Beth Richardson
All young people in South Carolina need medically accurate, age-appropriate, abstinence-first sex education. It is easy to agree that the healthiest sexual choice for teens is to abstain from sexual contact. Most medical experts agree that practicing abstinence keeps teenagers healthy by preventing unintended pregnancies and STIs. However, most teenagers in the United States are not abstinent, and the typical time of experimentation within a sexual field is puberty, or the teen years.
The largest misperception surrounding sex education in schools is that if we limit sexual health education to an “abstinence-only” curriculum, sexual activity and any corresponding number of unintended teen pregnancies or STIs will drop. Peer-reviewed, scientifically sound studies, however, have shown just the opposite. Students who participate in abstinence only-until-marriage programs have the same rates of sexual activity as other teens, and they experiment without the advantage of pregnancy and STI prevention strategies.
We need to equip our young people with the knowledge they need to make the best sexual choices for themselves. With a full understanding of all the risks of sexual activity, however, we can better trust teens to make healthy sexual choices for themselves during some very vulnerable years.
Tags: Ab-Only, Comprehensive Sex Ed, Sexual Health, STIs, TTWomen
I think a reason that teenagers and young adults are so vulnerable in this day of age is that there is a certain taboo placed on sex. No one in the state of South Carolina wants to talk about the problem at hand which I believe is a direct correlation to the state’s high rank of unintended pregnancies and contraction of STIs. If taught all the avenues of how to be a safe human being, I believe teenagers will be more self-aware and therefore have the education and knowledge to practice healthy lives. Vulnerability is not an option this day in age!
Wow!! I am SO excited about TellThem! Virtual March to the State. This video is awesome, she speaks out about giving young people medically accurate, comprehensive sex education! Please take a chance to watch this extraordinary woman!
I have always told my children that I am here to guide them into adulthood. My goal is to make sure they have the tools that will make them productive people in society.
I truly believe in teaching my children about condoms, birth control and STI’s. I also let them know that our faith tells us that we are to share the most intimate parts of ourself with only the person God’s has placed in our life as husband or wife. We discussed this with them on their level of understanding from an early age. If they decide to have sex before marriage, I feel more secure that I have given them the information that will save their lives.