Lisa Crouch

English
Ms. Hunter
April 3, 2016
Teen sex and Contraception in America

The CDC reports that 8,300 teens between the ages of 13 and 24 in 40 of the 50 United
States are infected with HIV in 2009. (Valbrun, Marjorie) The argument to provide contraception
and sexual education to teenagers in high schools is still a highly debated subject here in
America. Other industrialized countries outperform the US in STDs, births, and abortions. Why
would this be? Knowledge is power. The United States would do better by empowering its teens
with the education and resources, including contraception, they need to make healthy informed
sexual decisions.

Many people would argue that making condoms easily accessible to teens would
be like giving them permission. Likewise those same people may say that sexual
education will prompt kids to have sex prematurely. However, talking about sex and how
to prevent unwanted pregnancy and the spread of disease does not inspire them to have
sex. Hormones, and natural instinct are the primary factors in why teens engage in sex.
Humans are in fact sexual beings and to ignore that can have devastating results.

An American teen girl is twice as likely to get pregnant as a Canadian teen girl
and almost six times more likely than a Swedish teen girl. One reason experts think is

Lisa Crouch
English
Ms. Hunter
April 3, 2016
because American teens are getting sexual education too late. (Yurieff, Kaya) Other
countries similar to the US are more accepting of sexuality. They are more open to the
natural pulls that people have toward sex and each other. They do not teach shame but
instead embrace what human nature is and what it means for humans to be sexual. They
are less rigid when it comes to sexual education and contraception. The biggest contrast
being between America vs. France, Germany, and the Netherlands. (Friedman, Jane) This
does not mean that they do not have religious faith or lack in morals or values. They
simply recognize the human existence. For France, Germany, Sweden, Australia and the
Netherlands, teen sex is taught to be a normal part of life and teens are shown to set their
own boundaries while maintaining respect for others. (Bell, Kelly) Therefore it is easier
for these teens to access the education they need as well as the contraception that will
protect them once they decide to engage in sex.

Jane Friedman who writes for CQ Researcher reported that studies are
inconclusive on whether or not abstinence classes work or have any effect on teens.
(Friedman, Jane) Abstinence teaches that the most effective and best way to prevent
pregnancy and disease is through avoiding sex all together until you are married. One
third of all American high schools opt for abstinence only classes. In these abstinence
classes, teachers are not allowed to answer any questions regarding sex. In regards to
condoms, they are only allowed to inform kids that they only work at a small success

Lisa Crouch
English
Ms. Hunter
April 3, 2016
rate. This is a poor idea. Why? Parents cannot assume that their beliefs will be their
childrens beliefs. Perhaps they do not want to get married in their lifetime. Perhaps they
do not adopt the same God or religion that their parents have chosen. Prior to recent law
changes a gay child would grow up and not be able to marry the person that they love
because it was illegal. What on earth should they do? 4 million teens get an STD every
year. (Freidman, Jane) To teach abstinence alone without proper information and
guidance is clearly not working. It is absurd to think that physiological education of any
kind could be a poor choice.

There is value in teaching abstinence. Some parents have argued that teaching sex
in school infringes on parental rights. That point makes sense, but it might be helpful to
educate themselves on real life numbers and how it would benefit their child to be
enlightened on how to protect themselves. Marjorie Valbrun a teacher of journalism at
Howard University reported statistics that show teen sexual experimentation is down as
well as that they are waiting longer to have sex. This suggests they are becoming more
responsible about their choices. Many who wait until they are older to have sex are also
choosing to use contraception when they do. (Valbrun, Marjorie) Most people can agree
that a good home life and loving involved parents can make all the difference in how our
children regard sex and themselves. Statistics also show that teens who are involved in
team sports, church function, and girls and boys clubs, also prolong them from engaging

Lisa Crouch
English
Ms. Hunter
April 3, 2016
in sex. (Valbrun, Marjorie) It would be helpful to instill good values and morals in
children and how love and sex are incorporated. Naysayers believe that kids will run wild
if condoms are readily available. Americans should advocate for a well devised
educational structure in tandem with accessible contraception. It is true, Abstinence is the
best prevention against STDs, pregnancy, births, and abortions. The issue is that it is not
a complete and solid plan standing on its own merit.
Looking at America vs. the Netherlands, France, and Germany shows that
American teens have more sexual partners than teens from these regions. (Bell, Kelly)
Some factors that put US youth at risk include restrictive ideas about teenage sexuality,
lack of openness and discussion about contraception and sexual responsibility, high levels
of poverty and uneven distribution of wealth, high levels of religiosity, low availability of
contraceptive education and family planning services. (Bell, Kelly) Bell also points out
that in the 21st. century the age of puberty is much lower and people are getting married
later in life. Here in America it is normal to not be a virgin by the time of marriage. The
current method of sexual education, abstinence, is not practical any longer.
In Bells article; Wake Up and Smell the Condoms: An Analysis of Sex Education
Programs in the United States, the Netherlands, Sweden, Australia, France, and
Germany there are eye opening statistics. The Netherlands have the best sexual health
ratings of any industrialized country. Sweden has mandatory sexual education for all

