In recent years, there have been conversations about eliminating sex education in schools across the country. Florida’s Department of Education, for example, has been pressuring school districts in the state to eliminate any comprehensive sex education. If there is any sex education in the curriculum, it must primarily focus on abstinence.
What is the difference between Comprehensive sex education and abstinence-based education? Well, Comprehensive sex education teaches young people about human anatomy, reproductive health, STIs and pregnancy prevention, and consent; but it also teaches about gender identity, puberty, relationships, feelings and emotions, abuse, and personal skills. Abstinence-based education focuses strictly on not having sex until marriage. In other words, comprehensive sex ed covers a wide range of topics and enables people to make informed decisions about their bodies, while abstinence-based sex education is focused on setting a standard.
The effort to restrict comprehensive sex education isn’t exclusive to Florida. In other states, bills have been introduced with similar goals in restricting sex education in schools. According to a CNN article from May 2024, lawmakers commonly sought to ban sex education for specific grade levels; there was also an emphasis on teachers adhering to parental permission before starting their lessons.
CNN found that there seems to be a connection between the restriction of sex education and the restriction of abortions. In that same article, it was reported that bills introduced regarding sex education increased after the Dobbs decision, with 135 bills introduced in May 2024, and most of them being restrictive. In states where abortion is restricted, 73% of their sex education bills were also meant to restrict. With comprehensive sex education promoting bodily autonomy, which is key in reproductive justice and reproductive rights, that could explain why there is an overlap in these restrictions.
The big question here is, why is it important for adolescents to have access to sex education? For those who are against it, a generalized idea could be that adolescents shouldn’t be having sex in the first place, so there is no need for them to learn about sexual and reproductive health. Some may think it’s inappropriate, while others may feel it encourages students to engage in sexual activity. (Which isn’t true. Young people who receive this form of education are more likely to wait to engage in sexual activity and practice safe sex).
All in all, it’s about providing people with information and resources. To achieve reproductive justice, young people must have the information and resources they need to make informed choices and advocate for themselves. Even teen parents deserve to understand their options and how to take control of their health and future.