The Influence Of Sex Education

Great Essays
Sex education, arguably one of the most controversial topics to surface in American politics over the past half century, poses a complicated problem to citizens and lawmakers alike. Following the AIDS epidemic and severe spike in teen pregnancy in the 1980s, lawmakers and educators began drafting and implementing more sex education classes and courses in public schools in an attempt to remedy the ever-growing issue. While the desired results of sex ed are largely agreed on, the subject matter of such teachings and practices used are a popular subject of debate.

Sex Ed is no stranger to fierce opposition from devout moralists (religiously motivated and secular alike), fundamentalists and ideologues who adhere to more traditional, restrictive
…show more content…
Programs are not only being more frequently implemented, but have, generally, become more comprehensive as well. Gone are the days that abstinence-only education was the norm as more thorough, detailed teachings educate students both on the realities of sex and effective forms of protection take center stage. Contraception, masturbation, conception, and gestation are among many topics covered in modern sex education…all in sharp contrast to the conservative practices used during its first years. It is an undeniable fact that sex education is more publicly accepted; and just as sex has become more less taboo and stigmatized, our sexual education has become more comprehensive to accommodate these changes in attitudes. Overall, sex education in general has won the support of the majority Americans—making its methodology and implementation the main focus of debate. But what has inspired this sudden increase in sex education’s social acceptance? Is it the results of such programs, or simply a natural development at our society becomes more tolerant of varying sexualities and sexual …show more content…
Substantial differences in success exist between the more traditional abstinence-only education, comprehensive education, and the more conventional mix between the two forms. One significant aspect to make note of when discussing the results of sex education in schools is these said differences, and their adverse effect on sex ed outcomes. It is quite probable that public’s failure to “distinguish between comprehensive and abstinence-only approaches” (Pan) undersells the true value of sexual education and understates its success. Therefore, it is critical to keep this fact in mind when deliberating the pros and cons of sex education, as well as weighing the data. It is a common misconception that abstinence-only education and comprehensive is equally effective, abstinence-only programs having even been painted as the superior by political actors and the public at large. However, these all too prevalent beliefs have no merit, as shown by works such as “The Knowledge Gap Versus the Belief Gap and Abstinence-Only Sex Education”

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    The importance of teaching Sexual Education at an early level increases social awareness of the facts regarding human sexuality. Ontario Sexual Education Curriculum must be up to date and informative with the current changing ways in society. If it wasn’t for the sexual revolution in the 1960s, we would not have had an informative curriculum now in the 21st century. In addition, the leading crisis of AIDS in the 1980s demanded a mandatory sexual education curriculum be taught in the classroom. Over the years of research and studies, society has become more liberal.…

    • 715 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    In turn, abstinence based sexual education does not teach about things such as contraception or safer practices. Not to mention that abstinence-only education has stopped being funded federally since 2009 after evidence that abstinence based sexual education is ineffective was accumulated (Stranger-Hall & Hall, 2011). For example, teens that reside in states that prescribe abstinence education are more likely to become pregnant. Abstinence education in the U. S does not actually cause abstinence abiding behavior (Stanger-Hall & Hall, 2011). Thus, showing that abstinence based sexual education is not only, not effective, but it could also be…

    • 2166 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Abstinence v. Comprehensive An Analysis of the Respective Results Sex education has always been a controversial topic, especially to which it is taught. The Reagan administration passed the Adolescent Family Life Act for abstinence-only education, based on the presumption that talking about sex in school would promote sexual activities among teenagers. The President quietly passed the two-point act 1981, as the House of Representatives did not vote on it.…

    • 2328 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Annotated Bibliography

    • 1326 Words
    • 6 Pages

    The author explains the ever-evolving views towards sexual education, effects of the enactment of relevant laws, formation of various groups and organizations pushing their agendas, and the development of sex education in America as a whole starting from the early 1980s. More importantly, however, the author delves into the findings of a study assessing the effectiveness of abstinence and sex education/policies, many of the findings presented in tables throughout the work. Given all of the data presented in this article, this work can easily be used to support the argument that abstinence-only education is highly ineffective in my final research paper as well as to support the mild success of combination teachings. The credible methodology as well as the unbiased presentation of the results set this work apart from others I’ve previously reviewed. Kantor, Leslie M. “Abstinence-Only Education: Violating Students' Rights to Health Information.”…

    • 1326 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In the article “ The World’s Problem with Sex Ed,” Jonathan Zimmerman argues that we can and should take sex ed out of schools in response to the concerns of religious minorities, since the information about sex is available online and sex ed classes in schools do not show any effectiveness in preventing pregnancies. Zimmerman states that “in 2009, when Unesco released sex-ed guidelines that included information on masturbation and contraception, American conservatives called them culturally insensitive to minorities. It’s a kind of one-size-fits-all approach that’s damaging to cultures, religions and to children, one abortion opponent warned.” An alliance between home-grown and foreign-born social conservatives would be a powerful political…

