Difference between revisions of "Abstinence"
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$1bn 'don't have sex' campaign a flop as research shows teenagers ignore lessons, The Guardian [http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,2058066,00.html]</ref> | $1bn 'don't have sex' campaign a flop as research shows teenagers ignore lessons, The Guardian [http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,2058066,00.html]</ref> | ||
| − | The abstinence policy of the Bush administration has also been heavily criticized by liberals as being unrealistic, ignoring the real issues and misleading. But this [[deceitful | + | The abstinence policy of the Bush administration has also been heavily criticized by liberals as being unrealistic, ignoring the real issues and misleading. But this [[deceit|deceitful]] view ignores the fact that abstinent teens don't get VD or pregnant. <ref>Bush "abstinence only" program lies to kids about sex, HIV dangers[http://www.unknownnews.org/04121402abstinence.html]</ref> |
The resignation of [[Randall Tobias]], appointed by [[President of the United States|President]] [[George W Bush]] to promote abstinence education and responsible for enforcing a U.S. global [[AIDS]] policy requiring recipients to swear they oppose prostitution and sex trafficking, after it was discovered he had been a customer of an escort service in Washington, D.C. whose owner has been charged by federal prosecutors with running a [[prostitution]] operation, shows how challenging abstinence can be. <ref> http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007/04/senior_official.html</ref> | The resignation of [[Randall Tobias]], appointed by [[President of the United States|President]] [[George W Bush]] to promote abstinence education and responsible for enforcing a U.S. global [[AIDS]] policy requiring recipients to swear they oppose prostitution and sex trafficking, after it was discovered he had been a customer of an escort service in Washington, D.C. whose owner has been charged by federal prosecutors with running a [[prostitution]] operation, shows how challenging abstinence can be. <ref> http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007/04/senior_official.html</ref> | ||
Revision as of 21:41, May 29, 2007
The word abstinence means refraining from indulging in an appetite.
In the 1800s and 1900s, the word "abstinence," used without other explanation, almost always meant abstinence from alcohol. The "abstinence movement," for example, led to the establishment of prohibition. Teetotaler mean someone who advocated "total abstinence," rather than just moderation.
Starting in about the 1990s, "abstinence" has been more commonly used in the context of abstinence from sexual intercourse, particularly in the United States in the context of sex education for adolescents. Thus, for example, we read in a 2002 White House policy statement:
- ..."the goal of Federal policy should be to emphasize abstinence as the only certain way to avoid both unintended pregnancies and STDs."[1]
Studies of the effectiveness of abstinence programs have yielded differing conclusions. A 2004 study by the Heritage Foundation (a self-described "conservative think-tank")[2] found that virginity pledges significantly reduce premarital sex without putting backsliders at risk.[3] A 2007 study by Mathematica Policy Research (a self-described "nonpartisan research firm") found that "the programs had no effect on the sexual abstinence of youth." But, like Heritage, it found that "youth in these programs were no more likely to have unprotected sex."[4][5]
The abstinence policy of the Bush administration has also been heavily criticized by liberals as being unrealistic, ignoring the real issues and misleading. But this deceitful view ignores the fact that abstinent teens don't get VD or pregnant. [6]
The resignation of Randall Tobias, appointed by President George W Bush to promote abstinence education and responsible for enforcing a U.S. global AIDS policy requiring recipients to swear they oppose prostitution and sex trafficking, after it was discovered he had been a customer of an escort service in Washington, D.C. whose owner has been charged by federal prosecutors with running a prostitution operation, shows how challenging abstinence can be. [7]
Notes and references
- ↑ WORKING TOWARD INDEPENDENCE Encourage Abstinence and Prevent Teen Pregnancy, White House News and Policies, February 2002
- ↑ The Heritage Foundation: Our Mission "Founded in 1973, The Heritage Foundation is a research and educational institute - a think tank - whose mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense."
- ↑ Teens Who Make Virginity Pledges Have Substantially Improved Life Outcomes by Robert E. Rector, Kirk A. Johnson, Ph.D., and Jennifer A. Marshall Center for Data Analysis Report #04-07 [1]
- ↑ Impacts of Four Abstinence Education Programs
- ↑ $1bn 'don't have sex' campaign a flop as research shows teenagers ignore lessons, The Guardian [2]
- ↑ Bush "abstinence only" program lies to kids about sex, HIV dangers[3]
- ↑ http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007/04/senior_official.html