Mixed up by the message

The danger of the mixed message is one of the pillars of the abstinence-only argument against comprehensive sex education. Abstinence advocates argue that for the same reason we wouldn't tell kids not to smoke, but if they do, to just have one cigarette a day, we shouldn't tell kids not to have sex and then tell them how to protect themselves if they do.

Comprehensive sex education advocates say the message isn't mixed; It's realistic, like telling kids not to drink, but if they do, to call someone responsible for a ride.

Taylor feels that the abstinence-plus education she received at her school was confusing to her classmates who hadn't chosen abstinence. "It's like lowering the bar, lowering standards. It's a copout."

Sharanya Durvasula doesn't agree. "I think teens are going to have sex whether or not they take an abstinence pledge. When they do have sex they need to know how to protect themselves or they end up getting pregnant," says the 17-year-old junior from Princeton Junction, N.J. Sharanya, who is a Sex, Etc. editor, attends a public high school of 1,500 where comprehensive sex education is taught.

"We're educating kids for life," says Monica Rodriguez, vice president of education and training at the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States. "In K-12 we have one shot to educate people, and we have to take advantage of that.

We teach kids why it is important to vote even though it is not something you can do in school. Young people get that it is not necessarily information for now, but information for later."

Americans want more information--on both sides of the issue, according to the recent "With One Voice 2007" survey (PDF). Seventy three percent of adults and 56 percent of teens believe that young people need more information about both abstinence and contraception, rather than an either/or approach.

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