Comprehensive Sexual Education Of The United States

Author Bob Smith once said, â€Å"In America, when we decide to ignore a subject, our favorite form of denial is to teach it incompetently. Familiarity without true understanding is not only the basis of our families but of our educational system as well.† Smith refers to the inadequate sexual education of teenagers in the United States. Sexual education is the instruction on issues about bodily development, sex, sexuality, and relationships. Comprehensive sex education teaches about abstinence, condoms, and contraceptives to avoid sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and unplanned pregnancies. As well as, the skills needed to help young people explore their own values and options. Comprehensive sexual education should be taught in the United†¦show more content†¦A study found that comprehensive sexual risk reduction programs are an effective public health strategy to reduce adolescent pregnancy, HIV, and STDs, (Chin et al.). In addition to teaching the proper use of condoms and contraceptives, comprehensive sex education emphasizes building healthy relationships and preventing sexual abuse. The first step to preventing sexual abuse is knowing the difference between a healthy and unhealthy relationship and being able to communicate about one’s sexuality. A healthy relationship requires positive communication, conflict management, and decision negotiation around sexual behavior. Throughout a person’s life, they should be able to communicate with their parents, friends, and intimate partners about sexuality. These skills are never taught to young people leading to unhealthy and even violent relationships among teens: one in ten high school students have experienced physical violence from a dating partner, (â€Å"Dating Violence†). Comprehensive sex education teaches the abilities to understand, to identify, and to end an unhealthy relationship. This education is key to having successful relationships based on mutual respect of the person and their boundaries. Another major key to making healthy decisions in a person’s sexual life is respect for the bodily autonomy of oneself and one’s peers regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity. In comprehensive sex education, young people are informed that they have the right to say no