Blog # 56: Abstinence-only Sex Ed

http://www.avert.org/abstinence.htmhttp://www.itsyoursexlife.org　Abstinence - only sex education is a form of sex education that emphasizes abstinence from sex and often includes many other types of sexual and reproductive health education, particularly regarding birth control and safe sex. These types of programs promote sexual abstinence until marriage and talks about using contraceptives that count as birth control and the use of condoms. This program also talks about ways to avoid sexually transmitted diseases that are caused from intercourse. Many young teenagers fell invincible when having sex at such a young age. They think they are unable to get pregnant and they will never get a STD from their partner. Many religions, such as Catholics believe it is morally wrong to have sexual intercourse before wedlock. I am catholic and I believe this “belief” is pathetic and wrong. It is extremely unlikely to get married before losing one’s virginity because TIMES HAVE CHANGED. Maybe a thousand years ago this was likely and I think the religions belief need to be updated. There is a new popular television show called “16 and pregnant” that airs every Tuesday night on MTV. I think this shows has some good points to on how being pregnant and a teenager is hard to deal with, but this show clearly glamorizes the whole meaning of teenage mothers. It makes other girls think “those girls are getting attention and paid a great deal of money to share their story on television because they got knocked up, maybe if I got pregnant, I could be on television too.” This statement is ridiculous because this show makes it seem okay for young girls to have sex and get pregnant at a young age. In contrast, this show clearly states how to prevent pregnancy by the use on contraceptives- birth control and condoms. There are many different types of birth control drugs that include oral pills, liquid shots in the arm, and a female “condom” that is placed inside the vagina that is supposed to prevent pregnancy for 5 years. Anyways, do I agree with having Abstinence - only sex education programs within school? Absolutely yes! The reason why I agree with this programs is because some young teenagers live in a house that is so conservative that they do not learn about abstinence inside their own home, which is a place where most learning of life is taken place. I think when a child ask about sex, a parent should be straight up with them and tell them the truth instead of lying about the birds and the bees talk. Some places do not allow sex education because they think it is promoting sexual behavior. No, in reality sex education just tells the truth about it all. Teenagers are going to have sex if they really want to. No one in their right mind is going to be able to stop them unless they are locked up for their entire teenage years. The only right way, is to be completely supportive of their child’s decisions and to have open discussions about sex.