Sen. Val Stevens

Free love. Free sex. Anything goes. Sound familiar? The outcry about abstinence education is mainly heard from relics with outdated thinking from the 1960s. As the chair for the Legislature’s Joint Abstinence Education and Motivation Oversight and Review Committee, I’ve had the opportunity to study and understand this issue. Let’s review some of these old beliefs and how they are no longer functional.

Myth 1: Abstinence education underestimates young people.

This statement, by itself, undermines our youth. Relying on one-sided, media-driven, titillating information is what underestimates our youth and undermines their health, welfare and self-esteem. Our youth are capable and competent, and they deserve information that we know can help make their lives better.

Most sex education programs assume that all youth are sexually active, which underestimates the intelligence and thoughtfulness of our teen-agers. Kathleen Sullivan, a well-respected abstinence education expert with Project Reality, said, "When our youngsters know that their hormones can be controlled, they then ask, ‘Why should I control them?’ and ‘How do I control them?’"

A strong abstinence education program is different from other sex education courses that have been around for 30 years. We are able to provide answers that have a great impact on their character development, as well as their emotional and physical health. The ability to choose abstinence is a revelation to many of our youth, and it empowers them to take charge of their lives, to be independent and in control.

Why should the only message be that sexuality can buy happiness, success, power, money, good looks and beautiful clothes? Youth are intelligent, and we need to provide alternatives. Without a counter message, the advertising media works to undermine the core values of our society and damages the health and well being of young people.

Myth 2: Abstinence education is heads-in-the-sand politics and underestimates peer pressure.

Abstinence education counters peer pressure and advertising with knowledge. Northwestern University evaluated an abstinence education program in a Chicago public school. The study confirmed that after students attended abstinence education, 84 percent of them strongly agreed that the best way to keep from getting AIDS or some sexually transmitted disease is to wait until marriage before having sex. Prior to the program, only 71 percent agreed. Perhaps those who say abstinence education is outdated are the ones with the heads-in-the-sand mentality because of their narrow views and closed mindedness.

Myth 3: Youth prefer to learn lessons about sex on their own.

What does this really mean? Do they just want to read about sex in a book? Most teen-agers I know, including mine during the teen-age years, would rather talk about sex than read about it in a book. Teen-agers learn from trusted family members, teachers and friends. If teen-agers want to learn about sex, they are going to go to whomever they trust. They want guidance, and they’ll get it from any source available. Abstinence education is another choice that empowers teen-agers to develop their own attitudes about when to have a sexual relationship and with whom. Without abstinence education, many teens learn about sex from advertisers that target them to sell a product. Think about how Britney Spears sells a soft drink on commercial television. What youth are getting from mass media is out of balance. We need to provide alternatives to the mass media’s instructional videos conveniently displayed on our television sets.

Myth 4: We need to acknowledge the teen-ager’s reality.

Today’s assumption is that a teen-ager is going to have sex no matter what, so let’s teach them how not get pregnant and catch a disease. When we make this type of assumption, of course it is going to happen.

The reality is that many teen-agers want to learn and make the best decisions for themselves. When the only thing the teen hears is the expectation for him or her to have sex, then that is the only decision the youth sees. We need to stand by our teen-ager’s side and provide him or her with options. A well-informed youth will be empowered to stand up to the bias of advertising media.

Myth 5: The good economy, not abstinence education, is what has helped drop teen pregnancy rates.

Youth who have had abstinence education are more likely to choose the informed path, regardless of the economy. This is what abstinence education does. It is a new option that youth did not know they had when the only message out there was "sex is very attractive, but it is dangerous and could kill you, so use a condom."

Abstinence education teaches the importance of sexual relations within marriage and demonstrates the benefit to children within a married relationship because the children receive benefits from having two parents. This bedrock of information holds up regardless of whether you have a job or not. All youth are curious and want to learn. We must trust our teen-agers to want to learn what is best for themselves.

State Sen. Val Stevens, R-Arlington, chairs the Joint Abstinence Education and Motivation Oversight and Review Committee. She represents the 39th District.