Why Sex Education Must Be More Than Just Abstinence
Start writing a post

Why Sex Education Must Be About More Than Just Abstinence

Teaching abstinence in place of real sex education is dangerous and denies students real, valuable information.

78
condoms

Alabama is one of 26 states that do not require sex education, and the state's laws encourage schools who choose to teach sex ed to base their methods around abstinence. Abstinence is the only method of "safe sex" that is completely effective in preventing pregnancy as well as infections and disease transmission. However, abstinence must avoid all forms of sexual contact- vaginal, oral, and anal sex in order to be truly effective.

In a study during the years of 2011 through 2015 published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 51.4% of males and 45.5% of females between the ages of 15-19 reported having oral sex with a partner of the opposite sex. This data shows that abstinence is not a widely shared ideal among teens, even though 26 states require that abstinence be stressed in their sexual education programs.

The age at which people first have sex is getting lower and lower due to social trends, as well as the median age for marriage becoming older, making the abstinence-only approach increasingly more dangerous. Unsafe sex can lead to sexually transmitted diseases and infections and unwanted or unplanned pregnancies.

Rather than showing students how to properly put on a condom through an appropriate demonstration or show us a video on the precautions to take in order to have safe sex, in both middle school and high school I was brought into another teacher's classroom to hear a volunteer speak about abstinence.

In these pro-abstinence, anti- pre-marital sex speeches, the speaker would most likely make abstract comparisons about having sex with more than one person in your lifetime, such as asking students would they want to chew a piece of gum after other people had chewed it.

Additionally, students were required to bring a permission form signed by their parents in order to attend this lesson. Because of this, many students didn't even bring the permission slip back just because they didn't want to go and feel awkward while talking about sex.

While sex may be awkward to talk about in an educational setting among peers, allowing students or their parents to opt out of sex education is putting more than just the individuals involved at risk.

While abstinence can be considered a form of "safe sex", it is not even sex and teaching abstinence as a form of safe sex in place of proper sexual education is denying students access to safety. By teaching abstinence over true safe sex, educators fail to provide beneficial resources for their students.

According to Alabama Public Health in 2015, 70% of high school students in the state that reported being sexually active but did not use long term birth control, and 49% did not use condoms. Alabama has low contraceptive rates which result in high rates of teen pregnancies, teen births, and repeat births to teens.

Condoms are found in drug stores, and under Title X laws, minors may consent to contraceptive services that would generally require parental consent. In many places, anyone, including minors, can request free or low-cost contraception at health departments, without parents of minors being notified, but without proper sex education, teens and young adults won't know to utilize these options and all the consequences that come with unsafe sex happen because of it.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

58898
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

38023
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

959538
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

195659
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments