In his proposed budget for 2017, President Obama made a somewhat startling decision. President Obama has cut all federal funding going towards abstinence only sex education in schools. Many were grateful for his decision, but there are still those who are completely against it.
Proponents for abstinence-only have often said that the “comprehensive approach,” or the information based approach to sex-ed, only encourages premarital sex, and that sex should only happen within the confines of marriage. Often, abstinence-only education incorporates elements with religious undertones, and is more ideal-based instead of fact-based. Proponents claim that abstinence-only is the best way to educate American youth on sexuality.
However, scientific evidence for many years now has proven otherwise.
Abstinence-only, statistically, does not affect the rates of unwanted pregnancy, transmission of STIs and HIV, or teen sexual behavior in general.
In fact, there is sufficient evidence to suggest the abstinence-only programs actually impacts the health of American youth exclusively in a negative way. Research on virginity pledges concludes that teens who pledge to “keep their virginity” until marriage are six times more likely to engage in oral sex than their non-pledging peers.
On top of abstinence-only sex education being completely ineffective, it spreads incredibly harmful ideas about sex and sexuality. It reduces women to their virginities, and places all their value in whether or not they’ve had sex.
When talking about how having multiple sexual partners is “damaging,” abstinence-only educators often equate women and girls who have sex to a piece of tape (because what happens to a piece of tape when sticking to multiple surfaces? It loses its “bonding power”) or a piece of gum (because who wants a chewed up piece of gum?)
This is very clearly a terrible mentality that can seriously affect the way young men view women, and the way young women view themselves. This is also only the tip of the iceberg of problematic thinking. Among other issues, abstinence-only does not even touch on LGBTQIA+ issues regarding sex and sexuality or consent.
Clearly sex education needs a change in this country- maybe towards a more fact-based approach. States with fact-based sex-ed even have lower pregnancy and STI rates, as well as a later starting age for intercourse.
But abstinence-only just isn’t working anymore.
For more information check out SIECUS. For a more in-depth coverage, check out John Oliver’s take on sex ed.
