Another Useless Study Tells Us What We Already Know
Study Casts Doubt on Abstinence-Only Programs
Anyone that has worked with teenagers, or even pre-teens in this day and era, knows that their interest in sex, sexuality and intimacy is natural, enhanced by the hormonal flux that occurs during these years of puberty. Given that the onset of puberty and secondary sex/gender characteristics is occurring at an earlier age than in previous decades (or centuries), especially in girls, it is sort of impossible to oppose the natural draw towards sex and sexuality.
Even if it were possible to swim against the current of marketing, social exposure to sexual imagery and suggestion, the pop culture undermining of values once held regarding sexuality for our children (even if such was only the case for about a 30 year period of our history), swimming against nature and peer pressure is all but impossible. Even those of us that have worked with teens and pre-teens in a church context can attest that sex, sexuality and intimacy are issues for these kids... maybe even more so than for kids that are exposed to it everyday. Among PKs (preacher's kids), like my wife, there is an observable phenomenon of doing the exact opposite of what has been preached to them most of their lives (c.f. Footloose).
But those of us involved in Health Education (like myself) know that far too many kids are engaging in sex without being armed with knowledge about preventing disease, preventing pregnancy and planning a family. Those of us concerned with the spiritual and psychological health of our pre-teens, teens and young adults know that thousands of our children are engaging in sex, sexuality and intimacy in a completely unprepared state, resulting in a cycle of ignorance, numerous repetitive cycles of teen motherhood, some of our welfare burden, and entirely too much ignorance among us.
But no one needed a study to tell us that abstinence only programs of sex education doesn't work. It was, and remains, an inherently flawed rationale for any type of education--especially sex education--because it is based on the idea of barring the dissemination of information based on a version of Christian morality that isn't universal among Christians nor well-educated and reasoned persons. Such a study was a waste of time, money and effort.
It's not that any other version of "sex education" will prevent teens from engaging in sex. No sex education approach is likely to produce that result as such an effort is counter-intuitive, and probably counter-productive. But there is a high degree of likelihood that some disease, some pregnancies, some spiritual and psychological traumas, and some deaths may be prevented by providing our children with enough education and information to engage in some problem-solving, reasoning, and preventative measures. If we add to this some genuine care, concern and support--with avenues of support where they can seek out unconditional love--we might actually achieve our goals... that of healthy kids, healthy relationships and a healthier world.
Anyone that has worked with teenagers, or even pre-teens in this day and era, knows that their interest in sex, sexuality and intimacy is natural, enhanced by the hormonal flux that occurs during these years of puberty. Given that the onset of puberty and secondary sex/gender characteristics is occurring at an earlier age than in previous decades (or centuries), especially in girls, it is sort of impossible to oppose the natural draw towards sex and sexuality.
Even if it were possible to swim against the current of marketing, social exposure to sexual imagery and suggestion, the pop culture undermining of values once held regarding sexuality for our children (even if such was only the case for about a 30 year period of our history), swimming against nature and peer pressure is all but impossible. Even those of us that have worked with teens and pre-teens in a church context can attest that sex, sexuality and intimacy are issues for these kids... maybe even more so than for kids that are exposed to it everyday. Among PKs (preacher's kids), like my wife, there is an observable phenomenon of doing the exact opposite of what has been preached to them most of their lives (c.f. Footloose).
But those of us involved in Health Education (like myself) know that far too many kids are engaging in sex without being armed with knowledge about preventing disease, preventing pregnancy and planning a family. Those of us concerned with the spiritual and psychological health of our pre-teens, teens and young adults know that thousands of our children are engaging in sex, sexuality and intimacy in a completely unprepared state, resulting in a cycle of ignorance, numerous repetitive cycles of teen motherhood, some of our welfare burden, and entirely too much ignorance among us.
But no one needed a study to tell us that abstinence only programs of sex education doesn't work. It was, and remains, an inherently flawed rationale for any type of education--especially sex education--because it is based on the idea of barring the dissemination of information based on a version of Christian morality that isn't universal among Christians nor well-educated and reasoned persons. Such a study was a waste of time, money and effort.
It's not that any other version of "sex education" will prevent teens from engaging in sex. No sex education approach is likely to produce that result as such an effort is counter-intuitive, and probably counter-productive. But there is a high degree of likelihood that some disease, some pregnancies, some spiritual and psychological traumas, and some deaths may be prevented by providing our children with enough education and information to engage in some problem-solving, reasoning, and preventative measures. If we add to this some genuine care, concern and support--with avenues of support where they can seek out unconditional love--we might actually achieve our goals... that of healthy kids, healthy relationships and a healthier world.
posted by Jim Downey at 7:29 PM
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