FinalCriticalThinkingPaper

SaraKleine
CAPEnglish9
BlueGroup
4/24/16

Becauseabstinenceonlysexeducationlacksmedicalaccuracy,providesinadequate
informationaboutpreventingsexualriskbehaviors,andisineffectiveinloweringteenpregnancy
rates,theUnitedStatesgovernmentmusteliminatefederalfundingforabstinenceonlysex
educationprogramsandallocatemorefundingforcomprehensivesexeducationprogramsin
[Link]
ofabstainingfromsexualactivityoutsideofmarriagewhileoftenneglectingtoprovide
[Link]
coversawiderangeoftopicsincludingvariouseffectivemethodsofpreventingpregnancyand
[Link]
comprehensiveeducatedcounterpartstoreporttheuseofcontraceptionaswellasSTItesting
[Link]
experienceunintendedteenagepregnancythanteenswhoaretaughtcomprehensiveeducation.
Mythsregardingtheconsequencesofsexualactivitypriortomarriagearecommonlyreported
[Link]
byprincipleandultimatelyprovidesteenswiththeinformationtheyneed.
[Link]
[Link],comprehensivesexeducationadvocateshave
facedbarriersthathavemadeendinggovernmentsupportoftheprogramsdifficult.
Since1981,
threemajorfundingstreamshavebeenintroducedforthepurposeofpromotingabstinenceonly
sexeducationforyouth.Passedin1981,theAdolescentFamilyLifeActemphasizeschastity
andselfdisciplineasthehealthiestwaystoliveinregardstoonessexuality(Historyof

AbstinenceOnlyFunding).In1996,TitleVof
TemporaryAssistanceforNeedyFamilies
was
[Link]
useforabstinenceonlyprograms(HistoryofAbstinenceOnlyFunding).Theseprograms
weremandatedtoconsistofseveralelementsinorderforthestatestocontinuereceiving
[Link]
promotingabstinenceoutsideofmarriageastheirexclusivepurpose,programsmaynotinany
wayadvocatecontraceptiveuseordiscusscontraceptivemethodsexcepttoemphasizetheir
failurerates(HistoryofAbstinenceOnlyFunding).Finally,in2000,thethirdfundingstream,
CommunityBasedAbstinenceEducation,madeitsdebut.
Thenewfundingannouncementviewssexualabstinencepriortomarriageasthemagic
[Link]
ahappierlife,includinghavingahealthiermarriage...beingmoreresponsibleparents,
beinghonorableandhavingintegrity...havingfewerpsychologicaldisorders,avoiding
drug,alcohol,andtobaccouse(HistoryofAbstinenceOnlyFunding).
Between1996and2008,Congressputover1.5milliondollarsintothesefundingstreamsto
supportabstinenceonlysexeducation(HistoryofAbstinenceOnlyFunding).
Inrecentyears,comprehensivesexeducationinitiativeshavebeenintroducedthrough
[Link],alsoknownasPREP,wascreatedin
[Link]
allocatesfundstothestatesinordertoprovideyoungpeoplewithcomplete,medicallyaccurate,
andageappropriatesexeducationinordertohelpthemreducetheirriskofunintended
pregnancy,HIV/AIDS,andotherSTDs(FederalFundingforComprehensiveEducation).

PREPprogramsalsocoverarangeoftopicsthathelpyouthmakesafeandhealthydecisions
abouttheirlives(FederalFundingforComprehensiveEducation).Despitetheprogressmade
throughcomprehensivesexeducationprograms,thestruggletoeliminatefundingfrom
[Link]
TitleVinhisfirstterm,butconservativemembersofCongresshaventbeenwillingtogiveup
thefight,andhavepositionedmoneyforabstinenceonlycoursesassomewhatofabargaining
chip(InsideAbstinenceOnlyEducation).RepublicanssuccessfullyrestoredTitleVfunding
in2010duringhealthcarereform(InsideAbstinenceOnlyEducation).Though
abstinenceonlysexeducationisoftenmedicallyinaccurateandnotevidencebased,advocates
forabstinenceonlyeducationpromotethebeliefthatsexoutsideofwedlockisinherently
harmful.
Earlysexualactivityisassociatedwithanincreasedriskofsexuallytransmitteddiseases
(STDs),reducedpsychologicalandemotionalwellbeing,loweracademicachievement,
teenpregnancy,[Link]
teenschoosetoabstainfromsexualactivity(KimandRector).
Ideassuchasthosestatedaboveseverelyhindertheprogressofcomprehensivesexeducation
advocateswhowantallyouthtobeabletoreceiveaccurateandempoweringinformationtohelp
themfosterhealthysexuality.
AsofMarch2016,[Link]
stress
abstinence.Just13statesmandatethatprogramsbemedicallyaccurate(StatePoliciesin
Brief).In2012,theUnitedStateshadoneofthehighestteenpregnancyratesofthedeveloped
worldalso,transmissionratesofchlamydiaandgonorrheawereextremelyhighamong

