We Are Failing Our Children | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

We Are Failing Our Children

We need comprehensive sex ed for the future

17
We Are Failing Our Children
Women AdvaNCe

As human beings, we have an inherent right to know about our bodies, including how to make them feel good as well as how to do the exact opposite. Young people across the nation are more aware of their bodies and how to experiment a little more safely, with pregnancy rates continuously going down; STD/STI rates, however, are at an all-time high, according to the CDC. To make matters worse—many young people are going into adulthood confused about sexuality, sexual activities, and some non-sexual things that they cannot control like menstruation. While some opponents argue that education on sexual and gender minorities can complicate things and even corrupt our youth, many clinical professionals and other Americans would agree we need more reaffirming and even secular education on these topics in our public schools.

Psychologists have proven that bisexuality is just as normal as heterosexuality and homosexuality, and many gender scholars predict if we lived in a more accepting society, more people would feel free to think and act upon bi-curious thoughts. Living one's life more genuinely to who they truly are can alleviate stress and depression, allow people to connect over shared personality traits, and even develop closer relationships. Given this, is it truly "corrupting" to young people to possibly figure themselves out as human beings rather than pre-programmed machines?

Our nation still largely supports abstinence-only or abstinence-centered sex education and even spends more than $100 million on these programs, despite that they have been proven to be ineffective. Dr. Cora Breuner calls it as putting religious freedoms above general public safety and health—something often found unconstitutional. The same CNN report by Armstrong references that comprehensive and inclusive sex education programs increase condom use, reduce STI transmission, and decrease anxiety for the dreaded "first time," and for young people to talk to elders like their parents. Some people are calling to include pornography in comprehensive sex education curriculum that way students can think critically about the truths and flaws behind these depictions. Youtube right now has more potential to teach females about their periods than sex ed courses.

The best part of this major flaw in our system: an election is coming! With 88% of congressional seats up for reelection, now is the time to elect people that will advocate for these causes. URGE and many other groups listed here are fighting for the cause of comprehensive and inclusive sex education in public schools, and getting involved is incredibly easy. Being politically active is not just the way to bring this area of teaching into public schools, but the only way to be an active and virtuous citizen of the United States.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Adulting

6 Unrealistic Expectations Society Has For Young Adults

Don't let the thesaurus-inspired vocabularies in our résumés fool you. We're actually just big kids.

2439
boy in adult clothes

Well over four feet tall and 100 pounds in weight, many of us "young adults" of the world still consider ourselves children. Big, working, college-attending, beer-drinking children. We may live on our own, know how to cook noodles, and occasionally use a planner, but don't be fooled; the youthful tendencies that reside within us still make their way into our daily lives. From choosing to stay up until 3:00 a.m. playing video games on a school night to going out in 30 degree weather without a coat, we still make decisions that our parents and grandparents would shake their heads at in disappointment. So why are we expected to know exactly how to be a wise, professional, sensible adult? It's not that we're irresponsible (for the most part, anyway). It's that we are young, inexperienced, and still have the sought-after, enthusiastic mentality that we can do and be whatever we want, which has not yet been tarnished by the reality of the world. These are just a few of the unrealistic expectations that society has for young adults.

Keep Reading...Show less
pizza
Fandango

There are a lot of foods in this world, but there is only one dish that stands above the rest: Pizza. If you're close to me or at least know who I am, then you know that I'm totally obsessed with pizza. It's one of my favorite things to eat and I will NEVER turn down a slice, even if it doesn't have my favorite toppings. There isn't a day that goes by where I'm not thinking about pizza. I even sleep with a pizza pillow every night! There are many reasons why pizza stands above all other foods, and here are just a couple reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less
sex and the city
Warner Bros. Television

1. You don't have to feel guilty about flirting with customers for tips (or just for shits and giggles).

2. You can be obnoxiously flirtatious with anyone you want. You are free to be that girl that flirts with everybody and makes 'em all smile (it's especially fun when the guy is as cute as Collin Jost). No shame.

3. Making random men nervous with your superior beauty and intense eye contact just for the hell of it is really amusing and empowering.

4. No one gives two poops if ya legs are hairy (your man shouldn't either but *Kermit the Frog meme* That's none of my business)

5. The toilet seat will remain down.

6. There's more money to spend on yourself.

7. There's always this secret butterfly in your tummy that marvels at the possibility that when you go out this weekend you're gonna meet someone super handsome/wonderful/prince-like and have this moment of dazzling dalliance.

8. Nothing is that serious...you can take it all with a grain of salt...you don't owe anybody anything.

9. You can dance with anyone and everyone...or no one (Hello frat boi w/ glasses, I see you).

10. You don't have to fluff anyone's ego but your own.

11. Free drinks and dinners from single guys (It's not taking advantage if they're offering; a girl's gotta eat).

12. You have more time to learn how to love and improve yourself rather than constantly pouring your energy into another person.

13. You don't have to sacrifice your cheesy Jen Aniston rom-coms and Gilmore Girls for his Fast and Furious/other dumb action movie featuring blonde that is only in the movie to supply a relationship to the male lead and to make him look more masculine/empowered in juxtaposition (In other words, you don't have to deal with a guy being a crabby Patty while you watch your cute movies).

14. You can daydream about what your future husband may be doing right now (and not get stressed/guilty out because you're not picturing your current boyfriend that's crazy about you as your future husband).

15. There is more time to be spent with your girlfriends.

Girls Night In
Milk + Blush

We've all been there - you've been saying since Tuesday after French that this weekend is the weekend. You're finally going to break out those new heels and actually put on eyeliner on and make this Friday night be one for the memory books! That is, of course, until Girls Night Out turned into...Girls Night In.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

What Is Your Zodiac GIF?

Characteristics of the astrological signs, explained through GIFS.

911
zodiac
Wordpress

Whether you believe astrology is a legitimate "science" or not, we have all found ourselves looking at our horoscopes from time to time. The 12 astrological signs all fall under one of four elements: air, water, earth, or fire. Air signs are rational, social, and love to communicate with others. Water signs are are emotional, intuitive, and mysterious. Fire signs tend to be passionate, creative, and adventurous. Earth signs are conservative, realistic, and loyal.

Each sign is determined by the relative positions of celestial bodies to ourselves at our moment of birth, which is said to influence our personalities. Find your zodiac GIF below, based on the traits and characteristics provided by each sign.

***Disclaimer: GIFS are meant to be lighthearted and are based on descriptions of signs from http://www.astrology-zodiac-signs.com/.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments