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On more than one occasion, I’ve spoken out about the futility of abstinence only programs. And it seems that my conclusions are once more born out.
Worse, and the study is not sure why, those virginity pledgers are less likely to use any form of protection when they do fall off the abstinence wagon. This means that in the end, abstinence only programs must contribute to more pregnancies, abortions, and STD’s than those who receive comprehensive sex education.
This is sad indeed. Worse, it is, it would seem most immoral to withhold information to teens when so much is a stake in terms of health and the consequences of unwanted pregnancy. Fully a dozen states have opted out of the federal based program, for just this reason. The fact is that states that promote full sex education report that their incidence of STD’s and teen pregnancy are down.
Thanks to Bush and his band of wrong headed religious airheads, teen pregnancy is up for the first time in 15 years. We are told that the Obama administration plans to revisit the federal funding issue and hopefully make some changes. It would seem the obvious thing to do.
This is just one example of government at it’s worst. There are studies upon studies that show that abstinence only doesn’t work. And yet, Congress dutifully passes legislation funding such programs. They do this in the face of the studies which are essentially ignored. The agenda of the right is being pursued even when it is clearly erroneous. In a time of economic disaster, can we afford to spend money, even so much as a dime on programs that are demonstrably not working?
It’s time to wake up and face reality. Those who really want their children protected will hear the warning and make sure that their states school systems promote a full and complete sex education program.
Existential Ennui 
I guess I think churches should stress abstinence and schools should educate about birth control. And parents should do both (if that’s their conviction). I don’t think there’s anything wrong with trying convince teens to remain virgins. But it’s not really the place of public schools to do that.
I think the critical issue here is: integrity. How do we teach our children to have a sense of personal and interpersonal integrity? BOYS and girls.
Sharing our bodies in the most intimate of ways with another is not something we should do casually….and when we do, we ought to know what we are doing and the potential consequences for deeper love BUT ALSO for pregnancy and disease.
It’s a matter for churches, parents, and schools. Churches can help parents understand and teach the idea of the body as sacred, to be shared with great care and love. Parents can teach values that fit their understanding and hope for their kids. Schools can teach methods for safety and protection.
I am not a fan of abstinence only – for exactly the reasons stated above. But teach our kids that the body is a precious gift to be shared wisely…sends a much different message…and seems to me to fit more what God intends.
I think that the reason those who take these pledges become worse off is because when they do break their pledges they do so while denying the consequences. It’s the head in the sand approach to birth control and sexuality.
I wonder
1) whether anyone has ever compared theft rates between children taught that theft is always wrong and those taught that it should only be engaged in carefully and when necessary.
2) whether the results of #1 would change what we teach our children.
It is sheer lunacy, complete lunacy. When I want to shock conservatives – yes, sometimes I do this – as they are usually my relatives I say things like… “People have been f*cking since the dawn of time. A pledge will stop them because….????”
Why not be clear and honest with children, young adults?
“Worse, and the study is not sure why, those virginity pledgers are less likely to use any form of protection when they do fall off the abstinence wagon.”
Actually, there have been other studies which have addressed this question–and it is because in stressing abstinance, the abstinance promoters “educate” the teens by telling them that condoms don’t work…. and all the other contraceptives aids are dangerous….. sorry I don’t have a link, but one of the programs is called the Golden Ring Thing –meaning wait for sex until you have the golden ring in hand…
here is a link to the educational use of condoms by these groups: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/27/AR2007042702106.html
and sorry, it is the Silver Ring Thing.
I like Rick Allen’s response. Granted, I am a bit old fashioned in this regard, believing that self-control should be taught about a whole constellation of circumstances, this being just one of them.
The abstinence only method doesn’t work, primarily because it’s taught as a method rather than as part of a whole value system.
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Ruth, I truly agree. I don’t think there is a thing wrong with trying to convince children that sex is a grown up thing that is best left til adulthood. But given what we know of reality, is seems nonsensical to pretend that they will adhere to our beliefs when they are not yet mature enough to see this. Any program should assume that parents are fully engaged, although we know this not to be the case. Schools should make available truthful factual information that is not judgmental about what is right or wrong.
Mompriest, again, I agree totally. I think that our churches and parents are the places where we learn the reasons for abstinence, not in school. Schools only point here is to teach health, and that should include not only abstinence by also proper contraceptive behavior. I am fully of the opinion that sex is something that should not be done by our youth, but I don’t think that schools make a good case for it, since it is so tied up with religion. They can of course point out the other side effects of disease, pregnancy, and so forth, but the morality of the situation requires it seems to me parents and church intervention.
“Worse, and the study is not sure why, those virginity pledgers are less likely to use any form of protection when they do fall off the abstinence wagon.”
First they don’t believe in STDs and second they can’t imagine God would let them catch one. I’d love to see the infection rates in abstinence only areas.