AmericanteensascomparedtoCanadianandWesternEuropeanteens(AmericanTeens
SourcesofInformation).Thereexistsacorrelationbetweenteenpregnancyratesand
[Link]
educationprograms
fromalevel0(abstinencenotmentioned)tolevel1(abstinencecovered),
and...alevel2abstinenceprovision(abstinenceemphasized)toalevel3(abstinencestressed)

in
eachofthe48continentalstatesandcomparedthistotheteenpregnancyandbirthratesinthese
statesconcludedthat

thenationaldatashowthattheincidenceofteenagepregnanciesandbirths
remainpositivelycorrelatedwiththedegreeofabstinenceeducationacrossstates:Themore
stronglyabstinenceisemphasizedinstatelawsandpolicies,thehighertheaverageteenage
pregnancyandbirthrate(HallandStangerHall).Thestudyalsofoundthatblackteensare
[Link],stateswithhigher
proportionsofwhiteteenstendedtoemphasizeabstinenceless...andstateswithhigher
proportionsofblackteenstendedtoemphasizeabstinencemore(HallandStangerHall).
Lowerincomestatesalsohadhigherlevelsofabstinenceonlyeducationthanhigherincome
states(HallandStangerHall).
Despitetheeffortsofabstinenceonlyadvocatestodelaysexualintercourseuntil
marriage,61percentofteenshavehadsexbythetimetheyreachage18(TeensSexualand
ReproductiveHealth).Whentheprimaryfocusofasexeducationprogramispromoting
abstinence,therealitythatthemajorityofyouth
will
[Link]
[Link],asignificantportionofyoung
adultshavenotreceivededucationoncontraception.Amongteensaged1819,41%reportthat
theyknowlittleornothingaboutcondomsand75%saytheyknowlittleornothingaboutthe

contraceptivepill(AmericanTeensSourcesofInformation).Onecommonfeatureof
[Link]
[Link]
toa2005studybyresearchersatYaleandColumbiaUniversities,pledgersand
[Link]
nonpledgers,notonlywerepledgerslesslikelytousecondomstopreventSTDsatfirst
intercourse,theywerelesslikelytoseekmedicaltestingandtreatment,increasingpossibilityof
transmission(VirginityPledgers).Itisinevitablethatteenswhoparticipateinabstinenceonly
[Link],thiseducationhasnotadequatelypreparedthemtobe
sexuallyresponsiblewhentheydo.
Advocatesforabstinenceonlysexeducationbelievethewaytolowerteenpregnancyis
[Link]
pregnancyrateisonthedecline,Themajority(86%)ofthedeclineintheteenpregnancyrate
between1995and2002wastheresultofdramaticimprovementsincontraceptiveuse...Just14%
ofthedeclineisattributabletodecreasedsexualactivity(AmericanTeensSourcesof
Information).ProvidingcomprehensiveeducationthatthoroughlycoverscontraceptionandSTI
[Link],PlannedParenthoodis
supportedbytheTeenPregnancyPreventionInitiative(TPPI),whichisafederalinitiativethat
provides$101millionannuallytocommunityorganizationsandlocalgovernmentsfor
evidencebased,teenpregnancypreventionprograms(SexEducation).Theprogramsare
basedonotherswhichhavesignificantevidencethattheyreduceteenpregnancybyhelping
youngpeopletoeitherpostponesexualintercourseorusecondomsand/orcontraceptionwhen

