Ann Bailey
“So what programs on television promote and/or normalize premarital sex?” That was the question that I asked UFI’s intern. She paused for a moment and replied: “All of them!” Contrary to what you are led to believe by media and popular culture, convincing young people to remain abstinent before marriage is not a lost cause.
A recent report compiled by the National Abstinence Education Association (NAEA) gives a wealth of information as to what has happened to adolescents over the last four decades. It compares Comprehensive Sex Education and Abstinence Education and dispels many myths; myths such as:
- “young people are going to have pre-marital sex no matter what adults say or do”
- “if you just put on a condom when you have sex, you’ll be safe from HIV and other sexually transmitted infections”
- “if you use a condom, you won’t get pregnant”
- “sex is a recreational activity and should not be limited by anything except that both parties should be consenting.”
These are just a few. You can go hereto see the report and see why the above statements are naive, out-dated, and simply wrong. But one thing that was most interesting to me was the chart below. Fewer adolescents – not more – are having sex outside of marriage. Note also that the percentage of abstinent guys is now approaching the same percentage as for young women. Appears that the trend line is pretty good!
It is also interesting to note that the large percentage increase in numbers of youth who remain abstinent corresponds to the Bush administration’s push for abstinence education programs in schools. Coincidence? Read the report and find out.
If you have children – no matter what their age – this is some important information for you to know and share.
