Abstinence Education Research Paper

Sexual education is a highly debatable topic, but many believe the information taught to students should be abstinence-only. Abstinence-only education has been put in place in order to educate students about the social, mental, and physical benefits of resisting from all sexual activity. It emphasizes the unsafe impacts of participating in sexual activity before marriage and having casual sex. It also promotes the idea that sexual abstinence is the only way to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease. Abstinence education only permits the discussion of contraception and condoms in terms of failure in order to utterly discourage casual sex (Wilgoren, 1). Along with teaching the physical dangers of sex, abstinence education also teaches the mental dangers of sex (Abstinence-Only Education, 1). Sex has many risks and dangers that are not

In 2005, nearly half of all high school students have had sexual intercourse. Plainly stating that abstinence programs do not work (USA Today). Abstinence programs were beneficial many years ago, but since they are ineffective in delaying teen pregnancy, then teen pregnancy rate has increased. Abstinence programs teach the “no sex until marriage” clause, but they don’t teach teens about birth control and the consequences of having sex at before they’ve matured. Although many studies argue that abstinence programs are educational and beneficial, other studies will show that they don’t delay teen sex, they don’t prevent the spread of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), and are a waste of taxpayers’

The issue of the paper Misinformed and Unprotected is that Abstinence-only programs lack to inform teens about sexual contact because the system is current set up as only teaching teens to not have sexual contact till marriage, leaving out important information for teens who what to learn how to be safe with sexual contact. The writer’s position on the paper is that the education system should be changed to inform teens more than just wait till marriage to have sex. The evidence list is that Abstinence-only education advocates claim that abstinence-only programs prevent premarital sex, but that the programs need to stop being publicly funded because these programs may make those who have suffered from sexual abuse feel ashamed and unwilling

The philosophy behind abstinence-only policy implies that the greatest risk of informing students about their options for contraception would be that educators are condoning premarital sex. The risks that our students are already taking, however, are greater then policymakers are considering. It is generally accepted that the majority of sexual intercourse among young people remains unprotected (Westwood, 2006). Abstinence-only curriculum is not preventing adolescents from having sex; it is just making them naïve to the risks they are taking with their lifestyle choices.

While in high school, most teenagers between the ages 13-17, will have attended at least one sex education class. Instead of using the “Abstinence- Only” approach, schools should consider on teaching students the “Safe- Sex” approach to increase their knowledge on potential health risks involving sex. Increasing their knowledge not only increases their awareness, but lets them use their knowledge in the real world and let them form their own decisions, whether they be bad or good.

Does “abstinence-only” programs mean abstinence-only lives for teenagers receiving this type of sexual education? There are those who fully support abstinence-only sex education while others deny its ability and believe it only under educates teenagers. From the latter, the author claims that abstinence only programs are not effective. He presents evidence to suggest this is valid, including that high school students need medically accurate information on how to decrease their risk of sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancy because they are sexually active. Though the underlying issue has merit and the argument is sound and is valid because of logical

While abstinence-only programs often show gruesome pictures of certain STIs, they do it as a means of scaring their students off from having sex, rather than to inform them of symptoms or to teach them how to prevent contracting one. These programs, as with pregnancy, argue that showing STIs in a non-negative light will only endorse having sex. Comprehensive sex-education, on the other hand, which widely and neutrally covers STIs in its curriculum, has been credited in reducing STIs amongst teenagers (Collins, Alagiri, Summers ii). Piling onto the numerous issues associated with abstinence-only education, a large percentage of its programs twist the information they teach. For example, Representative Henry A. Waxman reported that over eighty percent of federally-funded abstinence-only programs distort their curricula on the effectiveness of contraceptives and abortion, and tend to blur religion and science, often teaching rudimentary scientific errors (“Top Five Reasons”). For Goodness Sex, a book about sexuality in relation to teens, states that Representative Waxman’s report “…notes that one federally-funded program passed out materials that said HIV/AIDS could pass through a condom because the latex is so porous, which isn’t true”

Abstinence only education is hindering the lives of teens in today’s world. Schools should stop teaching abstinence only education since, it increases the rate of teens having sexual relations with other people, it does not give students adequate lessons on preventing STDs, and the rate of teen pregnancy is higher for students who receive abstinence only education. As a nation we need to help teens protect themselves with this topic and most importantly approach it with caution. Many schools believe that abstinence only education is the most effective way to instruct students on the topic of sex when it clearly is not.