Liberality, the problem is there is no answer as to why this stat is such. We don’t know if these kids are unaware of contraception information, or somehow are simply purposefully neglectful of use. That is not addressed by the study, only the sad bottom line that these kids avoid contraception and actually are in worse shape than kids who get comprehensive instruction.
Rick I’m not sure I see your analogy. It is not a matter of saying that sex is wrong except in some circumstances. It is saying that human nature being what it is, sex occurs. We have a duty to responsibly educate our youth to avoid the real health hazards that occur by non use of contraception devices. To pretend that somehow we can just say no is not effective. The morality of the refusal to face facts seems apparent to me. You feel differently?
Fran, yes I agree. Just avoiding the truth it seems to me is immoral. The fact that at certain points in time we don’t publicize our sexual proclivities, certainly doesn’t mean we weren’t engaged in them. THroughout history I doubt we have ever had much difference in the stats of those who do and those who don’t engage in sexual behavior that is “considered” wrong by its generation. We just pretend it doesn’t exist sometimes and sometimes not.
Margaret, I know you are correct in this. When I used to frequent CAF a lot, their arguments were always peppered with how contraception didn’t work and how even using the pill was an abortifacient. This all contrary to what I understand to be actual medical evidence. They stress the failure rates as a means to convince people that they shouldn’t use them. It’s immoral as I have said before in my opinion.
Chani, I think that can be the case. We perhaps shouldn’t divorce sexual behavior from a whole range of other behaviors we dislike. Addictive issues for alcohol, drugs and so on should also perhaps be taught as a series of control problems that we all face both in youth and adulthood. It is no doubt part of a broader spectrum of behaviors.
Frogette, yes indeed it may mean that they are not receiving facts, only advice not to engage. The numbers suggest that there is more promiscuity rather than less I believe. Such is true of the bible belt in general when it comes to other vices, including divorce and so forth. The repressed individual seems to act our when their stress level becomes more than they can bear.
Sherry, I suppose the point of the analogy was to question whether our “guaging” the effects of trying to teach what is right and what is wrong should entirely govern whether we should give up the effort.
There is a long philosophical history to the question of whether virtue can be taught at all. These kinds of discussions raise that larger question. To take perhaps a more pertinent analogy, all schools communicate to students that it is wrong to cheat. Does that “work”? I don’t know, but it seems worth making the point, exhorting children to be honest, even if we can’t say that it’s at all effective.
This term “virginity pledges” reminds me of the fact that most of us put some stock in wedding vows, and we would, I imagine, still be supportive of them even in the teeth of evidence that they aren’t demonstrably effective in preventing adultery. I would imagine that such pledges are something of a joke among the kids themselves. That still wouldn’t convince me, though, to give up on trying to persuade them that it is better to delay sexual activity. And I at least understand the point that saying “don’t do it, but if you do, here’s how” sends out a somewhat ambiguous message.
As always, its a matter of balance and having some sense of where we want to be. Which is better, 95% of 13-year-olds being sexually active, but avoiding pregnancy through use of contraceptives, and the other 5% abstinent, or 95% being abstinent, but the other 5% getting pregnant through unfamiliarity with contraceptives? Even people with a common interest in reducing teenage sexual activity may answer that question differently. What to some is primarily a medical issue is to others primarily a moral or developmental issue. What is helpful to some children is going to be harmful to others. What keeps some from getting pregnant will enable others to start sexual activity earlier.
Whatever the best answer is, I suppose we can agree that we can certainly do better. Abortion and illegitimacy will always be with us, but surely not at the rates at which they now occur (even if, I understand, they’ve gone down somewhat). Was it that long ago that the norm was children born to married parents?
And then there’s this:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/30/science/30tier.html?em
(which is partly why I suspect that these social studies should be taken with a grain of salt)
Thanks Rick for your thoughtful reply. I agree that we should not stop trying to help children see the error of sexual activity at an early age. And I agree, that some children will use contraceptive education as a means to engage in sexual activity with abandon. But I find the statistics to be compelling here. The fact is that study after study has been done, and the results are all the same. Abstinence only is simply counterproductive. It doesn’t effectively reduce the numbers of STD’s and unwanted pregnancies at all, and in fact enlarges that group. I still feel that comprehensive sex education is the best bet. Parents and religious instructors have to do their part in explaining the use such information, and for teaching the very good reasons for delaying such behavior until adulthood.
I agree, that we would not remove our wedding vows even though for nearly half of us, they prove of no use whatsoever. This is a difficult area to be sure, as are all moral issues in the end. The grey intersections prove difficult to negociate and always will.
People are entitled to have different beliefs, yet when it comes to health issues, I opt always for what protects the child until they are old enough to make decisions for themselves. I thank you again for the time and thought you put into your response.