theydobecomesexuallyactive(SexEducation).AccordingtotheCDCsTaskForceon
CommunityPreventiveServices,ComprehensiveRiskReductionprograms,groupbased
programsdeliveredtoadolescentstopromotebehaviorsthatpreventorreducetheriskof
pregnancy,HIV,andotherSTDshavesufficientevidencetoconcludethatsuchinterventions
canhaveabeneficialeffectonpublichealth(FundingforComprehensive).Pushingfor
evidencebasedcomprehensivesexeducationinitiativessuchasthesewillhelpensurethatmore
[Link]
usingresearchthatprovesabstinenceonlyeducationineffectivetopressureCongresstodefund
abstinenceonlyprograms.
IfabstinenceonlysexeducationremainscommonintheU.S.,youngpeoplewill
[Link]
useofcondomsandcontraception,promotegenderstereotypesasfact,andusefeartopersuade
[Link],ateacher
handbookfromtheprogram
GamePlan
reads:
Game

Plan
[Link]
[Link],studentswhodonotchoosetoexercise
selfcontroltoremainabstinentarenotlikelytoexerciseselfcontrolintheuseofa
contraceptivedevice(InTheirOwnWords).
Whenteenswhoaretaughtthismythhavesex,theywillnotbeinformedofhowtoprevent
[Link]
[Link]
ReasonableReasonstoWait
studentworkbook,itreads:

[Link]
girlmayneedtoputthebrakesonfirstinordertohelptheboy(InTheirOwnWords).This
mythpromotestheideathatwomenaregatekeeperswhoholdalloftheresponsibilityinasexual
[Link],abstinenceonlyprogramsfrequentlyshamestudentsintobelievingthatifone
participatesinpremaritalsex,his/herworthinessasapersondecreases.A
ChoosingtheBest
PATH
teachersguidereads,Eachtimeasexuallyactivepersongivesthatmostpersonalpartof
himselforherselfaway,[Link]
downtoselfrespect(InTheirOwnWords).[Link]
importantly,[Link]
morelikelytobecomepregnantandlesslikelytogetcheckedforSTIs,itisclearthatthe
[Link]
andthepersonalwellbeingofyouth.

Themaingoalsofabstinenceonlysexeducationprogramsaretodelaysexualintercourse

[Link],researchshowsthattheseprogramsareineffectivein
[Link],shame,
[Link]
[Link]
andgivesyouththetoolstheyneedtoleadsafeandhealthylives,[Link]
UnitedStatesgovernmentmusteliminatefederalfundingforabstinenceonlysexeducation
programsandallocatemorefundingforcomprehensivesexeducationprogramsinmiddleand
[Link]
priceofabstinenceonlysexeducation.

WorksCited

CulpRessler,[Link]:FlushingTaxpayer
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<[Link]
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[Link].
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[Link]
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<[Link]
[Link].
PlannedParenthood
.PlannedParenthoodActionFund,
[Link].20Mar.2016.<[Link]
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SIECUS
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<[Link]
.AnExplanationofFederalFundingforMoreComprehensiveApproachestoSex
Education.
SIECUS
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.VirginityPledgersMoreLikelytoEngageinRiskySexualBehaviorincludingOraland
AnalSex.
SIECUS
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[Link]:What
AbstinenceOnlyUntilMarriageProgramsSay.
SIECUS
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AdvocatesforYouth,[Link].15Feb.2016.
<[Link]
tinenceonlyprograms>.Thisonlinepublicationgivesmeevidencetodispelmythsabout
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
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DollarsDownTheToilet.
ThinkProgress
.CenterforAmericanProgressActionFund,4
[Link].20Mar.2016.
<[Link]
>.Thisarticlegavemesomeinformationonthebarrierscomprehensivesexeducation
[Link]
abstinenceonlysexeducationprogramsstillexistsdespitethefactthatabstinenceonly
[Link]
commonlytaughtinABonlyeducationanddirectedmetosourceswhereIcouldfind
moreinformationaboutthosemyths.
Cushman,Nicole,DebraHauser,[Link]:Congress
QuietlyIncreasesFundingforAbstinenceOnlyPrograms.
RHRealityCheck
.[Link]