Lisa Crouch
English
Ms. Hunter
April 3, 2016
students including preschool. In France Gonorrhea is 74 times less and Chlamydia is 20
times less than that of American teens.

American Teenagers Desperately Failing in Comparison to Other Similar Countries

Teen

The United

Teen

The United

Birth

States of

Abortion

States of

Rate

America

Rate

America

per
The
Netherlands
Sweden
France
Germany
Australia

1000
22

22
3.6
40.5

Per 1000
54.4

4.2

29.2

122.4
54.4
112.4

17.2
13.2
12.5
3.9

29.2
30.2
29.2
30.2

*This Chart demonstrates how American teens compare to the teens of The
Netherlands, Sweden, France, Germany, and Australia in regards to Teen birth and
abortion rates.

These other countries educate on more than just abstinence. Take a look at the Netherlands for an
example of how they educate differently than America. Bell points out that Mandatory sexual

Lisa Crouch
English
Ms. Hunter
April 3, 2016
education for all Dutch students was implemented in 1993. It covers physical and emotional
sexual development, reproduction, Weerbarheid (interactional competence), relationships,
sexuality, and safe sex. They emphasize open communication in the classroom and discussion
may be led by student questions and teacher response. (Bell, Kelly)
David Andretta, an educational reporter, wrote a story for the New York Post in regards to
teens and condoms in New York City schools. The community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project
says schools do not have enough condoms to hand out to all the kids that are having sex. 47% of
New York teens are having sex. (Andretta, David) This is not an isolated issue.
Heather Corinna founder and director of Scarleteen.com (one of the first of its
kind founded in 1997) a website devoted to sexual education awareness and safety for
teens worldwide has opened some doors for teens in the US. Corinna has won numerous
awards for her contributions toward this effort and works diligently to ensure the
education of all teens around the world who have nowhere else to turn. Their staff is
comprised of volunteers some of whom are doctors, health care professionals, sex
educators, and folks who just want to help with this endeavor. Scarleteen has provided
thousands of teens globally with much needed guidance and resources when there was
none to be found elsewhere. Hopefully this is the start of a new trend in America as well.

Lisa Crouch
English
Ms. Hunter
April 3, 2016
America cannot afford to allow its teens to choose a possible death
sentence over education that can save them. Regardless of religious beliefs,
morals, values and such, this is about safety, being prepared, and responsibility. It
is time that this country chooses to educate its kids. Americans should take
responsibility for all teens, including those in poverty as well as the many whose
parents are not involved in their lives. This culture, can do better for its youth.
The US can and should grow their minds so that they can have the enriched lives
to become the kind of American citizens the world envisions them to be. Free
from burden, free from ignorance, free from disease, free from unwanted
pregnancy, free from shame, FREE.

Works Cited
Andretta, David. Loads of Love Gloves. New York City: New York Post, 4 Nov.
2005:07. Web. 19 Mar. 2016
Bell, Kelly. Wake Up and Smell the Condoms: An Analysis of Sex Education
Programs in the United States, the Netherlands, Sweden, Australia, France, and Germany
2009, Vol. 1 No.11/Pg. 1/3.Web. http://www.studentpulse.com.
Corinna, Heather. www. Scarleteen.com. 26 March 2016 Web. 19 Mar. 2016

Lisa Crouch
English
Ms. Hunter
April 3, 2016
Clemmitt. Marica. Teen Pregnancy. CQ Researcher, 26 March 2010. Web. 3
April. 2016
Friedman, Jane. Teen Sex. CQ Researcher. 16 Sept. 2005. Web. 3 April. 2016
Valbrun, Marjorie. Teen Sex. CQ Researcher. 15 June 2013. Web. 3 April. 2016
Yurieff. Kaya. Teen Sex. CQ Researcher. 14 July 2014. Web. 19 Mar. 2016