As Congress debates the funding levels (currently $50 million) of school based abstinence only programs, it is instructive to examine two studies on the matter.
The findings of the studies are contradictory and both studies are valid.
Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. conducted a longitudinal study examining four well-run and replicable abstinence only instruction programs.
The Annenberg Center for Policy Research presented a study at the 06 International AIDS Conference in Toronto based on randomized controlled trials of statistically significant number of teens in Philadelphia.
The findings of the Mathematica study suggests that abstinence only programs are ineffective, the Annenberg study suggests the opposite.
Congress, faced with the dilemma of contradictory research findings often splits the difference and develops policy that is neither fish nor fowl.
In this instance, the political influence of the Religious Right was sufficient to push the balance decisively in favor of abstinence only programs.
In reaction to the political heavy handedness of abstinence only programs' political supporters there is a growing movement to reject them. In my opinion this is a mistake.
I personally know forty some public school kids who take abstinence seriously and whose positions have been validated by their schools' sympathetic explanations of abstinence.
Abstinence does not work for every kid, but numerically it probably remains the most used form of sexual behavior.
If abstinence is consistently applied it will prevent not only pregnancy and STDs, but also the adverse socio-economic effects of teen sex.
Clearly, abstinence must be a voluntary and uncoerced commitment.
But if a teen makes such a commitment, abstinence instruction provides a support network.
In addition to the beneficial effects that abstinence has on sexual behavior, sincere commitment to it builds an intangible but important trait: INTEGRITY. No other form of sexual education or behavior can do that.
Abstinence is not about avoiding sex- it is about building character. Believe it or not, kids won't die if they wait on sex until they are mature enough emotionally and socially to handle it.
Progressives should not cede ethical and principled forms of sexual conduct, such as abstinence to the religious right.
Growing up before birth control pills and in a small town where one of my girl friend's father was a pharmacist, abstinence was pretty much the only option available. I received lots of good counseling from my father on the subject too. If you get a girl pregnant, you'll be working at the corner gas station for the rest of your life.
Boys and girls are, physically, certainly more than ready to have sex. But, obviously it's a whole lot more complicated than plugging in the equipment and making sparks. My argument with abstinence-only "education" was that it was based on the precepts of right-winger religious nuts.
I think you've hit on something that's very important. Boys and girls need to be exposed to all aspects of sexuality and empowered to say, "No." But, for many good reasons directly related to human growth and development.
And, it's far too important to cede the issue to right-wing and be seen to be encouraging promiscuity.
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calvinthecat (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 3 comments)
on Friday, June 22, 2007 at 10:17:13 AM
The far right's abstinence only sex ed DOES NOT WORK. All statistics (those that are still collected) show no statistical change. Because of this, the far right has stopped collecting most data on this.
A study I read (forget where) found that 80%+ of both sexes have intercourse before marriage. To not provide the necessary information to help everyone protect themselves from both STD and unintended pregnancy is criminal.
Sex ed should cover ALL aspects of sexuality and contraception.
One of the rights wailings is that this training belongs in the home. The problem is, it does not happen there.
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kanawah (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 49 comments)
on Friday, June 22, 2007 at 10:42:37 AM
The points made about the prevalence of premarital sex are well taken.
There certainly is a need for kids to know what they are getting into when they bed each, and kids being kids, a lot of them will disregard what they hear.
Nevertheless, we are still obligated to give them the benefit of our experience on the matter of sexuality.
One of the options available is abstinence and kids who commit themselves to it should not be treated like freaks.
From your own statistics, abstinence works with up to 40% of our kids.
RC
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Robert Chapman (28 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 557 comments)
on Friday, June 22, 2007 at 11:23:53 AM
The ONLY in the Abstinence education is the problem
I am a Registered Nurse working in Public Health. I work with kids/teens. OF COURSE, we encourage abstinence as the safest choice for preventing pregnancy and STD's, BUT (and here is where Comprehensive educators part ways with Abstinence ONLY) over half of those teens will not choose to wait, so we are ignoring our responsibility to those kids to teach them how to protect themselves if we don't talk to them about contraception and condoms. Period. You can twist whatever statistics you want but the bottom line is this: Abstinence Only programs are not allowed to discuss contraception and condoms, except in the context of their failure rates. This hardly encourages teens to use them if they become sexually active--what it says to them is 'this doesn't work all the time so why bother'. I talk to these kids. Some of them do want to remain abstinent until they are older or are in a committed relationship, but they want to know how to protect themselves if they do choose to have sex. If we don't give them accurate information about contraception and condoms, then they will get inaccurate information thru 'the grapevine', and you wouldn't believe the myths I hear from these kids. We have to give them the tools and education and hope they make good choices, but bottom line: it will always be THEIR choice, and if you have not accepted that part of the discussion, then you will never get anywhere with helping them.
NOTE: Most of the Abstinence ONLY proponents are also anti-choice. I say to them, "You are causing abortions by not offering ways to prevent unplanned pregnancies". Yes, that is right. They CAUSE abortions by saying abstinence is the ONLY choice. It clearly is not.
