The Sex Education Dilemma

Sex will play a big role in every ones life that decides to get
married and or have some type of sexual relationship with a partner.
There are of course some that may wish to practice work as a nun,
priest, monk, or simply abstain from sex by choice. However, those of
the rest of the 320 million Americans, sex will play an important role
for their entire lives. It is important to remember that sex is a natural
part of human life and learning about the sexual human anatomy plays
a large role in how people view themselves and others around them. It
is crucial that they learn how and why their bodies work the way they
do. We all must understand not only our own bodies but those of
opposite genders.
Sex education is taught in schools for many reasons, such as to
educate students about the reproductive system, sexual transmitted
diseases, contraceptives, pregnancies, etc. Youth ages 15-24 represent
25 percent of the sexual activity population. (NCSL) In the United
States there is no required standard on sex education, so depending
where each student lives, his or her education on sex may differ. Each
State, school districts, and schools have their standard requirement on
what they decide is best to educate students about sex and any other
relations to that. John Oliver who hosts The Last Week Tonight with

John Oliver show on HBO mentioned that this might cause confusion.
For example by not having a standard requirement on sex education,
students and or young adults may have different understanding with
one another, such as consent.
Heres why it may cause conflict and confusion for students and
young adults; because there is no standard idea or confirmation on
what the proper understanding of consent is. Sexual consent is define
when someone gives permission, agrees, or says yes to sexual
activity to another person. What about when someone says Lets fore
play, and then when the actual intercourse takes place if one or both
of the parties forget to ask one another there can be a debate over
consent. Is it consensual if neither party protests at the time but
allows it to happen? Is it only consensual if written or spoken
agreement has been laid out ahead of time? Say that later on, one of
the two individuals begins to think or regret having intercourse and
realizes that consent was not entirely given and decided to speak up or
take legal action. As well, are there terms for what qualifies as an on
going consent? These and many more questions plague the youth of
our day and depending on what they are being taught in school, they
could have very different answers. A report of ABC news broadcast had
shared Tova Davinchs sexual assault story. At the time of 19 years old
she was a freshman in college and while falling asleep at her friends
place after a movie, was woken up by a male who she use to date,

having sex with her without any consent. Paralyzed by what was
happening she pretended to be asleep. 1 out of 5 females in a survey
of 27 college campuses experience sexual assault and even though
when asked that they are aware of fight or flight in the moment of
the sexual assault when it is actually happening may experience freeze
which is common (a psychological term where victims freeze and dont
know what to do or react to whats happening to them). Many are
involved in acquaintance rape and 80% of sexual assault is caused by
alcohol and drug related involvement. They share another story of two
college students from Tennessee named Molly Morris and Cory Mock
whose lives will never be the same. Molly and Cory were at a party
hanging out when she felt sick from drinking and was not able to
remain coherent. She blacked out and woke up realizing that she was
raped. She was never able to give consent. She immediately had filed
for rape and to this day she faces moments of depression and anxiety.
Cory on the other hand believed it was consensual, a now his life is
also affected by society, financial, and emotional damage.

Other consequences of not having a nationwide regulation on

how sex education is taught is that there can be emotional damage by
not addressing gender identity in schools. Gender and sex are not
always the same. Sex has two definitions, one that refers directly to
sexual activity while the second meaning simply describes the type of

genitalia a person has, while gender is how one feels, thinks, or sees
them selves. In the every changing society of the day, there is such a
large spectrum with new terms and definitions coming out all the time
to express someone orientation or how they self identify. In just the
last few years it has changed from LGBT to LGBTQIAPK. There is a
dramatic change in how children of today see and view sex, orientation
and identity and it needs to be addressed and discussed in an open
environment where questions can be asked. It becomes difficult
because society has set standards on what is okay and what is not,
anything that is not hetero sexual in nature can scare or make some
people uncomfortable but there is such a broad range of other things
and not exposing children to these things would only teach them to
fear it, not to mention the enormous anxiety, distress and pressure for
any of the children who would fit into one of those categories when
they realize they are not like what the world tells them they should be.
A parent or say a teacher should not have to shrug their shoulders or
say no to a student who ask if it is okay to be gay or lesbian. Also keep
in mind that when there is not proper education on these issues,
mental and or emotional damage can develop or begin to occur in
individuals because they dont understand where they fit in society.
Every boy and girl, no matter their gender identity needs to learn
about them selves and that how they think and feel, even if it does not
coincide with the norm, is okay. If taught in depth about the differences

