Teenagers, s*x, abortion, and education...?

Question

It was brought up in my last question, so I want to pose this question....

What is the best way to prevent abortions and unwanted children? Do you legitimately believe abstinence-only education will help, and can you find a single secular, science based piece of evidence to support that? Do you believe it's comprehensive s*x education? Privatizing education? Free birth control in the streets?

How would you save America from itself in terms of sexuality and reproductive issues?

Answer 1

There is no way to stop people from having s*x, that is what they were born to do. What you can do is educate them better on how to prevent pregnancies, and the consequences of getting pregnant. I would remove having children as a reason for getting welfare, and food stamps. I would make everyone responsible for their actions, if a man gets a women pregnant, he will support the child, or go to jail or into some kind of work program.There is no reason I can think of for the rest of us to support that child, and mother. When everyone realizes there are no more free rides, and everyone must be held responsible for their actions, you will see the birth rate drop.

Answer 2

You just can't legislate morality.  Education is a way to teach the down side of pre-marital s*x.  It will never save anyone from themselves.  Having s*x is a decision (in most cases) made by two people.  If those two people have been educated about STDs, about the responsibility of single parenthood and the whys and wherefores of responsible sexual behaviors and habits hopefully they will think before the jump.  Of course it will not be 100% effective.  There are always people who refuse to learn.  There will always be people who refuse to take responsibility for anything so there will always by abortions (legal or not) and unwanted children.  As far as free birth control, most areas have health clinics where free birth control is readily available yet we still continue to see unwanted pregnancies.  Obviously I don't have the answer, I certainly wish I did.  I wish I could take and care for every single unwanted child in the world but I can't.  I think it is up to every individual to make their own decisions.  Even bad ones.  Excellent question.

Answer 3

These are typical liberal solutions. Let's not cure the problem, but make the problem less inconvenient. Abstinence would work if parents put more attention to their children and not their jobs.

Feminists become quick to change the subject when confronted on how society has become worse since, 1970. I find it amusing on how ignorant feminists can become. Increasing the tentacles of government will not solve the problem. Not all of us fall back on socialists or marxist ideals to try and fix the problems.

Like I mentioned before, fulfilling the role of being a parent will create better kids. Right now dysfunctional parents create dysfunctional kids.The prescription right now is day orphanages and TV. There is no bond being created. The parents are ATMs and the true love goes to the characters on TV who they emulate.

Not only is a there a greater dedication to worth, there is a desire to get young on the part of adults. The children, who lack parents, are acting like adults, and the adults, who ignore their children, are acting like kids.

The proper roles are being ignored because of  liberal ideals that create a 180 on the Golden Rule: Don't do X to me, and I won't do X to you. We can all see the mistrust and animosity amongst each other. It is a Hobbesian society. This needs to change.

Answer 4

I think that we need to stop treating these teenage welfare moms like hero's for keeping their babies.  The attitude seems to be "you got yourself into this, you take care of it, it's your responsibility."  I don't like it.  Yes there are some very good young moms and dads but there are lots who just aren't ready.  Years ago, society forced these girls to either get married or give up their baby for adoption.  That wasn't right either but there has to be a happy medium.  Giving a child a chance at a better life than you can provide should not be considered shirking responsibility.....maybe if there was just the tiniest bit of shame in unplanned pregnancy then it wouldn't happen as often.

Answer 5

I dunno but s*x is definately encouraged by the media, 's**y' people and images of lust..

Answer 6

Abstinence is commendable, but abstinence-only education undermines' adolescents' rights and agency to their own bodies. Ultimately, as responsible adults we should be giving them information about all their options in order to make all options safe, realizing that the choice of their bodies is ultimately their own.

Furthermore, while abstinence-only education may work for some, it may promote s*x-negative ideas whereby s*x is associated with shame. It imposes moral judgement that s*x is only acceptable under circumstances which, while being the belief of some people, is not the belief of everyone.

Responsible education offers as much information as possible and guidance to achieve critical thinking. Attempting to reduce abortion rates and at the same time reducing the number of "unwanted children" is essentially inscribed into the harm reduction perspective (and I would argue here that it is not the children who are unwanted but rather the pregnancy/child that is unsustainable). As such, harm reduction should always refrain from imposing moral judgements, acknowledge individual variance and everyone's agency, including teens, and rather attempt, through education, to give the recipients of that education the tools they need to make decisions that work for them.

