Sexism In High Schools

If accused of racism or sexism, most people would deny the allegation. Racism and sexism became problems because the general public stereotyped large groups of people. One would think people in the twenty-first century would learn that categorizing people does not yield a beneficial outcome. Despite conclusive evidence against it, schools around the country are classifying students by intellect using a system called tracking. Although many institutions have utilized tracking to improve their schools, they are taking the wrong approach. If you decide to add class levels to your school system, the quality of of your district would deteriorate. Tracking will limit your district’s success because of the impracticality of levels, the decreased confidence

Did you know that 24 states in the US require their public schools to teach sex education and HIV education to their students (NCL.org)? Do they even need to understand sex or STDs? Well of course not. That’s why schools should not even teach these students sex because it’s just going to be too much for the high school students’ young mind, sex education will definitely motivate the students to have sex—regardless of their sexuality--, and it’s up to their not so busy parents to explain sex—and all its glory—to their children who are attending high school.

While the department of education does include a recommendation for school districts to develop and implement age-appropriate sex education, it’s not mandated in many states. There is confusion among teenagers about the different methods they can use to protect themselves; for example, contraceptives (such as birth control) do not prevent STI’s, but do prevent pregnancies. In fact, almost 37% of "18-25 year olds incorrectly believe at least one of the following: transmission of HIV is possible by sharing a glass, kissing, or touching a toilet seat" (The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation 2006). Without the proper knowledge, teens simply cannot be expected to act accordingly. Abstinence-only education gives students an incomplete education, and expects students to disregard the gaps in teachings. This isn't just unfair; it is dangerous. In a study performed by the American Journal of Public Health involving 4,000 teens over a period of seven years, they found that adolescents who used condoms during their first intercourse had on average the same number of partners as those who did not use a condom. However, the former group was 30 percent more likely to have used condoms in their most recent sexual encounter,

Women all around the world are viewed as sexual objects every day of their life. Nothing has changed despite the millions of people standing up for what they believe is right. It can be seen in the media, on the streets, and even in schools in the form of a dress code. Many of the articles and researched areas tend to lean towards the side that Female objectification starts in our schools and does not end. Those who are affected by these dress codes are typically women while men are only instructed to watch the logos on their clothing. Since having such experiences with these outrageous dress codes, I understand the impact it can really have for both men and women. I have first hand

In class we talked about ambivalent sexism and I was genuinely shocked about the second component for it which is benevolent sexism which is chivalrous, patronizing attitudes toward women. I was very conflicted after this class for several days because it really turned my world upside down. Up in till that day I always believed that getting a significant other who is chivalrous was what I wanted and wasn’t sexist, and looking back it was always something that was told to me from my family, movies, and books. I had to go back and reflect on things and kind of change my thoughts and values.

In the United States, health education is a mandatory part of the curriculum in which students learn about their bodies, psyche, and bodily needs and those of the others around them. These courses have been given in both middle and high school, but they have not had great results in preventing students from having unprotected sex. This may be due to students regarding

One of the most flawed programs in public schools is sexual education. Sexual education is starting to evanescenting when it comes to being taught in public schools. “22 states and the District of Columbia require schools to provide both sexuality and STD/HIV education; another 15 states require STD/HIV education; and 13 states have no requirements when it comes to sexual education”(sexuality education pg 1). Within the 22 states that require taking sexual education, they also give the parents an option to opt out of the class if the class does not go with their religion or they believe their children are to young to be taught. Among the whole United States we have the highest pregnancy rates among teens with the lack of sexual education being taught in the right or direct way. “The United States has one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in the developed world-almost twice as high as those of England, Wales, Canada, and eight times as high as those of the Netherlands and Japan”(opposing viewpoint series pg 109). While the rising of teen pregnancy continues, teens and adult(age 18)

As of 2017, there are twenty-one U.S states that do not mandate sex education. That is almost half of our country's youth not having access to proper, medically accurate, and unbiased sexual education. There are about 10 million STI cases a year among those aged 15 - 24; this means 50% of sexually active people will contract an STI before the age of 25. In order to combat these numbers, sexual education needs to become a subject taught in high schools nationwide. After all, if we allow our children to be taught subjects like English, math, and science, why deny them the opportunity to learn about their own biology?

