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motdakasha · 03-02-2004, 05:12 PM

I think religion and gender plays a big role in sexuality for a large majority of Americans. We are also still afraid to educate our youth (under 6th grade) about sex, and they're the ones who need it the most. If we educated people at a younger age when they're still impressionable on their attitudes about sex, we wouldn't have nearly as many pregnant 12 year olds. A study found that teenagers typically put off sex longer and take care to use the proper gear so they don't get pregnant if they know they want to go to college and know how to go to college. It's one thing to tell a kid you can be anything you want, it's another to show them how to get started. I think a teenage girl's ambition to go to college has more to do with gender and sexism more than anything else. You can say whatever you want, but it's the actions that matter. If you tell them to be who they want to be, but then you discourage them from taking math courses, or piss on their hopes of being more than a secretary, or put them face to face with a glass ceiling... what more can they hope for other than being a mother?

Another study found that teenagers who try to be abstinent are less likely to use safe sex methods. The theory is that they feel less guilty for breaking their own rules if it's an "accident." If they use protective gear, it shows clear intentions of having sex, so then they've broken their own rules. Pretty backwards logic if you ask me, but if we educate these teens earlier and tell them about protection (in the right way!) they'll be safer.

I think we've gone about this whole sex education in the wrong way. I can't propose the right way, but I have some suggestions for improvement.
1) Get to them early! Prepubescent is ideal.
2) Don't tell them the only way to have safe sex is to have no sex. It instills feelings of guilt if they do want to have sex.
3) Condoms are not omnipotent!
4) Birth control doesn't protect you against STIs. Just because you think you're in a monogamous relationship doesn't mean your partner is!
5) If you don't want to have sex, you don't have to. No means no.
6) Teach in a way that allows children to feel that sex is OKAY and it's OKAY to talk about if they have questions.

03-02-2004, 05:12 PM	#7 (permalink)
motdakasha Hiya Puddin'! Miss me? Location: Silicon Valley, CA	I think religion and gender plays a big role in sexuality for a large majority of Americans. We are also still afraid to educate our youth (under 6th grade) about sex, and they're the ones who need it the most. If we educated people at a younger age when they're still impressionable on their attitudes about sex, we wouldn't have nearly as many pregnant 12 year olds. A study found that teenagers typically put off sex longer and take care to use the proper gear so they don't get pregnant if they know they want to go to college and know how to go to college. It's one thing to tell a kid you can be anything you want, it's another to show them how to get started. I think a teenage girl's ambition to go to college has more to do with gender and sexism more than anything else. You can say whatever you want, but it's the actions that matter. If you tell them to be who they want to be, but then you discourage them from taking math courses, or piss on their hopes of being more than a secretary, or put them face to face with a glass ceiling... what more can they hope for other than being a mother? Another study found that teenagers who try to be abstinent are less likely to use safe sex methods. The theory is that they feel less guilty for breaking their own rules if it's an "accident." If they use protective gear, it shows clear intentions of having sex, so then they've broken their own rules. Pretty backwards logic if you ask me, but if we educate these teens earlier and tell them about protection (in the right way!) they'll be safer. I think we've gone about this whole sex education in the wrong way. I can't propose the right way, but I have some suggestions for improvement. 1) Get to them early! Prepubescent is ideal. 2) Don't tell them the only way to have safe sex is to have no sex. It instills feelings of guilt if they do want to have sex. 3) Condoms are not omnipotent! 4) Birth control doesn't protect you against STIs. Just because you think you're in a monogamous relationship doesn't mean your partner is! 5) If you don't want to have sex, you don't have to. No means no. 6) Teach in a way that allows children to feel that sex is OKAY and it's OKAY to talk about if they have questions. __________________ =^-^= motdakasha =^-^= Just Google It. BA Psychology & Photography (I'm not going psychoanalyze you nor will I let you cry on my shoulder. Have a nice day.)