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Amber White

Professor Kretzer

English 1101

26 November 2018

Researched Argument Essay

Does forcing teenagers to learn about sex education benefit them throughout their lives?

Does it affect their relationship with their parents or family? Sex education involves significant

lessons teenagers must learn in order to be safe and responsible in their sexual endeavors. Many

schools throughout America, and the rest of the world, believe teaching teenagers about sex and

the dangers that come with it are extremely important. The authors of all three articles,

“Effective Curriculum-Based Sex and STD/HIV Education Programs for Adolescents.”,

“Prevention of STI and Teenage Pregnancies Through Sex Education.” and “The Role of Parents

and Families in Teen Pregnancy Prevention: An Analysis of Programs and Policies.” are all in

agreement that sex education is beneficial in teaching teenagers about sex. Teenagers learning

about sex in schools is an effective way to delay sexual activity and increase the use of

contraceptives in teenagers. Sex education can also prevent teen pregnancy or STI contraction

and positively influence a child’s relationship with their parents.

The authors of the article, “Effective Curriculum-Based Sex and STD/HIV Education

Programs for Adolescents.”, found through research and analysis that sex education programs in

schools affect many aspects of a teenager’s sexual lives. The authors of the article, Douglas

Kirby and B.A. Laris conducted a study of an abstinence, STD or HIV and sex-based education

program of students. The investigation was mainly focused on the sexual behaviors of one
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hundred middle school and high school students in America. They researched behaviors such as

use of contraception during sex, frequency of sex and number of sexual partners. The studies led

by Douglas Kirby and B.A. Laris showed that due to sex education being taught in schools,

“comprehensive programs have strong evidence that they can delay the initiation of sex.” (Kirby,

Laris 3). Sex education has not only been proven in many studies to delay teenage sex, but to

have also increased the number of teenagers that use contraception. By teenagers delaying sexual

activity, it can be greatly advantageous for them and their future. Not only will it eliminate the

possibility of pregnancy or contraction of STD’s, but it will also enable them to make informed

sexual decisions they may have regretted otherwise. The results of this piece of the investigation

were that, “41% delayed the initiation of sex, 31% decreased the frequency of sex (which

includes returning to abstinence), and 40% reduced the number of sexual partners.” (Kirby, Laris

2). Through the lengthy amount of research and questioning, Douglas Kirby and B.A. Laris

concluded that by teaching teenagers about sex it can significantly delay sexual activity in teens.

Large amounts of teenagers are becoming pregnant and or contracting STD’s through

unprotected sex. “These high rates of teen pregnancy and STD’s are caused by teens’ having

unprotected sex. On average, almost 13 years elapse between the age at which adolescents

become fertile (about 12.6 years for girls and 14.0 years for boys; The Alan Guttmacher Institute,

2002; U.S. Census Bureau, 2004) and the age at which they marry (about 25.3 years for girls and

27.1 years for boys; The Alan Guttmacher Institute, 2002; U.S. Census Bureau, 2004). This

creates a long period during which young people need to avoid unintended premarital pregnancy

and STD, either through abstinence from sex or the use of condoms or other forms of

contraception.” (Kirby, Laris 2). This study shows that by teenagers being taught about sex

through a program, they can be made aware of the dangers of unprotected sex. Through sex
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education, teenagers are learning about the risk they are taking when neglecting to use

contraception during sexual intercourse. Due to these teenager’s new knowledge of the

importance and need to use contraception, they will be more inclined to use it during sexual

activity. “Of the studies that measured the use of condoms and other forms of contraception,

42% reported an increase in condom use and 40%, an increase in contraceptive use. Recognizing

that STD/HIV transmission and pregnancy can be reduced either by reducing sexual activity or

by increasing condom or contraceptive use, some studies developed composite measures of

sexual activity and condom use, such as ‘‘frequency of unprotected sex’’ or ‘‘number of

unprotected sexual partners.’’ These measures are strongly related to STD/HIV transmission and

pregnancy. Programs were very effective at reducing these measuring of unprotected sex—with

62% having a positive impact.” (Kirby, Laris 3). The study conducted by Kirby and Laris

showed that as a result of sex education teaching teenagers the importance of contraception

during sexual intercourse, teens use contraception more frequently. Douglas Kirby and B.A.

Laris have shown through research and investigation that sex education is influential in delaying

teenage sex and increases the number of teenagers that use contraception.

