that would be a start. All starts in the family or lack of it; and I mean the extended family. Also, the lack of a local community.

Answer 10

Abstinence works. Abstinence-ed only doesn't. Kids who have abstinence-ed only classes are not only NOT likely to delay sex, but they are more likely to suffer from pregnancy and STDs because they were not prepared when they did have sex. When we teach our kids all of the facts, they are more likely to make the most responsible choice for THEM.