What Abstinence Education Should Teach
by Robert Rector The Heritage Foundation
Paradigm #1 Human sexuality is primarily about physical pleasure. The goal is to obtain pleasure without contracting a disease or unwanted pregnancy. Main message: Have sex wearing condoms
Paradigm #2 Human sexuality is primarily emotional and psychological, not physical, in nature. It properly involves long-term emotional bonding, intimacy and commitment between a man and a woman. These conditions are most likely to occur inside marriage.
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Positive Effects of Abstinence
1) Reduction of STDs 2) Reduction in Teen Pregnancy 3) Improvement in Emotional Health 4) Improvement in Socio-Economic Outcome 5) Increase in Stable Marriage 6) Positive Benefits of Marriage
Positive Value of Marriage Abstinence as Preparation for Marriage
Theme B1. Teaches that abstinence from sexual activity is the expected standard for all school-age children.
Theme B2. Teaches, in an ageappropriate manner, the topic of returning to abstinence, that teens who have engaged in non-marital sexual activity may abstain from further non-marital sexual activity, thereby reducing potential negative psychological, health, and social consequences.
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Theme C1. Teaches, in an age-appropriate manner, that abstinence is the only certain way to avoid out-of-wedlock pregnancy.
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manner, that abstinence is the only certain way to avoid the sexual transmission of STDs and related health problems. Teaches the harmful physical effects of infection by STDs that may result from sexual activity outside of the context of faithful marriage. Teaches the physical health gains realized by abstaining from sexual activity. (This theme is limited to STDs; the physical effects of out-of-wedlock pregnancy are covered in themes F1 and F2.)
Theme C2. Teaches, in an age-appropriate
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standard for sexual activity is within the context of a mutually monogamous marriage relationship between a man and a woman. Teaches that healthy human sexuality involves enduring fidelity, love and commitment; human happiness and wellbeing are associated with a stable, loving marriage. Teaches that non-marital sex can undermine the capacity for healthy marriage, love and commitment. Teaches that abstinence is beneficial in preparation for successful marriage and significantly increases the probability of a happy, healthy marriage.
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Theme D1. Teaches that the expected
Theme D2. Teaches that human sexuality includes deep emotional and psychological aspects and is not merely physical in nature.
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Theme E1. Teaches the harmful psychological effects of sexual activity outside the context of marriage. Teaches the psychological gains realized by abstaining from sexual activity.
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Theme E2. Teaches that teen sexual activity may have harmful effects in addition to the effects previously mentioned in C1, C2, and E1. Teaches that abstinence can help youth to avoid these potentially harmful effects.
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Theme F1. Teaches that sexual activity outside of marriage may result in nonmarital pregnancy. Teaches, in an ageappropriate manner, that bearing children out-of-wedlock may have harmful consequences for the child. Teaches that by abstaining from non-marital sexual activity, teens will have increased potential to form healthy marriages that will benefit their future children.
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Theme F2. Teaches the potential beneficial effects of marriage to the well-being of adults and society. Teaches, in an age-appropriate manner, that bearing children out-of-wedlock is likely to have harmful consequences for the child's parents and society as a whole.
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Theme G1. Teaches the importance of goal setting and future-oriented thinking as a means of promoting sexual abstinence. Teaches the importance of personal character in deciding to remain sexually abstinent. Teaches the value of building and maintaining healthy relationships that are free from sexual involvement.
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Theme G2. Teaches techniques and skills to help young people reject sexual advances and maintain the expected standard of abstinence.
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Theme G3. Teaches that the use of drugs or alcohol can increase one's vulnerability to sexual advances (including sexual exploitation or violence). Teaches skills for avoiding high-risk situations where sexual activity is more likely.
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Typical "Life Skills" Material That Will Not Be Counted as Abstinence Content
general communication skills general decision making self-esteem general peer pressure (not connected to abstinence) importance of setting general goals substance abuse (not connected to abstinence)
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Balance Among Themes At Least One to Two Percent of Content on Each Theme Not More than 20 Percent of Content on a Single Theme
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Most Common Missing Themes
Theme B2 Secondary Virginity ThemeE1 Negative Psychological Effects of Teen Sex Theme E2 Other harmful effects of teen sexual activity (decreased school completion, income potential; more likely to engage in other risky behaviors) Theme F1 Benefits of Marriage to Children; Harmful Effects of Out of Wedlock Childbearing on Child Theme F2 Benefits of Marriage to Adults and Society Theme G3 Using drugs and/or alcohol increases vulnerability to sexual advances
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