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Pamela (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 8 comments)
on Friday, June 22, 2007 at 10:53:00 AM
I remember high school. I went to an all girls catholic school and we knew how to appear pious and that is what is missing in this study. Kids who claim abstinence only rings or what ever and who have the street smarts to not get caught. No amount of money can truly change the nature of adolescents. Like the nurse in the comment above the best way is to be honest and let them know that they have options if they choose to give it up easy. Get real these kids today have sex thrown in their faces 24/7, by adult run for profit endeavors. Music and clothing and all manner of subtle and not so subtle inducements bombard their lives. Give them a fighting chance and give them information about the protections available to them.
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cluelessfl (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 184 comments)
on Friday, June 22, 2007 at 11:09:26 AM
Plenty of kids lie to me; it happens every single day.
But that does not make them all liars and lot more of them are honest.
As you say, kids are exposed to sex 24/7;I am not advocating censorship.
A lot of kids feel that the only way that they can deal with the pressure of our society's commercialization of sex is to wait until they are older more mature and more experienced.
All I am saying is to give those kids a chance and to offer them support in their choice of abstinence.
Why should everything we do always be driven by people who lie and peddle salaciousness?
RC
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Robert Chapman (28 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 557 comments)
on Friday, June 22, 2007 at 11:36:33 AM
Kids live in a complex world today. They are heavily assaulted by media, and sex sells. Kids have always tuned out their parents and tuned in other kids as part of the socialization process. There have always been situations where perceived problems suggest perceived solutions that involve acceptance, sex and ultimately pregnancy. Frankly, as a guy, I never was disuaded and many of the girls I spoke with said they woke up one mornimg and said "Why not?". I would say that for most kids, lack of opportunity was the driving factor. At some point, the reality of the complexities of a relationship tempered enthusiasm.
I'm unsure the call for abstinence is a solution. I think controlled growth is more useful as teens wade the tumultuous years. What's the endgame? No sex or no pregnancy? A quick marriage or a good marriage? The call for abstinence is but a single facet of the complexities of developing a relationship and as we know, nothing teaches like experience.
I haven't heard a single person mention that they abstained for 30 years and they are a better person for it and have a better life, nor have I heard a person say that they did not abstain and they are a better person for it and have a better life. On the other hand, early marriage and an early child has been noted as a life changing event.
Look upon it as climbing the tree of life. We come to a fork and make a decision, sometimes we can come back down and take the other fork and sometimes the decision is irreversible, we are out on a limb and facing new forks. The best thing you can do for your kid is help them make the best decisions. At the age of four, a simple yes or no suffices when it comes to crossing the street. Later, they want to know why.
Experimenting is part of growing up and the marketing folks seem to have much more power to guide your kid than you do. 1,000 marketers are saying, "Do your own thing, be an adult, this is the way to be popular, buy our products". It's difficult for a kid to resist. Character is only in the eyes of the beholder and other kids may not convey that message, especially around the age of 13 when it is me, me, me, me.
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Bernard (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 52 comments)
on Friday, June 22, 2007 at 12:35:34 PM
Thank you for your candid assessment of adolesence and for sharing your views.
You point out yet again the great diversity of human thought and behavior.
Clearly abstinence is not for everyone.
If a kid opts to have sex as an adolescent in high school, outside maybe the Church, no one has a right to extend a moral judgement.
Kids may rebel against their parents, but I think very few actually tune them out, hence the parents espousal of high moral values and in some cases, the parents example of a life of high moral values does not necessarily predict similar behavior or attitudes by the kids.
Kids need to discuss and think about all their options. Just as a pregnancy or an STD changes a kid's life and requires daily responses, a committment to abstinence also changes a kid's life and requires daily responses.
I think that we should have the moral courage to point to kids that they will not be harmed by the hypersexuality of our society and to support them if they choose abstinence.
I also believe that abstinence has unparalled moral value as it is the only option open that allows the kid to focus entirely upon his or her own emotional, social and moral development.
RC
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Robert Chapman (28 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 557 comments)
on Friday, June 22, 2007 at 1:01:33 PM
being originally from the country with no sex education and abstinence being officially the only option until marriage I can say wholeheartedly that it was a bad thing. What was supposed to happen- happened: girl swould go for the older men and boys would be sexualized by older women. That is for those who were lucky. BTW, I still think, funny as it sounds that that is how it should happen - first contact should be with someone experienced, sorry for my cynical view. Those who were not lucky married early and then obviously divorced. Actually, the institute of boyfriend- girlfriend is a blessing because otherwise.... I do not like it but it is a blessing.
Abstinence in the young life is a choice. It is as much a choice as promiscuity. Thus we can encourage choice and stay for the choice while other options surely are to be available, I guess that includes, sorry to say, contacts with experienced men and women.
