In our world today, one can easily see and understand why teens are often confused by abstinence messages thrown at them by sex education programs. Sex education and abstinence programs are sending mixed signals to adolescents. While some of these programs promote abstinence-only in one ear, in the other, teens are being taught about the option of contraceptives just in case they do fall into sexual temptation. The two messages seem to contradict one another. As a teen, I often wonder, “What do adults want from me?” While teens are being tugged back and forth on the issue of sustaining abstinence until after marriage, programs are sending teens tumbling into confusion.
Many adults believe that despite preaching abstinence messages, some teenagers are going to have sex, and no program is capable of changing this. Sadly, most adults view teenage sex as a “right of passage” and neglect encouraging adolescents with a clear, abstinence-only message. According to Detroit Free Press (2007), the U.S. has “wasted” $176 million dollars a year on abstinence-only sex education. On another disappointing note, government funded programs seem to be more supportive of shelling out funds to supply teens with contraceptives as opposed to spending time educating them with safe choices. Adults are practically deeming teenagers as animals by implying that no matter how strong the message to wait until after marriage to become sexually active, they cannot resist their conscious sexual urges.
Negative aspects are evident in both sides of the two messages being thrown at teens. According to Dr. McCaffree (n.d.), “Parents worry that if they talk about both abstinence and contraception; children will become confused, or will not hear the abstinence message. Others suggest that there is always a mixed message that results when abstinence and contraceptive information are taught.” Neither of the opposing messages taught by programs takes any into any account the reported 10,000 young people who contract sexually transmitted diseases daily. (Detroit Free Press 2007)
In addition to programs failing to emphasize health risks, they also toss aside informing teens about the emotional risks associated with sexual activity. Studies by the American Academy of Pediatrics (2005) showed that sexually active adolescents, both boys and girls, are far likelier to be depressed and attempt suicide than those still virgins.
This argument of abstinence vs. contraceptives can only be solved by individuals themselves. Choosing abstinence is a very personal but healthy and emotionally beneficial decision. Just as these programs are speaking out to teens, teens must respond to the programs and let them know that they are in need of a clear, real, and relatable message. Programs need to choose one message, and focus on promoting that one message without the confusion of an opposing message. If government funded sex education programs take action and inform teens about all the benefits of abstinence, they will surely see positive results. Some of these results could be a drop in teen pregnancy rates or even decreased numbers of teens who are infected with sexually transmitted diseases. Perhaps after these results are noticed by adults and teens, both groups will be motivated to do what is best to help spread a positive word. Teens should lead by a positive example, and programs should lead with helpful, informative education. However, the only way teens can think critically to make right decisions is if the message of abstinence is not clouded by the easy way out: contraceptives. Stop sending mixed signals, stop seeing negative results.
Songs of My Life 
This is a very interesting matter, I agree that teenagers could be confused, however I don’t have any personal insight/experience into the matter. I also believe that teenagers and the human race in general is confused. Sin is a constant struggle for many people and many people don’t even consider what they are doing as sin. Just look at our high school, most of our high school is horribly unstable and dwells deep within sin. Those are my thoughts and i thank you for commenting on my post.
Good job Kathleen! I understand what you are saying here. Abstinence is being taught to teens and then they see all the commercials about contraceptives. I know thats what you just said, but I was just agreeing. :] But I would hope that the teens would have been taught morals that contraceptives are not a way around it.
I totally agree with you. Teens these days are getting very mixed signals and I myself even have been confused about things. Lucky for me I have an adult I can go to and talk about things with. Most teens aren’t that lucky. I think that is where the government needs to step in and provide clinics for young people. Clinics where they tell them the difference between right and wrong and that they should wait til marriage, or at least until their out of high school to have sex. Overall I think this is a great topic and definatly needs to be brought to more peoples attention.
Kathleen, what a way to start a blog. I would totally agree. I really don’t have any experience with this topic as zach says. I would rather wait until i know im ready and of course after marriage because i am very conscience about making so many mistakes and them turning into sins. i really do not think that some of the students in our high school do have standards to go by with because some are already having sex. i think that maybe if our parents cared more and did not incourage contraceptives then teenagers would not have a burden in their lives thinking about catching diseases.