What Should Young People Be Taught in Sex Education? Comprehensive Sex Education vs. Authentic Abstinence
Recorded on February 8, 2005
Location: The Heritage Foundation's Lehrman Auditorium
In recent years, the term "abstinence plus" or "comprehensive
sex education" has played a prominent role in the public debate
over sex education. According to their proponents, comprehensive
sex-ed programs place a strong emphasis on abstinence but also
contain information about contraception. But do they? And how do
these curricula compare to authentic abstinence education? What are
the messages that these two approaches send to teens? A recent
study by The Heritage Foundation analyzes and compares the two
different types of sex-ed curricula: authentic abstinence programs
and comprehensive sex-ed (or "abstinence plus"). The results of
this study reveal that these two types of curricula have radically
different content, messages, and goals. Join us as we discuss the
results of this study and the implications of sex education
curricula on America's teens.