Sexual Education in the United States primarily revolves around abstinence-only education. Abstinence-only education promotes the values of the middle class of our society. Various studies have shown that abstinence-only education is not the best course for providing teens with the necessary information to make choices about sex. While one might optimistically hope that teens would choose abstinence, a survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), found that “47% of high school students have engaged in sexual activity at some point in their lives” (CDC, 2014).
This paper looks at the effects abstinence only education has on the teens residing in the state of Texas. This is accomplished through looking at the following: …show more content…
can be traced back to the 1800’s. According to Strong, much like the abstinence-only education of today, sex education in the 1800’s focused on the idea that abstinence from sex promoted bourgeoisie values relating to purity and morality (Strong, 1972). As Strong states, in the Victorian mind, repression of sexuality lead to physical health and upstanding character. The values of the time stated that sex was a means of procreation, and thus sex for enjoyment was evil and depraved (Strong, 1972). Parents left their children ignorant of sex and society taught them that sex was wrong (Strong, 1972). By the end of the 19th century ideas about sexuality education began to change. In 1892 “The National Education Association promoted sexuality education as a necessary part of a national education curriculum” (Advocates for Youth, n.d.). Strong states that in 1900, social organizations interested in upholding “morality” had joined the push for sexual education in schools. These organizations felt that “Since parents failed to educate their children about sex and sexual morality, the reformers believed that the school should assume the burden, at least as a stopgap measure…” (Strong, …show more content…
Government into sexual education. By 1920 “The U.S. Public Health Service” had conducted “…50 regional conferences in sexuality education in high schools and colleges”, and by 1922 they had published “…the Manual in Sex Education in High School” (Advocates for Youth, n.d.). This was due to increased demand for education on sex caused by WWI; “…but the war, when every man had to be examined physically, was a horrible nightmare, and has led to the courageous crusade for sex enlightenment for individual prevention and community protection” (Sex Education, 1922). Sex education adapted to fulfill the needs of military men on the front lines. The 1930s and 1940s were fairly calm in terms of the progression of sex education. In 1942, the “Birth Control Federation of America” became Planned Parenthood”, which is still around today (Advocates for Youth, n.d.). The 1960s and 1970s saw a lot more in terms of “progress” made. After the FDA “approved the sale of oral contraceptives” in 1960, several social organizations began to argue against sex education (Advocates for Youth, n.d.). Four years later, in 1964, the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS) was formed (Advocates for Youth, n.d.). In his article “The Legacy of Abstinence-only Discourses and the Place of Pleasure in US Discourses on Teenage Sexuality”, Favier notes that “The sexual revolution that took place in the western world in the 1960s-1970s…saw a
This paper looks at the effects abstinence only education has on the teens residing in the state of Texas. This is accomplished through looking at the following: …show more content…
can be traced back to the 1800’s. According to Strong, much like the abstinence-only education of today, sex education in the 1800’s focused on the idea that abstinence from sex promoted bourgeoisie values relating to purity and morality (Strong, 1972). As Strong states, in the Victorian mind, repression of sexuality lead to physical health and upstanding character. The values of the time stated that sex was a means of procreation, and thus sex for enjoyment was evil and depraved (Strong, 1972). Parents left their children ignorant of sex and society taught them that sex was wrong (Strong, 1972). By the end of the 19th century ideas about sexuality education began to change. In 1892 “The National Education Association promoted sexuality education as a necessary part of a national education curriculum” (Advocates for Youth, n.d.). Strong states that in 1900, social organizations interested in upholding “morality” had joined the push for sexual education in schools. These organizations felt that “Since parents failed to educate their children about sex and sexual morality, the reformers believed that the school should assume the burden, at least as a stopgap measure…” (Strong, …show more content…
Government into sexual education. By 1920 “The U.S. Public Health Service” had conducted “…50 regional conferences in sexuality education in high schools and colleges”, and by 1922 they had published “…the Manual in Sex Education in High School” (Advocates for Youth, n.d.). This was due to increased demand for education on sex caused by WWI; “…but the war, when every man had to be examined physically, was a horrible nightmare, and has led to the courageous crusade for sex enlightenment for individual prevention and community protection” (Sex Education, 1922). Sex education adapted to fulfill the needs of military men on the front lines. The 1930s and 1940s were fairly calm in terms of the progression of sex education. In 1942, the “Birth Control Federation of America” became Planned Parenthood”, which is still around today (Advocates for Youth, n.d.). The 1960s and 1970s saw a lot more in terms of “progress” made. After the FDA “approved the sale of oral contraceptives” in 1960, several social organizations began to argue against sex education (Advocates for Youth, n.d.). Four years later, in 1964, the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS) was formed (Advocates for Youth, n.d.). In his article “The Legacy of Abstinence-only Discourses and the Place of Pleasure in US Discourses on Teenage Sexuality”, Favier notes that “The sexual revolution that took place in the western world in the 1960s-1970s…saw a