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Importance of gender education programs
Implementation of Sexual Education
Implementing gender education in schools
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Sex is a predominant part of life, and that is not changing anytime soon. A common response to this is to dismiss the conversation. Instead of overlooking the problem like the majority of individuals, an inquiry into what is being taught/shown to youth is needed. Strasburger, the author of “Adolescents, Sex, and the Media: Ooooo, Baby, Baby—a Q & A” notes: “I’ve often wondered what it would be like if we taught young people swimming the same way we teach sexuality. If we told them that swimming was an important adult activity one they will all have to be skilled at when they grow up, but we never talked with them about it. We never showed them the pool . . . but when they asked a question about how swimming felt or what it was about, they would be greeted with blank or embarrassed looks . . . Miraculously, some might learn to tread water, but many would drown” (11). Strasburger conveys the message that there is a problem with sexual education and urges his readers to do something about it. Teens should be able to make educated decisions, so they can protect themselves and their partners from unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and be able to maintain that safety from teenage years to adulthood. The bulk of sexual education programs within the United States are not assisting teens to achieve and uphold these standards. Sexual education curriculum in the United States needs to be examined on both a federal and state level, and comprehensive sexual education programs must be implemented. Sexual education and sex in general is a taboo subject. A number of people, both in the past and recently, have suggested that sex education programs should be taught elsewhere besides schools, like at home. Sadly, parents a... ... middle of paper ... .... Kirby, Douglas. “Abstinence, Sex, and STD/HIV Education Programs for Teens: Their Impact on Sexual Behavior, Pregnancy, and Sexually Transmitted Disease.” Annual Review of Sex Research 18 (2007): 143-177. Print. Kirby, Douglas. "Effective Approaches to Reducing Adolescent Unprotected Sex, Pregnancy, and Childbearing." The Journal of Sex Research 39.1 (2002): 51-7. Print. Rector, Robert, Melissa Pardue, and Shannan Martin. “What Do Parents Want Taught in Sex Education Programs?” Heritage.org. The Heritage Foundation, 28 Jan. 2004. Web. 1 Nov. 2013. Stanger-Hall, Kathrin, and David W. Hall. "Abstinence-Only Education and Teen Pregnancy Rates: Why we Need Comprehensive Sex Education in the U.S." PLoS One 6.10 (2011). Print. Strasburger, Victor C. "Adolescents, Sex, and the Media: Ooooo, Baby, Baby-a Q & A." Adolescent Medicine Clinics 16.2 (2005): 269,88, vii. Print.
Since the HIV/AIDS epidemic began in the U.S. in the early 1980s the issue of sex education for American youth has had the attention of the nation. There are about 400,000 teen births every year in the U.S, with about 9 billion in associated public costs. STI contraction in general, as well as teen pregnancy, have put the subject even more so on the forefront of the nation’s leading issues. The approach and method for proper and effective sex education has been hotly debated. Some believe that teaching abstinence-only until marriage is the best method while others believe that a more comprehensive approach, which includes abstinence promotion as well as contraceptive information, is necessary. Abstinence-only program curriculums disregard medical ethics and scientific accuracy, and have been empirically proven to be ineffective; therefore, comprehensive sex education programs which are medically accurate, science-based and empirically proven should be the standard method of sex education for students/children in the U.S.
Today’s young Americans face strong peer pressure to be sexually active and engage themselves in risky behaviors (Merino 100-109). Anyone deciding to have sex must first think about all the risks involved. Kekla Magoon, author of Sex Education in Schools, says that “half of all teens aged 15 to 19 years old in the United States have had sex” (Magoon 64-65). It is currently not required by federal law for schools to teach Sex education and those few schools that do teach Sex education have the decision to determine how much information is allowed. Advocates from both sides of the Sex education debate agree that teens need positive influences in order to make practical decisions (Magoon 88-89). Opponents of Abstinence-only education believe it fails because it does not prepare teens for all the risks of sex (Magoon 64-65).
encompasses sexual development, reproductive health, interpersonal relationships, affection, intimacy, body image, and gender roles.” Sex education discusses important aspects of reproduction, sexuality, and just growing up in general in a physical and emotional sense. One would have to wonder though; does sex education actually serve its purpose? Does it enlighten teens enough about sex and the consequences, to the point where you can actually tell the difference between those who are sexually educated and those who are not? According to a study done bye Coyle (1999) sex education no matter where, at home or in school, and no matter the program does indeed help decrease the amount of teens having unsafe sex. Based on information from that same study about 3 million teenagers a year get an STD, and roughly 10% of adolescent females ages 15-19 get pregnant every year unintentionally. In an article from The Alan Guttmacher Institute (1999) there has been a 20% drop in female pregnancies between n 1990 and 1997 and the drop has continued, they have stated that the reason for this i...
