Abstinence-Only Education Vs. Comprehensive Sex Education

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Thanks to Wikimedia for the image.

A report released by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) revealed a correlation between states that endorse abstinence-only sex education and high teen pregnancy rates, while states that offer comprehensive, accurate, and evidence-based sex education tend to have lower teen pregnancy rates.

Quotes from representatives of Planned Parenthood and other women’s health organizations are cautiously optimistic about how these results will affect official funding and endorsement of sex education.

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About Jeana

Jeana

Jeana Jorgensen, PhD recently completed her doctoral degree in folklore and gender studies at Indiana University. She studies fairy tales and other narratives, dance, body art, feminist theory, digital humanities, and gender identity.

  • http://twitter.com/foxyfolklorist Jeana Jorgensen

    Thanks. I hope so too.

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    I’m afraid I’m about to be cynical again.

    I believe policy in sex education is never based on evidence and best practice, it’s based on social, political and religious objectives.

    Basically, the people who make these decisions often don’t give a hoot about teen pregnancy figures and the data showing one thing or another, they care about preaching their moral views, securing their position, or persuading public opinion in their favor.

    If the population don’t like the mere suggestion of their kids having sex, they will not support a person suggesting that (even if evidence supports it) they should change their attitudes.

    Ignorance has always been at the root of all of these issues, and no amount of common sense or evidence can persuade a mob that they are wrong – especially when religion plays a part in the argument.