Sex Education and Teenage Pregnancy
Santrock (2016) mentions in his text that the United States hasone of the highest teenage pregnancy rates of industrializednations, despite the fact that adolescent sexual activity is nohigher in the United States. Why is that? For starters, sex duringadolescence is considered a \"taboo\" subject in our culture.Abstinence is also promoted and touted as the most safest, surefireway to avoid the consequences of early sexual activity.Additionally, we teach teens that sexual activity is an \"adultactivity\" and do not acknowledge that during the adolescent period,when there is an upsurge of hormones and changes in thephysiological landscape, teens grow curious about their bodies andthat of the opposite sex. Teens are also at a stage in their lifewhere experimentation and identify formation are at its \"peak\", andquestioning, expressing, and exploring their sexual identity ispart of that process.
How many people did you know in high school knew what sex wasand even had sex? Probably the majority. That is because sexualcuriosity during adolescence is part of healthy, typical humandevelopment.
What is sex education?
Briefly, sex education is about instilling accurate,scientific-based information and spreading awareness about thefollowing:
1. The physiological changes that occur in the body due topubertal/hormonal changes.
2. The risks and consequences involved in sexual activity suchas contracting sexually transmitted diseases or pregnancy.
3. It involves teaching youngsters how to set boundaries withothers when it comes to their own body and other people's bodies(i.e.\"No means NO!\").
4. Contraception options-how to be \"sex smart\" such as thebenefits of using protection.
5. A discussion about knowing when they are \"ready\" to havesex.
6. Define rape and sexual assault and how to know if you areabout to be a victim.
Put it in Perspective...
Answer the Following Discussion Questions:
1. What was your experience with 'sex education'? Did you take aclass in school? Did you learn from your caregivers? Include pointsthat you remember learning. And how has that served you as ateenager?
2. According to the film \"Inside the Teenage Brain\" and yourtextbook readings, what are some effective ways to approach aconversation with teenagers about 'safe sex'?