Congress hereby finds and declares that the sex education curriculum has been wrongly denied of pursuing a thorough course in order for high schoolers to achieve a better understanding of anything sex related. Sex education, or sex ed, is an instructional course built to instruct issues relating to human sexualiy, sexual anotomy, sexual reproduction, sexual activity, reproductive health, emotional relations, reproductive rights and responsibilities, and contraceptives. Out of the 50 states in the U.S, only 18 of them are required by law to include a sexual education course available in all high schools. Of the 18 states that are required sex ed however, their curriculum differs. In some states such as Utah, youths learn about sexual education, STD’s, and abstinence until marriage, but are not provided information about contraception. In other states like Washington, teens receive information ranging from homosexuality to contraception methods. States like Utah that promote ‘abstinence-only’ sexual education courses are less effective than those like Washington, where a more in-depth sex ed course showed evidence of no encouragement of sexual activity. Washington used the comprehensive sex education program. The method that Utah used, “Abstinence-only” or “Just Say No” teachings, in spite of the fact that it educates youth on how to reject sexual advances, promote self-sufficiency, instruct the psychological health of youths who have had sex, etc. are biased and prejudiced. This bill will lower the teen ...
Sex education materials for children more often serve to confuse than to inform. These materials generally present females as passive and males as active. The books describe heterosexual norms while ignoring the existence of homosexuality and bisexuality. Many books describe sexual intercourse as existing for the purpose of procreation only. Pictures and descriptions of this sex act more often mystify than inform. Finally, these materials target young children and assume that these children are incapable of understanding most elements of sex. Children can often understand far more than they are given credit for. Most materials offer descriptions of sexual intercourse as an act devoid of passion involving an active male partner and a passive female partner.
In the US, controversy over what message should be given to children has disadvantaged sex education programs in s...
I chose to reflect on the essay, Sex Ed by Anna Quindlen promoting the importance of sex education and how immensely beneficial it can be to teen students. More than a million teenagers become pregnant annually. The United States has more than double the teenage pregnancy rate of any western industrialized country. In addition, teenagers have apical rates of sexually transmitted diseases of any age association. In point of fact, one in four young people acquire an STD by the age of 21. Sex education is a very important subject in today's society, its mere absence in my educational and social progression utterly affected me and my peers in adolescent years.
According to an article in the “National Association of School Psychologists (2002) parents’ wants to be in control of what their teens are learning about sex.”
Sex among teenagers is one of the most controversial topics of our time. The teen pregnancy and STD rates in the United States alone have become a major problem over the years. Despite these skyrocketing sex cases, sexual education is not being taught in some schools, and the ones that do are extremely limited. Parents, the government, organizations, and school boards do not teach the proper curriculum necessary for students to thoroughly understand sexual behavior. This essay will explain the need for proper sexual education in our schools.
I feel that it is very important to incorporate sexual education into the public school districts. Many of our youth, are becoming more aware of their sexuality at early ages. With our adolescents maturing physically quicker than the generations before them, but remaining mentally immature. It is our job, as parents and teachers to work together in order to enlighten our next generation of world leaders, child care workers, teachers, parents, etc in the importance of sex and protection against unwanted pregnancy and STDs.
Sex education informs young people of what they need to know about sex and their risk factors. Sex education being taught in schools not only talks about sex, but makes students aware of sexual reproduction, health, and sexuality. Are teenagers being exposed to sex education to early? At what age should this subject be introduced to children? It is believed that school children engaging in sexual activity is increasing, however statistics and the media state otherwise. “A significant decrease among students, where the proportion who are sexually active declined from 59 percent in 1991 to 41 percent in 2011 (Child Trends).” The purpose of this essay is to not only state the pros and cons but to inform both parents and students of why sex education needs to be taught in schools.
Sex education is a wide topic that carries the knowledge about all issues and activities that are associated with sex. Among the sexual activities that form crucial par in sex education, include the reproduction process, the conjugal act, reproductive rights and responsibilities, abstinence, the utilization of contraceptives among other issues (Rosen, Nancy and Scott 6). Sex education is among the critical issues that that attracts debates in not only homes but also in schools. In the modern times, sex education has become more controversial, with various people and organizations staging debates as to whether it should feature in public schools for study purposes (Gilbert 138). Various individuals and organizations disagree when it comes to debate about the sex education issue.
Martinez, Gladys, Joyce Abma, and Casey Copen. “Educating Teenagers About Sex In The United States”. CDC.GOV. Center of Disease Control and Prevention, 15 Sept. 2010. Web. 09 Feb.2014
When it comes to deciding on whether sexual education should be taught in public schools, there is always a disagreement. The disagreement comes from the students’ parents who have very different opinions which may end up clashing. Should sexual education be taught in public schools, and should sexual education courses taught be abstinence-only? “Despite statistics that demonstrate a high level of sexual activity and risk-taking behavior among U.S. teens, Congress has allocated well over half a billion dollars since 1997 for educational programs that focus on helping young people make responsible, healthy, and safe decisions about sexual activity.” (American Civil Liberties Union). Some feel that it is a good idea, and others feel as though
According to World Association for Sexual Health, "to achieve sexual health, all individuals, including youth, must have access to comprehensive sexuality education and sexual health information and services throughout the life cycle" (Sexual Health for the Millennium 4). In the fifteenth century, scientists and educators raised the issue of sex education of children and adolescents. This topic particularly was discussed after the sexual revolution that occurred in the past century, when there were the first attempts to introduce sex education courses first as electives, and then as a mandatory class. Sex education should be taught in schools as a compulsory subject in order to develop knowledge about puberty as well as to prevent unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections.