Unequal Sex Education: the Bible Belt Vs. New England
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Undergraduate Review Volume 15 Article 19 2020 Unequal Sex Education: The Bible Belt vs. New England Nicole Mazzeo Follow this and additional works at: https://vc.bridgew.edu/undergrad_rev Recommended Citation Mazzeo, Nicole (2020). Unequal Sex Education: The Bible Belt vs. New England. Undergraduate Review, 15, 211-224. Available at: https://vc.bridgew.edu/undergrad_rev/vol15/iss1/19 This item is available as part of Virtual Commons, the open-access institutional repository of Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, Massachusetts. Copyright © 2020 Nicole Mazzeo Unequal Sex Education: The Bible Belt vs. New England Protestantism, which deems non-marital sex a sin (though it should be noted that many people living Nicole Mazzeo in the region do not share these values). Proponents Abstract of abstinence-only education claim that it will delay The Bible Belt1 in the Southern United States sexual behavior until later in life and reduce the is known for its conservative values, which are number of partners students have, which will lead largely influenced by the popularity of evangelical to lower rates of unintended pregnancy and sexually Christianity in the region. When looking at sex transmitted infections (STIs) (Bleakley, Hennessy and education, policymakers in the area tend to prefer Fishbein 2006). It is true that successfully refraining abstinence-only-until-marriage (AOUM) education, if from sexual activity is the most certain way to avoid anything, to be implemented in schools (Guttmacher STIs and accidental pregnancy, which is a strong Institute 2019). In this paper, I will use data on the argument in favor of encouraging abstinence among sexual health outcomes in the Bible Belt, as compared youth. However, many people find abstinence hard to to the Northeast, to demonstrate that the lack of implement, and it severely limits options for sexual comprehensive sex education — and the popularity of expression and intimacy. While some see sex education as a matter of abstinence-only education — contributes to inequality personal values, others see it as a human rights issue. in our country. According to the United Nations Population Fund Personal Values or Human Rights Issue? (the UN’s sexual and reproductive health agency, Whether comprehensive sex education should also known as UNFPA), “comprehensive sexuality be available in schools is often seen as a matter education empowers young people to know and of personal values and belief systems. Critics demand their rights.” UNFPA argues that access to of comprehensive sex education argue that the information about sexual health can have a “cascading sensitive topic of sexuality should be left to parents effect” on human rights (UNFPA 2016). For instance, and caregivers to address in a way that reflects accidental pregnancy in adolescence can cause girls their family’s values (Jackson 2013). In the Bible to drop out of school, preventing them from accessing Belt, these values often stem from conservative 211 their right to an education. Also, a lack of information spending on teen sexual health education went to about gender equality can perpetuate gender-based abstinence-only programs, totaling around $90 million discrimination and abuse. UNFPA suggests that a (Kaiser Family Foundation 2018). lack of access to comprehensive sex education is at According to the U.S. Department of Health odds with the human rights of education and health and Human Services, the main goal of abstinence- as they are stated in various international agreements, only education is to teach students to abstain from including the Convention on the Rights of the Child sexual activity outside of marriage. Abstinence outside and the Programme of Action of the 1994 International of marriage is promoted as a goal in and of itself, as Conference on Population and Development (UNFPA opposed to being solely a means to achieve desired 2016). sexual health and wellness outcomes. The majority of Americans (73%) and health Abstinence-only programs tend to focus on professionals support comprehensive sex education the possible negative consequences of non-marital sex (Santelli et al. 2017). Even in the Bible Belt, public and have faced criticism for their use of scare tactics. support of comprehensive sex education is high. In Examples include showing gory medical photos of North Carolina, 72% of parents support birth control bad cases of STIs, as well as exaggerating the risk 2, and education in schools. In South Carolina, 90% of of pregnancy from protected sexual activity downplaying the effectiveness of contraceptives in residents support comprehensive sex education in preventing pregnancy and STI transmission. public schools (SIECUS, 2018). In Texas, 80% of It is not uncommon for abstinence-only voters support teaching about contraception in public teachers to use shame as a tool for discouraging non- schools (Tortolero et al. 2011). However, policymakers marital sexual activity. One classic example of this do not always act in favor of public opinion on the that has been used in abstinence-only classes across issue. the nation is the “chewed gum” metaphor: The teacher Abstinence-Only Education: Goals and Tactics asks two students to come to the front of the class Abstinence-only education is one of the main types and gives one of them gum to chew. The teacher then of sex education currently being implemented in instructs the gum-chewing student to take the gum the United States. In 2017, one third of government out from their mouth and offer it to the other student 212 BRIDGEWATER STATE UNIVERSITY | THE UNDERGRADUATE REVIEW 2020 to chew. Of course, the second student is expected to in sexual activities is highly debated. In the US, refuse the gum, out of disgust. The teacher explains approximately 12% of girls and young women make that this is what having premarital sex is like – you a vow to abstain from sex until marriage (Paik et become undesirable like chewed-up gum, and you al. 2016). One study found that young women who have nothing of value to offer to your eventual pledged to remain abstinent until marriage (often on husband (these messages are generally directed at the basis of religious convictions) were two-thirds less girl students, and heterosexuality is assumed) (Oliver likely to become pregnant before age 18 (Rector et 2015). Other popular metaphors used in abstinence- al. 2004). Another study found that young adults who only classrooms include the used piece of Scotch tape made a virginity vow in adolescence were 25% less (gets less sticky), and the old sneakers (smelly), both likely to contract an STI (Rector and Johnson 2005). of which give the same message: girls and women It is possible, though, that young people who are less who have sex with more than one person throughout likely to become sexually active in their teen years are their lives are dirty and undesirable (Oliver 2015). more likely to make the pledge in the first place, which The use of shame tactics in discouraging would mean that the encouragement to take a vow of sexual exploration may have negative effects on abstinence may not have had an impact on their sexual individuals’ abilities to enjoy sexual expression later in health outcomes. life. Sexual shame may also prevent individuals from Research on the effectiveness of abstinence prioritizing their own preferences and desires in sexual vows gives mixed results. A 2016 study found that interactions, which can increase their vulnerability to adolescent girls who took virginity pledges and then sexual coercion and assault (Messman-Moore et al. became sexually active were at an increased risk of 2008). contracting HPV or becoming pregnant, compared to Abstinence Education and Religion sexually active girls who did not pledge (Paik et al. Religion plays a large role in the promotion of 2016). This may be explained by the finding that those abstinence education and is often used as an argument who make and break a virginity pledge are less likely for discouraging non-marital sex. Whether religiosity to use contraception when they first have intercourse is effective at preventing young people from engaging (Bearman and Brückner 2001). Additionally, a 2017 213 study from The Journal of Sex Research found that Sex Education Policy in the Bible Belt As shown in Table 1 , while five of the eight Bible highly religious college students reported fewer Belt states mandate sex education (though, of these, strategies for reducing their risk of accidental one only mandates sex education if the pregnancy rate pregnancy and STI transmission (Anders et al. 2017). for teen girls ages 15-17 is higher than 19.5%), only Comprehensive Sex Education: Goals and Tactics one requires that the information taught be medically The goal of abstinence-only education to reduce accurate (Guttmacher Institute 2019). None of the non-marital sexual activity can be contrasted with eight Bible Belt states require that their sex education common goals of comprehensive sex education programs be unbiased (Guttmacher Institute 2019). programs, which more directly relate to public health. Also, none of these states ban sex education teachers These programs tend to include priorities such as: from promoting religion in their lessons (Guttmacher to educate students about methods for preventing Institute 2019). In Mississippi, localities need to seek unintended pregnancy and STI transmission, to equip approval from the state department in order to include students with knowledge about all their reproductive information