ABSTRACT
In discourse politics, the debate around sex education most often polarizes arguments for abstinence-only (AO) and comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) programs. AO programs deliver messages that enforce heterosexual relationships and require that teenagers who wish to live morally wait to engage in sexual intercourse until marriage. “Although one study found later sexual debut was associated with AO virginity pledging, the majority of adolescents who made virginity pledges ultimately broke their ‘promise’ and engaged in sexual intercourse before marriage”. While a standard argument has been made that a CSE program would encourage sexual behaviors, the converse argument has been made for AO programs. CSE programs encourage abstinence and deliver messages about contraception. Highly supported by public health experts, CSE programs are respected as the best source of accurate and just information for adolescents. Support for CSE programs is widespread among some of the top health and medical professional organizations.