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Mark Sashine (46 articles, 19 quicklinks, 234 diaries, 3348 comments)
on Friday, June 22, 2007 at 2:18:28 PM
I am unqualified to discuss the merits of Panurg's suggestion, but the morality is objectionable and runs counter to everything in our present culture. Panurg's suggestion may well violate state and federal statutes regarding the relationships between minors and adults. I will not advocate illegal behavior on these pages.
Perhaps Panurg can take comfort in the expression, "a prophet is seldom honored in his land." As for me, I will leave it to others, in different forums, to hypothesize about the merits of Panurg's suggestion.
RC
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Robert Chapman (28 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 557 comments)
on Sunday, June 24, 2007 at 1:11:18 PM
Mr. Gormley, let me ask you, is the prospect of marriage necessary for a plan of abstinence?
What if a teen decides to abstain until he or she is financially independent and living in his or her own home, but does not make a commitment to pre-defined ideas regarding marriage or sexuality in anticipation of adulthood? Is this still abstinence?
Again, while accepting the need for diversity in sex education, the readers are demonstrating that even a seemingly straightforward idea like abstinence, when it hits the real world has folds and wrinkles that require serious consideration and study.
RC
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Robert Chapman (28 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 557 comments)
on Sunday, June 24, 2007 at 12:11:19 PM
Just what is being abstained from? There is a great range of sexual behavior from holding hands to coitus, with all sorts of activities in between (including what used to be called "heavy petting" for instance) -- some safe and some not, with regards to pregnancy, health, and emotional involvement. People should understand the full range and the possible consequences of them all. A young couple can have a very satisfying sexual relationship without ever having actual intercourse; is that abstinence?
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Blue Pilgrim (0 articles, 3 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 998 comments)
on Saturday, June 23, 2007 at 2:21:08 AM
What I find horrifying about many 'abstinence only' programs is that they seek to surrender control of sexuality to external agents -- God or parents. Think about the 'ring' ceremony -- the control ring is placed on the kid's finger by her parents and is removed by the prospective spouse in 'covenant marriage'. At no time is the teen given control over her/his own body.
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lwarman (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 42 comments)
on Saturday, June 23, 2007 at 5:43:08 PM
As I noted in the piece, a valid study found that the results of abstinence are not always very impressive.
One can infer, that a segment of kids enter into their pledge unwillingly, to please parents, or to pursue some exalted religious ideal.
As I noted, kids must maintain their commitment to abstinence voluntarily and in conformity with their own consciences, their own lights and their own perceptions of their best interest.
Abstinence is not for everybody, and should not entail coercion.
Coercion, parental expectation or religious values however strong or well intentioned cannot supply the commitment and moral courage needed to make and keep the commitment to abstinence. Parental support and church support, can complement the peer support gained from class and all of these can validate and strengthen the young person, hence the rituals, but the bottom line is that success depends on each boy and girl deciding that the commitment to teen abstinence is the best thing for them.
In my experience, teens who are willing to make the choice free themselves from a vast social pressure to conform and are able to develop the faculties needed to build character and integrity.
RC
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Robert Chapman (28 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 557 comments)
on Sunday, June 24, 2007 at 1:21:49 PM
Something is not working. Last year the United States issued more divorce decrees than marriage licenses for the first time in history. I can see in the future there will be more babies born outside marriage than inside marriage; I can see us coming to the place that babies are conceived and nurtured in baby labratories because carrying a baby scars a woman for life and it is so inconvenient.
I pick up up the tragedies every week caused by children being reared without both parents. There is no harder or more impossible job in the world than a single parent trying to rear children.
I have a woman in my church who fled to a woman's shelter for abused women. She was thrown out on the streets in San Francisco at fourteen. She married at twenty to a man who became a violent alcoholic. She works nights so she can baby sit her three year old son in the day time. When her fifth grader and ninth grader come home from school, she goes to bed to sleep for four hours. She barely makes enough to pay rent and utilities. I have five women in my church and one man with about the same story. My church has helped her time and again, but since we are not a large mega-church with lower middle income people, we are limited as to what we can do.
The "faith based programs" are a laugh and should be against the law since they break down the barrier between religion and state.
I was reared without a father and mother; ran away from my so-called home between the eighth and ninth grades. I know what it is like to be out on the streets with no one caring about you. I got my first full time job when I was twelve years old. Everytime a baby is born it becomes someone's responsibility to nurture that child. Hillary Clinton is absolutely correct when she says, "It takes a village to raise a child." The trouble is there are no villages or neighborhoods in the big city.
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pratliff94 (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 940 comments)
on Monday, June 25, 2007 at 9:07:33 AM
I am terribly sad about your sufferings. It seems that somehow you have managed to overcome a very bad situation and come out of it as a good and decent person.
I hope that you do not read too much into my remarks about abstinence.
I am thinking of boys and girls between fifth and twelfth grade who mght not want to deal with the pressures that a sexual relationship will add to their lives.
Beyond that, I feel as perplexed and sad about the social developments in our country and our direction as you do.
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Robert Chapman (28 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 557 comments)
on Monday, June 25, 2007 at 10:52:58 AM