Sex education in schools can benefit teenagers in substantial ways that will continue to

help them throughout their lives. “Prevention of STI and Teenage Pregnancies Through Sex

Education.” specifically concentrates on the benefits of sex education in preventing pregnancy

and STI’s. The authors of the article, Małgorzata et. al, believe that sex education is a key factor

in preventing the unwanted outcomes of sexual intercourse. “Even though numerous initiatives

are promoted, the rate of unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections is still, not

only in the US, but in other countries as well. This is the reason why different sex education

programs are popularized in many countries. According to a research study conducted by

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Department of Health and Human Services, it appears that during the last 5 years the youth

started to use more hormonal contraception and condoms. Thus, the rate of teenage pregnancies

decreased.” (Małgorzata et. al. 3). As mentioned in the previous article, teenagers that are being

taught about sex and its risks, are becoming more focused on their own safety. Sex education is

influential in helping teenagers make informed decisions regarding their sexual lives and health.

By receiving reliable information through a sex education program, they can make these

decisions without worry of suffering the consequences of unprotected sex. Małgorzata et. al.,

mentions Santelli J.’s investigation on how medically accurate sex education in schools is. “In

2007, Santelli J. described the aspect of medical accuracy in sex education. According to his

study medical accuracy may be useful when preparing health education standards. Adolescents

need information and developed life skills, such as critical thinking, decision making,

assertiveness, ability to ask questions and seek help and negotiation skills to make conscious

choices. It is the society’s responsibility grant access to provide teens with access to sexual and

reproductive healthcare. Sex education may have a positive impact on attitudes toward

reproductive and sexual health of young people.” (Małgorzata et. al. 3). According to

Małgorzata et. al.’s article, not only will sex education teach teenagers monumental life skills

they will need, but also teach them the many ways to practice safe sex. Sex education is a very

effective and beneficial source for teaching teenagers about the ways to prevent the unwanted

outcomes of sex such as pregnancy or STI contraction.

Finally, sex education has a great impact on the relationship between a parent and their

child. Teenagers tend to struggle with being open about their lives and experiences with their

parents and family. But through the teachings of sex education, teenagers are likely to become

more open to their parents about discussing sexual activities. Teens that become acquainted with
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the idea of sex through, feel comfortable talking about sex with their parents. “Parent

involvement (PI) is considered necessary in teen pregnancy prevention (TPP) and preventing

other adolescent risk behaviors. Parent–child relationships affect the likelihood of sexual

initiation, substance use, and depression among adolescents (Lezin, Rolleri, Bean, & Taylor,

2004). (Silk, Romero 2). When teenagers become able to discuss sexual activity with their

parents, most likely they will understand the risks of unprotected sex even better than from a sex

education program. But it is important for the programs to encourage parents to speak with their

children about ways to prevent unwanted outcomes and how to practice safe sex. According to

the authors findings, one study showed that by having a stable family relationship, teenagers are

less likely to be participating in dangerous behaviors without caution. “An analysis of the 1997

to 2003 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth found that cohesive family environments (e.g.,

communication, attachment, monitoring) reduce risky sexual behaviors (Manlove, Logan,

Moore, & Ikramulla, 2008).” (Silk, Romero 1). Through teaching teenagers sex education, they

can have a strong communication with their parents regarding their sexual health and how to

avoid pregnancy and STI’s.

Teaching teenagers about sex and the risks of unwanted outcomes that come with sexual

activity is extremely important. The authors of the three articles, “Effective Curriculum-Based

Sex and STD/HIV Education Programs for Adolescents.”, “Prevention of STI and Teenage

Pregnancies Through Sex Education.” and “The Role of Parents and Families in Teen Pregnancy

Prevention: An Analysis of Programs and Policies.” are all in agreement that sex education is

beneficial in teaching teenagers about sex. By teenagers learning about sex education in school

they will be more likely to delay sexual activity and increase the use of contraceptives. Sex
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education can also prevent teen pregnancy or STI contraction and influence a child and parent

relationship greatly.
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Works Cited

Drwal, Malgorzata, et al. “Prevention of STI and Teenage Pregnancies through Sex Education.”

Polish Journal of Public Health, vol. 126, no. 1, Mar. 2016, pp. 46–49. EBSCOhost,

doi:10.1515/pjph-2016-0010. Accessed 7 Nov. 2018.

Kirby, Douglas, and B. A. Laris. “Effective Curriculum-Based Sex and STD/HIV Education

Programs for Adolescents.” Child STD/HIV Education Programs for Adolescents.” Child

Development Perspectives, vol. 3, no. 1, Apr. 2009, pp. 21–29. EBSCOhost,

doi:10.1111/j.1750-8606.2008.00071.x. Accessed 7 Nov. 2018.

Silk, Jessica, and Diana Romero. “The Role of Parents and Families in Teen Pregnancy

Prevention: An Analysis of Programs and Policies.” Journal of Family Issues, vol. 35, no.

10, Aug. 2014, pp. 1339–1362. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1177/0192513X13481330.

Accessed 7 Nov. 2018.