Seriously. When science shows that a certain strategy isn’t working, fundamentalist Christians flock to that strategy with blind fervor. In this case, the strategy is the abstinence/purity movement. I’ve listened to various reports about this movement through Christian radio stations and it fucking creeps me out. I think it is *so* important that parents talk to kids about sex but the way the purity movement discusses this idea of “purity” sounds like a not-so-repressed fetish with virginity. I don’t think it’s healthy for parents to be obsessed with a child’s virginity. Here’s the NYT article: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/19/us/19purity.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1211203267-81AcCQpe7lGMl3FVovzw7w
What I love is this one line of truth, “But studies have also shown that most teenagers who say they will remain abstinent, like those at the ball, end up having sex before marriage, and they are far less likely to use condoms than their peers,” juxtaposed against an entire article of descriptives about girls in evening gowns, ceremoniously placing white roses beneath a cross and dancing with their fathers. Ick.
I was one of those girls who pledged to stay abstinent until I was married. hahaha
It’s like a good idea went terribly awry: “…a litany of fathers’ duties is [mentioned] — mainly, making time to get involved in their daughters’ lives and setting an example.”
Wonderful idea! Positive parental involvement does wonders for a kid’s ability to deal with the world!
“Recent studies have suggested that close relationships between fathers and daughters can reduce the risk of early sexual activity among girls and teenage pregnancy.”
True, but what they’re not mentioning is that healthy attachment between parent and child is related to a secure sense of self and healthy peer relations – which may or may not have a damn thing to do with abstinence. It certianly does reduces ‘risks’ associated with sex, though – pregnancy, STDs, etc – all things that are mitigated by open dialouge between adolescents and adults.
P.S.
Where are the Purity Balls for young men??
And I think the percentage of pledgers who break their abstinence pledge is up close to 90%. That’s pretty fucking scary, if you think about how many of that 90% isn’t educated in safe sex (physically as well as emotionally). I’m sure lots of parents (like mine) would love to see their little babies (boys *and* girls) never grow up, never have sex, never get hurt, etc…. but to push them off into a world stunted by their lack of knowledge in an area that can KILL them… well, that’s child abuse.
i always heard (but i don’t know where the scienitific proof was for this) that kids who had not just sex ed, but COMPREHENSIVE sex ed where more likely to use protection and to talk to their parents about sex.
abstinence only education is most def neglect. they’re ignoring something their children will face no matter what, something that is dangerous, and yeah, CAN kill them.
let’s take the comprehensive, be inclusive sexual education pledge and give our kids all the accurate information they deserve!!!!!