Time to talk about sex

Written by Heather Bell

About half of all high school students are sexually active (National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention). While Michigan schools stress abstinence education and don’t appear to give information on contraceptives or birth control, 42 % of Michigan high school students are sexually active (CDC, 2005). Teens are told to abstain from sex until marriage and that this is the only 100 % effective way to prevent STDs and pregnancy but they aren’t given information about contraceptives or birth control nor any easy ay to obtain them if they choose to become sexually active. Michigan schools are prohibited from giving information on abortion and handing out “family planning” devices (HIV/STD and sex education in Michigan public schools, 2007). Although most planned parenthood organizations and free clinics give out free condoms and cheap or free birth control, students may not know this or don’t have transportation to these locations.

We need to do away with abstinence only education and refusing to talk about safe sex. We need to give teens all the information about sex and have open discussions both about waiting and using protection once they become sexually active. Teaching teens to abstain from sex until marriage may not be a realistic goal any longer now that the average age for marriage is 25.3 for women and 27.1 for men (Abstinence, sex, and STD/HIV Education programs for Teens, Kirby). In many European countries such as Netherland, France, and Germany promote comprehensive sex education and safe sex practices (Kelly & McGee, 1999). European teens have less negative consequences associated with sex, aren’t asked to abstain until marriage, and are given positive messages to help them unplanned pregnancy and STDs (Kelly & McGee, 1999). The government runs “safe sex or no sex” type ads on television and billboards (Harris, 2002). Examples of these ads are “Be proud of having safe sex”, “STDs are available somewhere near you. Condoms are too”, I’ll take something off if you put something on”, and Your condom or mine?” (Harris, 2002). Sex is also openly talked about in sex education classes as well as other classes (Something to learn, Harris). Students have easy access to free contraceptives and birth control (Harris, 2002). While most Americans would think this would promote more teen sex, it actually does the opposite. European students on average wait a two years longer to become sexually active then American teens, 15.8 versus 17.7 (Harris, 2002). This shows that when you talk to teens like the responsible young adults they are and give them the information they need, they usually make the responsible choice. I’m not proposing that the U.S. can change it’s views on sex over night and have an over all more open view on sex but we can change the information and resources teens are given. We can end abstinence only education programs and give students comprehensive sex education in schools. We can also run teen oriented safe sex ads and make condoms available in schools.

References

CDC. (2005). Youth risk behavior surveillance-United States. Youth Online. Retrieved

from http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss55505a1.htm

Harris, M. (2002). Something to learn, Sex education in Europe vs. in the U.S. The

Athens News.

HIV/STD and Sex education in Michigan public schools. (2007). A summary of legal

obligations and best practices. Retrieved from www.michigan.gov/mde

Kelly, M.A. & McGee, M. (1999). Report from a study tour teen sexuality education in

the Netherlands, Frances, and Germany. SIECUS Report, 27(2), 11-15.

Kirby, D. (2007). Abstinence, sex, and STD/HIV education programs for teens: Their

impact on sexual behavior, pregnancy, and sexually transmitted disease. Williams

and Flora Hewlett Foundation.