Comprehensive Sexuality Education | Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Education |
| teaches that sexuality is a natural, normal, healthy part of life | teaches that sexual activity outside of marriage will have harmful social, psychological, and physical consequences |
teaches that abstinence from sexual intercourse is the most effective method of preventing unintended pregnancy and STDs, including HIV | teaches that abstinence from sexual intercourse before marriage is the only acceptable behavior |
offers students the opportunity to explore and define their individual values as well as the values of their families and communities | teaches one set of values as morally correct for all students |
includes a wide variety of sexuality related topics, such as human development, relationships, interpersonal skills, sexual health, and society and culture | often limits topics to abstinence before marriage and to the negative consequences of premarital sexual activity |
includes accurate, factual information on abortion, masturbation, and sexual orientation | either omits or contains biased information about topics such as abortion, masturbation, and sexual orientation |
provides positive messages about sexuality and sexual behavior, including the benefits of abstinence | often relies on fear and shame to control young people’s sexual behavior |
teaches that the proper use of latex condoms, along with water-based lubricants,can significantly reduce, but not eliminate, the risk of unintended pregnancy and of infection with STDs, including HIV | discusses condoms only in terms of failure rates; often exaggerates condom failure rates |
teaches that consistent use of contraception can greatly reduce a couple’s risk for unintended pregnancy | discusses contraception only in terms of failure rates; often exaggerates contraceptive failure rates |
includes accurate medical information about STDs, including HIV; teaches that individuals can avoid STDs | often includes inaccurate medical information and exaggerated statistics regarding STDs, including HIV; suggests that STDs are an inevitable result of premarital sexual behavior |
teaches that religious values can play an important role in an individual’s decisions about sexual behavior; offers students the opportunity to explore their own and their family’s religious values | often promotes specific religious values |
teaches that a woman faced with an unintended pregnancy has options: carrying the pregnancy to term and raising the baby, carrying the pregnancy to term and placing the baby for adoption, or ending the pregnancy with an abortion | teaches that adoption is the only morally correct and mature decision for a teenager faced with an unintended pregnancy |
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