Do you know where babies come from? Well if we did not have a sex education course how would we find the proper information about anything! When society talks about sex it is almost a taboo subject that just is forbidden. All public schools should teach sex-education because it helps protect teens from sexually transmitted diseases, unplanned pregnancy, and promotes healthy relationships. Pregnancy is always such a joyous gift except for if the girl is a teenager. Teen pregnancy is not a sociable acceptance and the girls get criticized for it, when yet it takes two to make one. If teens did not have a sex education class they might not even have a clue on how easy it could be to become pregnant. As of 2015 results teen pregnancy rates are at an overall low for the united states, but still higher than western industrialized nations. (“Reproductive Health: Teen Pregnancy.”) The education course goes over huge risks that teens may not even know are out there. The STD rate is growing rapidly and if it hits a teenage generation things could spiral out of control. In the years 2015- 2016 syphilis rates went up 18 percent overall and 36 percent for just woman. (“CDC Newsroom.”) Health courses even begin to explain how a health relationship should look. Standards have been lowered and it is up to the health education teachers to provide us with good information on what students should expect from their other half. Even having a healthy relationship with yourself

The majority of middle school or early high school students are enrolled in a required health class where they are taught about all of the “horrible” events that will happen to them if they have sex. Sexual education should not be about scaring the adolescents out of sex, it should be about teaching them about their bodies and their bodies abilities. Adolescents are curious and some even get curious before they hit middle school. It is not worth it to take the risk of not teaching the teenagers the safe way to go about sexual activity in order to not corrupt their minds that are thought to be innocent. Teaching adolescents to avoid sex all together only gives them more drive to find out what it is like themselves. Sexual education needs to be more than abstinence only.

Sex education classes teach students about what sex is and how to have sex safely. This provides a comfortable place for teenagers to learn about safe sex without feeling embarrassed. Students need to learn about contraception, STDs, and how sex is healthy and normal. If the schools do not teach about sex, the students will learn about sex from other teenagers who do not know what they are talking about. According to J. Walker (2004), learning about sex in high school will prepare the teenagers that are going to have sex at that age anyways and also prepare the teenagers for when they are adults that are getting married. Abstinence would be effective, but not all students are going to abide by this

First, schools need to make sure that the information being taught in sex education is medically correct. Many teenagers will go through sex education, but it is a different experience for all of them because of “lack of standardized curricula at the federal, state, and sometimes district level” (Hamilton). As of right now, sex education is mostly based on the importance of abstinence and the types of sexually transmitted infections. Although schools are trying to promote no sex in teens, that does not mean that teens are not in sexual relationships. Teens who are engaging in sexual actions need to know about safe sex because that exists although people say it does not. According to the National Conference of State Legislature, “38 States do not require mandated sex education and another 41 do not require sex education to be medically correct” (Marinelli). Most sex education programs do not teach true facts because

Throughout the years of America, there has been tension regarding sex education with young adults. During the 1940s, is when the observances of teen pregnancy started to be studied. In 1941, was when the highest peak of teen pregnancy was, and has since then gone down. However, the United States still has the highest teen pregnancy rate in all the industrialized nations. In European education systems, they teach sex education in every way. They not only have comprehensive sex education classes, but they also support safe sex in advertisements and in other social issues discussed in classes. Because of this, the Netherlands has one of the lowest teen pregnancy rates in continental Europe. A few American states have also started comprehensive sex education, and have lower teen pregnancy rates. The current sex education that is implemented into schools is abstinence-only. The U.S. government should eliminate abstinence-only programs, because it will lower the risk against STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) and STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections) among young adults, drop teen pregnancy rates, and an older age when teenagers have sex. With the risk of HIV/AIDS, other STDs, and abstinence-only education programs, many LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual, and Queer) young adults are confused on how they should interpret sex education.

In the United States, only twenty-four states and the District of Columbia require sex education to be taught in schools. Of those states, twenty require sex and/or HIV education must be medically, factually or technically accurate (“State Policies on Sex Education”). The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has gone to great lengths to ensure all is being done for students, they have

“There is a large gap between what teachers think should be taught and what they teach when it comes to birth control, abortion and sexual orientation.” (Sex Education) There is also a big difference in what teenagers already know and what they need to know. Kaiser reported that two in five students want more factual information on birth control, how to use it and where to get it from, also how to handle the pressure of having sex. Kaiser also reported that a significant percentage of students say that these topics are not covered in their most recent sexuality education course, or that they are not covered in depth. Of the seventh through twelfth graders that were asked, approximately half of them say they need more information about what to do in the event of rape, sexual assault, how to get tested for HIV or STDs, factual information on HIV and STDs and also how to talk with their sexual partner about birth control and STDs. (Sex Education) Sex education in schools is the process of teaching teenagers information about sex and helping them form their own attitude and belief on sex. The purpose of teaching teenagers about sex early is to help them gain control and make wise decisions about their sexual behavior; being stern on the subject gives teens the confidence and competence they need to act on these choices. (Sex Education That Works) High school students want more information about sexual and reproductive health issues than what they are receiving in school. There