Access to safe birth control and abortion procedures, information about how to properly use birth control, the consequences and ramifications of s*x and pregnancy and guidance (not coercion) in the decision-making process is what is needed to effectively reduce abortion rates, reduce the harm associated with any abortions that do take place, and reduce the number of unwanted/unsustainable pregnancies.

The Sate needs to butt out of personal lives in the form of imposing moral judgement and enact laws that protect the right to self-determination, while providing support, guidance and access to information and resources.

The short answer of course would be, if you want to prevent abortions altogether, end poverty and economic oppression on women. That should do it.

EDIT: Master_Beta -- This is a valid question. The right to self-determination is the right to choose a lifestyle that works for you, and make decisions that you are comfortable with, without others imposing moral judgements on you. It is meant to be done within respect for the right of others to their own self-determination, and in the spirit of respect for the dignity of others. It does not equate with, nor endorse reckless hedonism and a complete disregard for others. Specifically, in a political context such as this one, self-determination refers to free choice of one's own acts without external compulsion and independently from the state. Self-determination theory examines the space and development of personality within social contexts. In my view, the right to self-determination is always important, even if some people do use it in irresponsible ways, such as drinking and driving. While I certainly don't agree with drinking and driving, I think it's important, in the spirit of harm reduction and respect for self-determination, to refrain from using coercion to resolve social problems. Thanks for the debate.

Answer 7

Abstinence-only s*x ed is definitely NOT the answer.  Teens will have s*x anyway, and they'll have no idea of the truth of how reproduction works, the effectiveness of birth control, the truth about STIs, etc.  Comprehensive s*x ed is one of the best ways.  But it should be taught at home as well as in schools.  And resources such as http://www.midwestteensexshow.com/ and http://www.scarleteen.com/ should be promoted more frequently.

Answer 8

I'm wondering if the attitude of "don't need a man"

creates fatherless babies and less marriage commitments?  I got that from a woman poster.

Here's a novel idea-create "father centers" and hire men as surrogate fathers.  

Giving out birth control is good.  The best way is/was to have strong family ties.

However America (and maybe other countries) is going in the opposite direction.  Moms are too busy working; dads were either pushed away or too busy working.  Many children have been abandoned today.  

Education works.  Love works better.

Answer 9

The best education is protection. A baby goes away in 18 years if you do your job right other things never do.

Answer 10

We prevent abortions by making them illegal, as they should be. Abortion was LITERALLY born out of luciferianism and eugenics.

Where do you people think the term "birth control" came from. Eugenics.

If you want to wake up to their entire system, go watch 'EndGame' on google video. It's more horrifying than any work of fiction.

Answer 11

To your first point, the best way to prevent it is to have easy access to birth control and contraception. Furthermore, lots of education regarding safe s*x and the limitations of contraception. That is very important since it will make people more aware that they have to be careful to ensure they are adequately protected.

Furthermore, education regarding sexual crimes to prevent rape which is a major reason for a woman to abort.

Practically speaking  I believe that abortion should be more carefully regulated and morally speaking more heavily regulated. Of course abortion should remain legal for rape victims as well as mothers facing imminent death, just commonsense,  but overall abortions should be more regulated. Trouble is of course it would then put the onus  unfairly on the woman to prove she actually was raped. As we know this could actually create more impracticalities but it's a thought...

In the end though they're gonna have it, fact of life like one poster said so the best we can do is make sure it is carefully regulated I suppose

As for unwanted children that's always a concern surrounding s*x in general. Educate and educate some more. Young people, in fact ALL people need to know that there are consequences to actions and  responsibilities to choice and if they're aware of that perhaps unwanted children can be largely avoided.

However in our increasingly moral-neutral society you can't be seen to blame anyone for their choice or even implying they could be to blame or else you're accused of judging them. Tricky situation

@ food4thought; "right to self-determination" that's taking a moral stance right there lol what about drink drivers? Should the state keep its nose out of that too? Just provoking debate =D

Answer 12

Well I suspect more people waiting till after thier teenage formative years have mostly finish might be good. As its said by some that whilst a teenager you make the sort of person you will become.

But educating only to abstince wont help, greater focus maybe.

No I disagree with just giving away birth control and such.