Many people, mostly women wanted to see a change in their community involving alcohol. The American Society for the Promotion of Temperance called for total abstinence from liquor. Many just simply started to pull and decrease away from the consumption of alcohol. After the call for total abstinence from liquor change was beginning to show. By 1835 two million had taken the “pledge” to not drink hard liquor. It helped women but also the men. Men were benefitting from this pledge as well. They were no longer beating their wives and were actually learning what it was like to not be constantly intoxicated. What was specifically accomplished was the blessing of the consumption of alcohol. The substantial decrease of men drinking was becoming extremely

Being abstinent means that you are not having any form of sex, which means that the egg has no ability to become fertile and no possibility for a girl to get pregnant. It is true that you can use protection and birth control but those are not 100% effective, but you know what is? Abstinence. It is effective not sometimes or never but always. if someone is looking for a full proof way of not getting pregnant or an STD, abstinence is the way to go.

It has been almost thirty three years since the first federal funding was put to use in “. . . sex education programs that promote abstinence-only-until-marriage to the exclusion of all other approaches . . .” according to the article “Sex education” (2010) published by “Opposing Viewpoints in Context;” a website that specializes in covering social issues. Since then a muddy controversy has arisen over whether that is the best approach. On one hand is the traditional approach of abstinence (not having sex before marriage), and on the other is the idea that what is being done is not enough, and that there needs to be a more comprehensive approach. This entails not only warning against sex, but also teaching teens about how to have

Abstinence may seem like an archaic birth control option but many people still agree with it to this day. Basically, this method consists of refraining from all things sexual until you’ve decided to get pregnant. This method completely prevents pregnancies as well as the contraction of an STD. There is not a failure rate when practicing abstinence unless one chooses to give into the temptation of sex. Abstaining from sex also include abstaining for things beside penetration.

For years the government of many nations have tried without success to stop illegal drug trade, sex slave rings, and violence between nations. Nh’at Hanh brings up a very interesting point, would it not make more sense to fund wholesome, clean, nourishment for our mind, body, and soul. Would it not be more fruitful for the government to provide alternatives to drugs and violence, and encourage abstinence? If we want to restore balance to the world we must first transform personal pain, suffering, and loneliness through the acts of mindful consumption, encouraging international communication and understanding, oneness of body and mind, giving of oneself, generosity towards others, and reverence and respect for all living things. If we want to

Firstly, what is Sex education? It is an explanation about bodily development, sexuality and relationships. Also, it teaches young people how to make good decisions when engaged in sexual intercourse. This is extremely important, as it can help prevent issues such as teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases from spreading. Some might argue that sex education shouldn’t even be discussed on whether it should be in schools or not, but that it is a right for students to know. There are numerous benefits to a person’s education as a result of sexual education. Some include: Communicating about sexuality and sexual health, autonomy of one’s body, and even as much as protecting a student's’ academic success. The CDC reports that people who engaged in health-risking activities were more likely to score lower on examinations than those who did not. Teenage pregnancies can lead as far as absenteeism or even dropping out.

Coinciding with the onslaught of the new millennium, schools are beginning to realize that the parents are not doing their job when it comes to sexual education. The school system already has classes on sexual education; these classes are based mainly on human anatomy. Most schools do not teach their students about relationships, morals, respect, self-discipline, self-respect, and most importantly contraceptives. Everyday students engage in sexual activity, many of them with out condoms. This simple act jeopardizes these students' futures and possibly their lives. An increasing amount of school systems are starting to combine messages involving abstinence from sexual activity,