Abstinence only education is ineffective

2008-11-14 05:51 PM

Frank K
Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 27

This Alternet article notes that the "government funds abstinence education to the tune of around $178 million per year. The only problem is that study after study shows that abstinence education has no effect on the rates of premarital sex or STD infection. Perhaps that's because over 80 percent of federally funded abstinence programs contain false or misleading information about sex and reproductive health. But then abstinence-only education isn't about keeping teens safe -- it's about reinforcing traditional gender roles and ensuring girls are "pure.""