Sex Education only: What are the benefits?

Sex education seems to be more relevant to teens this day in age.  Connotations of sex are EVERYWHERE!! In cartoons, billboards, deodorant commercials, countless condom and birth control commercials, radio advertisements, prizes in Cracker Jack boxes.  The list goes on.  Teens and children get curious about sex and want to explore.  With all of the influences in the media and even family members, such as older sister or brother or cousins that display sexual behavior, naturally, there is curiosity.  Sex education teaches preventative measures just in case one chooses to engage in sexual behavior.  It educated them on the risks of having sex in addition to the benefits of being abstinent.

Abstinence only: What are the benefits?

Abstinence only was the only form of sex education allowed in schools under the George W. Bush Administration.  As the president, he would only fund abstinence only education.  The schools that wanted to teach the comprehensive topic had to provide their own funding.  Abstinence only education assures teens that they will not get pregnant, contract STIs or become emotional turmoil from a sexual relationship.  Below is a list from http://www.avert.org/abstinence.htm of other reasons that make abstinence only beneficial.

·         Abstinence from sexual activity outside marriage is the expected standard for all school age children

·         Abstinence from sexual activity is the only certain way to avoid out of wedlock pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and other associated health problems

·         A mutually faithful, monogamous relationship in the context of marriage is the expected standard of sexual activity

·         Sexual activity outside the context of marriage is likely to have harmful psychological and physical effects

·         Bearing children out of wedlock is likely to have harmful consequences for the child, the child’s parents, and society

·         How to reject sexual advances and that alcohol and drug use increases vulnerability to sexual advances

·         The importance of attaining self sufficiency before engaging in sexual activity

Should this be a requirement?

I think Sex Ed should be required of all students, no matter what there age is. I think as soon as a child can walk they need to be taught the difference between "good touch" and "bad touch" because everything they see is sexual and they need to know what is appropriate. I was taught sex education in elementary school, starting around the third grade and I think that it is great that it was a requirement because it informed us instead of leaving us curious. With sex being literally EVERYWHERE, even in commercials during breaks of SpongeBob SquarePants on Nickelodeon, sex ed needs to be required.

Personal Standards

A common theme in sex education that is overlooked is a set of personal standards or values that a person holds them self to.  I think some teens are attracted to people for the wrong reasons.  I don't believe mine are 100% correct and they don't apply to everyone, but they are things I have learned over the years.

More than anything, a person’s demeanor attracts me to them. I like a young man that presents himself as confident, intelligent and independent. I personally don’t expect a person to bring more to the table than me. So be it materialistic or a personality trait, have it or match it and there will be automatic attraction.

When I had a boyfriend, I had a lot less time for my friends and homework and stuff that really matter. Glad that’s over.

The relationship did not affect my relationship with my parents. He understood that my relationship with my parents was far more important.

Looking back, I honestly can’t say I would have done anything differently. Things happened the way they did for a reason.

Teens and Revenge Sex

Teenagers have misconceptions about a lot of different things, especially sex since there is a lack of sex education in the school systems.  One of the problems that teens face, the majority of which are girls, is revenge sex.  The last blog briefly discussed revenge sex in the world of adults.  As we all know, teenagers live on a completely different planet and have a totally different point of view. So why do teens have revenge sex?  In my opinion, it is simply because they don't know any better.  There is not class that can teach you how to control your feelings; I believe that begins at home.  But you can learn to control your emotions.  Girls run to other guys and vice versa after a relationship to seek revenge because they are lacking a sense of being wanted and show the other person they they really "don't care".  Lots of teens suffer through revenge sex and its consequences because they believe they need someone to validate their existence.

Do I think sex ed could fix this? Of course!

Revenge Sex

Revenge sex is so popular because sex in general is popular. If a person is betrayed they use that as an excuse to have sex. People will use anything to have sex.

Revenge sex is not very innocent at all. Revenge sex is a hasty decision to make and could end worse than intended, as the article stated. Revenge sex would not provide a permanent feeling of revenge and may turn into regret.

I think the healthiest decision to make is to leave the situation altogether. If a person wants to cheat, they will whether you know or not. Stressing over situations or having sex with others as revenge does not make it better. It is healthier to deal with the situation on your own.

Can videos promote safe sex?

Below is a link to several different videos that discuss sex.  I think all of the videos would help to promote safe sex in one way or another. Teenagers no longer want to be teenagers so the facts can no longer be sugar coated.

However, I do not think the videos would be a good supplement for parents to use at home. I think it would make an awkward situation. "Hey, lets watch this video about sex! :)" is not exactly comforting to a teen. Even it it was watched in the home it may raise new questions that the teen may be afraid to ask or the parent is uncomfortable with answering.

  http://www.cdc.gov/STD/Be-Smart-Be-Well/default.htm#