    • 272 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    There are many differences between abstinence-only sex education and comprehensive sex education. The most important of these differences is, the choice to teach about consequences and contraceptives. This article is written by distinguished professors. This article specifically sets out the differences between the types of sex education. Walcot, C., Chenneville, T.,& Tarquini, S. (2011).…

    • 660 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Abstinence-only sexual education has been around for a while now and is focused, generally, on one of two types of messages regarding sexual activity: abstinence only or comprehensive sex education. Abstinence-only messages relay that sex should be delayed until marriage for a multitude of reasons including religion, teen pregnancy, and the spreading of sexually transmitted infections. However, there are many false claims in these programs in order to further push teenagers into accepting abstinence as a life choice. The effects of not only the programs but societies opinions on this personal choice range in various negative ways. Sexual education teachers and school administrators are eagle-eyed on what they allow in classes and criticized…

    • 1151 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Abstinence-Only Education

    • 1496 Words
    • 6 Pages

    The Harmful Inaccuracies of Abstinence-Only Education For many reasons, including both moral and financial, “Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage” sexual education programs are taught all across America. These are programs that emphasize abstaining from sex until marriage, and generally tell students that this is the most effective way to avoid pregnancy and diseases. These programs often do not teach about other forms of contraception, with the belief that abstinence should be enough. Unfortunately, these programs are still taught despite the mounting evidence showing that not only are they ineffective, but actively harmful to the student’s health.…

    • 1496 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The federal funding of abstinence-only sex education programs has been a controversial topic for years. For over a decade the United States has been funding abstinence-only programs, but the question still remains whether or not these programs are effective and should be continued. This is a controversial topic because the United States has the highest rates for teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases amongst the developed nations. Although we do need to reduce the rates for teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, I believe that federal funding of abstinence-only sex education programs should be revoked. While there is a strong need to implement programs to reduce high teenage pregnancy and STD rates, these programs should be effective and they should not be costly.…

    • 658 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Abstinence In Schools

    • 1183 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Sexual acts between unmarried couples have drastically increased in our modern society, leaving us vulnerable to all kinds of diseases, among other things. The only way to stop this, is by teaching abstinence in schools. Sex education in schools should only teach abstinence to students, because doing so would prevent unwanted pregnancy, reduce sexually transmitted diseases, and teach student to have strong convictions and moral values. The first reason sex education in schools should only teach abstinence is to prevent any form of unwanted pregnancy. It is widely believed that the United States has the highest rate of teen pregnancy in the developed world; nearly double those of Canada and other developed countries, and the result is a public…

    • 1183 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Causes The Enlightenment: The most apparent cause of the enlightenment was the Thirty Years War. This destructive war, which lasted from 1618 to 1648, compelled German writers to pen harsh criticisms regarding the ideas of nationalism and warfare. These authors were some of the first enlightenment minds to go against tradition and propose better solutions. During the same time, European thinkers exposed Europe to other cultures and philosophies. Finally, centuries of mistreatment at the hands of monarchies and the church brought average citizens in Europe to a breaking point, and the most intelligent finally decided to speak out.…

    • 472 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The failure of the abstinence-only education courses is not providing students throughout the United States with sufficient sexual education to prevent this nation’s youth from being unprotected in their own sexual lives. Abstinence-only classes teach students that they should keep away from sexual encounters until they are married but it is clear that teenagers are having sexual intercourse anyway and abstinence-only education is not teaching them the content to protect themselves. Out of all fifty states in the United States only twenty states mandate sexual education to be taught in schools. An alternative to abstinence-only education is one that provides students with medically accurate information about multiple forms of STD’s and pregnancy…

    • 762 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Should Sex Education be in Schools? A Review of the Literature Statistics show 34.3 percent out of 1000 female adolescents are pregnant, actually the lowest recorded in history (King, 2014).The previous statistics lead to approximately 850,000 adolescent pregnancies alone (McKeon, 2006), the highest rates of adolescent pregnancy recorded in the United States opposed to every other country. McKeon (2006) also states around 9.1 million adolescents have contracted an STI/STD under the age of twenty-five. In the society were young adults are expected to excel managing major degrees or higher in college contraception frowned upon by many.…

    • 1124 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Many experts in the healthcare field have stated numerous times that sexual education is extremely crucial in the school systems. Sexual education in schools needs to be addressed because it could deter HIV/AIDS; it will decrease teen pregnancy, and it can also help young people make wise decisions. Without the input of sexual curriculum the world would slowly deteriorate with one preventable incident at a time. Imagine hearing the words, “Mom, the doctor said I am positive for HIV/AIDS” leave your child’s mouth.…

    • 706 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Sexual Education has been encouraged to be a part of public school education since the late 1800’s. It is a program that is supposed to help young adolescents understand their body, promote abstinence, types of contraception, the risks of engaging in sexual activities, and how to prevent diseases or pregnancy. However, many parents fight this program because of their beliefs that teens should stay abstinent till marriage, and learning about sex will increase their urge to have sex. Depending on what the state requires to be taught and what a school district wants, a student will either receive one of the two styles of sexual education. The two styles are comprehensive and abstinence only.…

    • 1798 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Great Essays