and allow an environment where kids can be open and ask questions,
then there can be help to save and prevent suicides, depression and
general lack of self worth.
Most States highly encourage the educating of abstinence,
abstinence means to refrain oneself from indulging in something, such
as behaviors, substances, or temptation. Abstinence is taught in
schools to encourage students to refrain from sexual activity and wait
to involve themselves until a mature and appropriate time, in other
words wait until marriage. This in encouraged in children and it helps
to reduce the risks of STDs, and unplanned pregnancies. While
abstinence can have a positive affect or influence on some students,
teaching abstinence should not be the only approach. In 2013
Elizabeth Smart known as the LDS teen who was kidnapped from her
Utah home in 2002 at the age of 14 and was missing for more than 10
years. Elizabeth made a speech on sex education at the Johns Hopkins
University, "I remember in school one time I had a teacher who was
talking about abstinence and she said, 'Imagine you're a stick of gum
and when you engage in sex, that's like being chewed. And then if you
do that lots of times, you're going to be become an old piece of gum
and who's going to want you after that, (Smart). After her traumatic
experiences, where she was kidnapped, used, and raped, Elizabeth felt
hurt that she was like a chewed up piece of gum. According to Holly
Mullen the executive director of Salt Lake Citys Rape Recovery Center

states that there is too much judgment put on rape victims by not just
religious influencers but from schoolteachers. John Oliver in his show
about sex education expressed that abstinence is a healthy choice
however, believes it should not be the only thing taught. Depending
what students are taught students may receive different messages and
can come across as anti-sexual offense to young students, which can
be damaging and people can get hurt, such as Elizabeth Smarts
situation.
As of 2015, the teen birth rate was 22 births per 1,000 teen girls
(age 15-19), and there were 229,888 births to teen girls. Since its peak
in 1991, the teen birth rate has declined by 64% (The National
Campaign). Obama Care has played a small yet effective role by
providing free contraceptives to help prevent unplanned teen
pregnancies. The National campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned
Pregnancy features sex education and effective programs. The National
Campaign issues a caution that poor funding of effective programs can
lead youths to be at risk when engaging in sexual behavior. Basically,
that if there is not proper funding or effective teaching to the students
of the actual facts then they are attributing to the teen pregnancy
rates. Mississippi had the third highest teen birth rate in the United
States in 2012. More than 4,700 girls ages 15 through 19 gave birth
approximately 13 per day. (NCSL) Ranking at number 3, Mississippis
policies on sex education in schools has failed to pass providing

accurate medical comprehensive on sex, provide information about,

STDs, unintended pregnancies, sexual assault, dating violence, etc.
(from Mississippi State Legislation Senate bill SB 2594.)
There is obviously a need for reform on sex education for many
conflicts as said before. Perhaps because America is still a relatively
new country with only a few hundred years of history and with it
largely being settled by protestants and other largely Christian
religious groups our country has taken on a culture of sex being taboo
or strange to talk about which creates a problem with our youth not
being properly informed. It becomes more difficult with so many
different cultures, backgrounds and beliefs and it ultimately comes
down to a parents decision on what their child learns, that with so
many varying opinions there is sure to be some backlash from a
standardized way of teaching sex. Such as some might find the
detailed images of the male or female anatomy to be too graphic for
their children and would prefer for them not to see such things. But are
they not now robbing their child of the education and knowledge that
they might need for their future.
It is understandable that parents, teachers, and schools would
want to protect their students. Students will be influenced by sex oneway or another in their lives, and weather the education is given
effectively and accurately or vague and poorly will have an effect. The
more education we can arm them with will enable them to make the

best decisions for themselves on thing is for sure and that is that the
current course of action is not effective, two students should not have
differing opinions of what consent is or looks like. There should be no
questions about what assault is. Sex, Gender, and identity are a part of
who each person is and should be addressed and accepted. Abstinence
is a choice and should be respected and taught as one of many
alternatives each student has, as well as how and when contraceptives
should be used. With proper education there can be change in our
culture that will lower teen pregnancies and assault. Sex is a part of
everyones lives, weather they choose to participate in it or not they
should be properly informed.

Alexandra Samuels. Polls Shows Students Very in How They

Define Consent, USAToday College. June 18, 2015,
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Nineveh Dinha. Elizabeth Smart: I felt like a chewed-up piece of

gum. Fox13now, May 06, 2013.
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Office of Legislature Research and General Counsel, H.B.363, State

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Sexual Consent on Campas: Can Education Help Prevent Sex Assault

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Why is Gender Identity so Important? | Rikki Arundel| TEDxWarwick

Salon.Youtube, Feb 25,2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?
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