Jacobson.N.p.,[Link].15Feb.2016.
<[Link]
stinenceprograms/>.Thisarticlegavemeamoreclearunderstandingofwhichtypesof
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[Link].
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GuttmacherInstitute,[Link]:AmericanTeensSexualandReproductiveHealth.
GuttmacherInstitute
.GuttmacherInstitute,[Link].20Mar.2016.
<[Link]
[Link]
thisinformationtoshowthatthemajorityofyoungadultshavehadsexandtherefore
shouldhaveknowledgeofcontraceptionandSTIprevention.
,[Link].
GuttmacherInstitute
.
GuttmacherInstitute,[Link].20Mar.2016.
<[Link]
statisticsonwhatinformationandskillsAmericanteensknewandhowtheyhadobtained
[Link]
typesofsexeducationprograms:abstinenceonlyandcomprehensive.
,comp.
StatePoliciesinBrief:SexandHIVEducation
.N.p.:GuttmacherInstitute,2016.
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]

[Link]
theUnitedStatesencouragessexeducationofanabstinenceormarriageonlynature.
Thissourcealsoledmetoseveralotherrelevantsourcesinitsbibliography.
Kim,Christine,[Link]:AssessingtheEvidence.
[Link]
.HeritageFoundation,[Link].20Mar.2016.
<[Link]
idence>.Thisarticlegavemealookatthebeliefsoftheopposingsideofmyargument.
Thishelpedmetobetterunderstandwhyprogresstowardseliminatingfederalfundingfor
[Link]
educationadvocatesandexplainwhyithasbeenimpedingtheprogressofcomprehensive
educationadvocates.
Kohler,PamelaK.,[Link]
andtheInitiationofSexualActivityandTeenPregnancy.
JournalofAdolescentHealth
(2008):[Link]
[Link]
taughtabstinenceonlysexeducationaremorelikelytobecomepregnantthanteenswho
[Link]
noteffectiveindelayingsexualintercourse.
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AbstinenceOnlyPrograms.
SIECUS
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<[Link]
ThisstudywasconductedbyresearchersattheUniversityofWashingtonanditanalyzed

sexualbehaviorsandpregnancybasedamongteenswhohadreceivedcomprehensive,
abstinenceonly,[Link]
argumentthatabstinenceonlyeducationisineffectiveinachievingitsgoalsofreduced
[Link]
claimthatcomprehensivesexeducationisthebestmethod.
[Link].
PlannedParenthood
.PlannedParenthoodActionFund,
[Link].20Mar.2016.
<[Link]
informationaboutcurrentinitiativesthataretakingplacetopromotecomprehensivesex
[Link]
problempieceofmyresearchpaper.
[Link]
AbstinenceOnlyUntilMarriageFunding.
SIECUS
.SIECUS,[Link].20Mar.2016.
<[Link]
[Link]
informationtoprovideinformationonthe3majorfederalfundingstreamsfor
[Link],Iwasalsoabletofind
summariesofwhateachprogrampromotedandwhatCongressionalactionshavebeen
takenrelatedtotheseprograms.
.AnExplanationofFederalFundingforMoreComprehensiveApproachestoSex
Education.
SIECUS
.SIECUS,[Link].20Mar.2016.
<[Link]

articlegavemeknowledgeofthestridesthatarebeingmadetowardsimplementingmore
[Link]
informationononespecificfederallyfundedprogram,calledthePersonalResponsibility
EducationProgram,[Link]
tosupportcomprehensivesexeducation.
.VirginityPledgersMoreLikelytoEngageinRiskySexualBehaviorincludingOraland
AnalSex.
SIECUS
.SIECUS,[Link].20Mar.2016.
<[Link]
Thisarticleinformedmethatpeoplewhotakevirginitypledges,acommonfeatureof
abstinenceonlysexeducation,aremorelikelytoengageinsexualriskbehaviorsandless
[Link]
educationdoesnotmeetitsgoals.
[Link]:What
AbstinenceOnlyUntilMarriageProgramsSay.
SIECUS
.SIECUS,[Link].20Mar.
2016.<[Link]
Thisfactsheetgavespecificexamplesofmythstaughtinvariousabstinenceonly
[Link]
ABonlysexeducationisoftenmedicallyinaccurateandspreadsmythsaboutsexual
health.
StangerHall,Kathrin,[Link]:
WhyWeNeedComprehensiveSexEducationintheU.S.
PLOSOne
(2011):[Link].
[Link]

[Link]
suggestionmademythirdargumentthatteenswhoreceiveabstinenceonlysex
educationmaybemorelikelythanteenswhoreceivecomprehensivesexeducationto
becomepregnant(orbeinvolvedinapregnancy).Thisarticlealsoexplainshowvarious
racesandsocioeconomicclassesareaffectedbyabstinenceonlyeducation.