If the concept that s*x = babies, and they were taught about babies (like given a life doll to try out - one of the fancy ones from the states, crys a stupid hours of the morning and poos)

with a lack of the pill and such available I think that might reduce s*x and pregancys lol.

Answer 13

Education is the best way. Once one individual is well educated with one thing then it would be less pron to have mistakes because you are aware of it.

Answer 14

Abstinence-only education is unlikely to work, especially if you link it to Christianity during teaching, but even if not. Because you have to want to be abstinent, and many teenagers don't - especially if it's percieved to be part of a religion they don't want to belong to. Whereas when teaching about birth control, teenagers have to want not to have an std/baby, and most teenagers do (want not to have these things). So in one case your working against their desires and in another case, with. One case teaches them to deny everything or fail, the other teaches responsibility and forward planning and, frankly, doesn't treat them like little children, which they're not anymore. Teenagers have the right to choose to have s*x if they wish too, that's what the age of consent is for, and so should have the full information available on the topic. It's never going to be perfect, but it can be better.

Answer 15

I think that it is possible for teens and young people to make smart sexual choices and abstain. But there are alot of factors. Trouble is, teens today are given no reasons to even try to control themselves. They are taught that condoms and pills will be enough to prevent pregnancy, for the most part, and if they fail they can always just get an abortion (which is played as a fairly simple procedure with no lasting effects). They're taught that if they are just "careful" who they sleep with and use protection, that they don't have to worry about contracting an STD. Their parents expect them to do it - they teach their kids to use condoms and sometimes put their daughters on birth control. And they are fed on a near-constant diet of sexuality, from their music and movies and video games to the filthy conversations they have with their little buddies at school. With all that influence, is it really a surprise that teens are having s*x and getting pregnant? Nope. The only way to prevent abortions  and pregnancy, therefore, is to get teens to stop having s*x.

They need to know that condoms really aren't that effective for preventing diseases. Some viruses can get through the latex pores, and condoms don't cover quite enough skin down there anyways. Things like herpes can't really be prevented effectively with condoms. Also, guys can contract HPV and not know it because it is asymptomatic in males (generally) - and if they give it to their girlfriend it can be really bad for her. They need to know that things like oral and anal s*x can still risk their health. I think they should see the pictures of what STDs look like - it may just scare them straight.

They have to know that birth control methods aren't 100% reliable - the only way to make completely sure you won't get pregnant is abstinence. They should be told all about abortion - shown pictures of the procedure so they are aware of exactly what is happening. There are lasting negative effects from abortions, too, and teens have to know this.

They should know that there is no way to protect their hearts, and that girls in particular are more vulnerable emotionally. Guilt, regret, hurt feelings over giving it up to a guy who you thought loved you but only wanted to get in your pants....there's no way to prevent these feelings, other than abstaining.

It also helps if teens aren't exposed to so much sexuality. Find clean music without a sexual theme to listen to. Don't watch movies that are full of s**t. Put away your copies of Cosmo and read something by Jane Austin instead. The less "media" influence they have, the better. Trust me, it makes a big difference!

It's up to teens to control themselves. But I believe they can be taught how, and given good reasons for doing so. And this should all be coming from the parents, not the school. I want to have my kids read a book called "Unprotected" when they're older. It will help.

Answer 16

I would say use a condom AND birth control same time,education on the full use and proper use of both bieng as little things liek "unsafe weeks" peopel are unaware of and if the girl is ok with the guy not wearing a condom then pull out before it takes away "some" risk not saying it will save you and I am talking if she is still on pill or w.e they are not 100%. Knowing the ways to prevent things would be most important,knowing that your significant other knows the ways to do things right also helps.

Answer 17

u cant! -what ever law u enforce, or warnings u dish out ppl will still find away to have unprotected s*x, abortion etc (thats just life).

Answer 18

With all the s*x in the media, and sexual images constantly bombarding teens, it is unrealistic to think that they will not have s*x.  Yes a few will abstain, but they are a small minority.  A realistic approach to s*x ed with an emphasis on birth control and disease prevention is necessary.  A smart parent would put their daughter on the pill.  It does NOT make them more likely to have s*x.  The hormonal drive is strong, and peer pressure can be overwhelming.  Why not protect your daughter from reality, and not preach some "pie in the sky" unreality.