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TechnographSex ed isn't satisfying America's kids
By Katie Dunne
Posted: 9/2/08 Section: Opinion Columns
"The last time I freaked out, I just kept lookin' down, I st-st-stuttered when you asked me what I'm thinkin' 'bout."
This used to be my favorite line from Miley Cyrus' hit song, "See You Again." It took on a whole new meaning when I considered how LifeStyles Condoms might use it in a commercial.
According to Carol Carrozza, VP of marketing at LifeStyles, the company offered 15-year-old Cyrus a gig as spokeswoman. Really? I'm pretty sure 90 percent of her fans are under the age of 12.
Although Cyrus declined the offer, saying she was waiting to have sex until marriage ('atta girl, Miley), it speaks volumes to the promiscuity of America's youth.
According to the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2005, 47 percent of high schoolers had engaged in sexual intercourse, 34 percent of whom did not use a condom. Of the 19 million new sexually transmitted infections each year, almost half are diagnosed in individuals ages 15-24. In 2000, 13 percent of all pregnant women, or in many cases girls, were adolescents aged 15-19.
By age 15, I would assume that most kids have participated in some sort of sex education class, where they learn about sexuality, relationships, and the importance of contraceptives. Imagine my surprise when I learned that the United States federal government contributed more than $1 billion to abstinence-only education over the last decade. Under the Bush administration, annual funding for these programs doubled between 2001 and 2005.
Abstinence-only education, as defined by Title V of the Social Security Act, "teaches that a mutually faithful monogamous relationship in the context of marriage is the expected standard of sexual activity." Such programs also teach that having a child out of wedlock will likely have "harmful consequences for the child, the child's parents and society." Title V programs cannot mention contraceptive methods unless they are discussing failure rates.
Abstinence-only sex education denies the fundamental fact that we are sexual beings. It assumes that all people can and should wait until marriage to engage in sexual intercourse. This demonizes unwed mothers and alienates populations that cannot legally marry. Not only is it a message laden with moral and religious implications, it is also unreasonable and, quite frankly, ineffective.
This used to be my favorite line from Miley Cyrus' hit song, "See You Again." It took on a whole new meaning when I considered how LifeStyles Condoms might use it in a commercial.
According to Carol Carrozza, VP of marketing at LifeStyles, the company offered 15-year-old Cyrus a gig as spokeswoman. Really? I'm pretty sure 90 percent of her fans are under the age of 12.
Although Cyrus declined the offer, saying she was waiting to have sex until marriage ('atta girl, Miley), it speaks volumes to the promiscuity of America's youth.
According to the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2005, 47 percent of high schoolers had engaged in sexual intercourse, 34 percent of whom did not use a condom. Of the 19 million new sexually transmitted infections each year, almost half are diagnosed in individuals ages 15-24. In 2000, 13 percent of all pregnant women, or in many cases girls, were adolescents aged 15-19.
By age 15, I would assume that most kids have participated in some sort of sex education class, where they learn about sexuality, relationships, and the importance of contraceptives. Imagine my surprise when I learned that the United States federal government contributed more than $1 billion to abstinence-only education over the last decade. Under the Bush administration, annual funding for these programs doubled between 2001 and 2005.
Abstinence-only education, as defined by Title V of the Social Security Act, "teaches that a mutually faithful monogamous relationship in the context of marriage is the expected standard of sexual activity." Such programs also teach that having a child out of wedlock will likely have "harmful consequences for the child, the child's parents and society." Title V programs cannot mention contraceptive methods unless they are discussing failure rates.
Abstinence-only sex education denies the fundamental fact that we are sexual beings. It assumes that all people can and should wait until marriage to engage in sexual intercourse. This demonizes unwed mothers and alienates populations that cannot legally marry. Not only is it a message laden with moral and religious implications, it is also unreasonable and, quite frankly, ineffective.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 6
Kim
posted 9/02/08 @ 9:25 AM CST
The fact that you can quote a Miley Cyrus song voids anything else you have to say.
Freebird
posted 9/02/08 @ 5:07 PM CST
I appreciate that you attempted a more nuanced view of this subject than others have. I think we share some common ground.
Two comments:
Clarity on this issue begins with two thoughts:
(1) The sexual lifestyle that correlates most highly with good mental and physical health is one partner for life within the bounds of marriage. (Continued…)
Katie
posted 9/02/08 @ 10:01 PM CST
Freebird- Thanks for the thoughtful comment.
Your first comment is true on some fronts, but is completely dismantled when we consider the homosexual community. (Continued…)
shizenhouzen
posted 9/02/08 @ 11:48 PM CST
katie dunne is a beauty.
Colie
posted 9/04/08 @ 1:21 PM CST
'atta girl Katie Dunne!
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