Melissa

Billing
ENGL 1010-401
Entering the Fray

Abstinence Only Sexuality Education: Does it work?

Who should win the battle of Sexuality Education in America? There are two major
positions when it comes to the teaching of sex education to American kids. In one corner
we have those who advocate for comprehensive sex ed, and in the other corner those who
advocate teaching abstinence only until marriage education, and you better believe they are
ready to duke it out to defend what they believe to be thee best prevention of teen pregnancy and
transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Christina F. Rickenback thinks that
abstinence only sex education sets a clear expectation and believes that kids need to be taught
that abstinence is the only truly effective form of birth control (Rickenback 349). Abstinence
only teaches no sex outside marriage. It does not address other forms of contraceptives or
protection STIs, nor does it clearly define sex. Patrick Malone and Monica Rodriguez argue
that young people need to be armed with the tools to protect themselves, and this includes
knowledge of contraceptions and safe sex practices taught by comprehensive sex ed (Malone
22). Can abstinence only education really be an effective educational tool? Does it not make
more sense to actually teach when we are calling it education? It would seem that
teaching kids to ignore their sexual feelings and just wait is asking for trouble.

Abstinence only until marriage education focuses on the need to wait until marriage

before becoming sexually active. This educational approach receives support from the
government, and up until 2009 was the only federally funded form of Sexuality education
(Stanger-Hall 1). To receive funding abstinence only programs need to comply with the A-H
guidelines. Those guidelines state, among other provisions, that you must teach that sexual

activity outside of a monogamous marital relationship could have serious harmful physical
and psychological effects. If that sexual activity results in a child there may be harmful
consequences for the parents, child and society (Malone). This is the true belief of those
who advocate for Abstinence Only. Some also argue that if you teach about contraceptives
and safe sex practices you are sending mixed messages to kids (Stanger-Hall 1). There are
several studies showing that the benefits of Abstinence Only education are really seen at
the 18 month and beyond with up to a 30% difference in the amount of teens having sex
after receiving an abstinence only education compare to students that had comprehensive
sex ed (What Works Clearinghouse). However, even advocates for this type education will
admit relatively few of the abstinence only sex education programs have been properly
evaluated . Of the 46 curricula listed in the Abstinence Clearinghouse Directory of Abstinence
Resources, no published evaluations exist that examine the effects of any of them on sexual
behavior (Denny 414)
According to the guidelines for Comprehensive Sexuality Education from the
Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States Comprehensive school
based sexuality education compliments and augments the sexuality education children
receive from their families, religious and community groups, and health care
professionals. This includes not only teaching about abstinence, but also contraception,
including emergency contraception, and reproductive choice: lesbian, gay, bisexual, and
transgender. Comprehensive sex education should be science based and medically accurate
(Malone). The US is ranked #1 among highly developed nations for teen pregnancy rates
and sexually transmitted diseases. Other counties who take a comprehensive sex education
view on education have a significantly lower teen pregnancy rate. We can also see a large

difference in teen pregnancy and STIs between states that teach abstinence only and those
who teach comprehensive. If we look at the numbers, starting with states that take an
abstinence only until marriage approach, then moving to states that teach abstinence in
relation to comprehensive, then finally to states that dont mention abstinence, we see the
pregnancy rates declining. The more abstinence is stressed the higher the pregnancy rates
and transmission of STIs(Malone). Teens who take virginity pledges, promoted by
abstinence only until marriage, may delay the first time that they have sex, but most do not
make it until marriage and are less likely to use contraception. Also, teens who are taught
abstinence only tend to participate in other sexual behaviors, like oral and anal sex,
believing that because there is no vaginal penetration that does not count. They are also
less likely to be informed about the symptoms of STIs, so the put off treatment (Epstein
348).

I think that we are foolish if we believe that by just telling kids not to do something

they are going to listen. I also believe that when we teach kids abstinence only and they fail,
which most will, they will feel shame about themselves because they have been taught all
the horrors of pre-marital sex. Sex is a completely natural part of life and kids need to know
the responsible way to handle the feelings that they are going to experience. Do I wish that
teens would wait until marriage, or to be older if they choose not to marry, to have sex?
Yes. Do I think this is realistic? NO. American needs to fix this problem. Do we want to
continue to have children that feel ashamed of themselves for natural feelings and actions?
We need to stop teaching shame, and start teaching responsibility.

Works cited

Denny, G, and M Young. "An Evaluation Of An Abstinence-Only Sex Education Curriculum:

An 18-Month Follow-Up." Journal Of School Health 76.8 (2006): 414-422. CINAHL Complete.

Epstein, Jane MSN, CPNP Does Abstinence-Only Education Put Adolescents at Risk?
MCN, The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing Issue: Volume
31(6), November/December 2006, p 348

Malone, Patrick, and Monica Rodriguez. "Comprehensive Sex Education vs. Abstinence-
Only-Until-Marriage Programs." Human Rights 2011: 5. JSTOR Journa

Rickenback, Christina F. MSN, APRN, CPNP. MCN, The American Journal of Maternal/Child
Nursing Issue: Volume 31(6), November/December 2006, p 349

Stanger-Hall, Kathrin F., and David W. Hall. "Abstinence-Only Education And Teen
Pregnancy Rates: Why We Need Comprehensive Sex Education In The U.S." Plos ONE 6.10
(2011):