“Studies actually show that abstinence-only sex education is less effective in preventing unwanted pregnancies and STIs than comprehensive sex education. Sure, teenagers probably shouldn’t be having sex, but they are, so we better educate them to protect themselves.”

Young women learn to see their bodies as ticking time bombs and young men to see theirs as the uncontrollable fire that could lead to explosion. Instead of promoting self-awareness, responsible exploration, respect for the diversity of sexualities, or compassionate communication, we teach them that their bodies are dangerous. Conservatives want that danger staved off until marriage, where it suddenly becomes holy, and liberals want it staved off along the way — through the use of accessible contraception.

While I obviously advocate safer sex, I also feel like progressives have let ourselves (as per the usual) be only reactive, instead of re-authoring the questions. We must not only ask how we can protect young Americans from unwanted pregnancy and STIs, but how we can encourage them to be self-aware, healthy, and happy. How can we inspire them to author their own questions?

It has the potential to break apart stereotypes about men’s uncontrollable hormones and women’s sexless purity, revealing a far more nuanced truth — that our sexuality, like other facets of our identity, is both innate and malleable. It could point the way toward the basis of a healthy, embodied sexual life: self-awareness, pleasure, and courage.

While pundits and educators grow agitated over the best way to protect teens from their dangerous sexual desires, we’ve forgotten that they’re already living with these desires, already making choices every day. If only we could see that reality not as a danger but as potential, as the chance to heal our totally screwed up sexual culture.

Read the entire article at: http://www.prospect.org//cs/articles?article=sex_education_as_liberation

Tags: Health //