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Resources: Understand the Arguments
“Aborting Abstinence” by Robert Rector, National Review Online
Rector offers a critique of the anti-abstinence plan set forth by Senator Max Baucus in
light of public support for abstinence education. Rector suggests that certain special interest
groups have an influence over lawmakers in deciding on these issues, causing them to make
decisions that are not in line with public opinion.
http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/rector200504290806.asp
“Sex Education” by Walter H. Schneider
Schneider discusses the importance of abstinence-based sex education and suggests that
there is an ideology behind “comprehensive” sexual education. He adds that advocacy of
condoms sends a message to children about the permissibility of sex.
http://fathersforlife.org/health/sex-ed.htm#6
“Abstinence: In the No” by Rebecca Hagelin, Townhall.com
This article suggests that abstinence-only sexual education has helped teens, and is
preferable to the comprehensive sex education that treats teenagers as sub-rational.
http://www.townhall.
com/columnists/RebeccaHagelin/2008/05/02/abstinence_in_the_no?page=2
“‘Real Solutions’ and Teen Sex” by Rebecca Hagelin,Townhall.com
Hagelin suggests that rejection of abstinence-only education is not empowering teenagers,
and that comprehensive sex-ed programs are detrimental to youth. Most articles on this
topic overlap, so this one is similar to Hagelin’s other townhall.com article.
http://www.townhall.
com/columnists/RebeccaHagelin/2008/01/24/real_solutions_and_teen_sex?page=1
“The War on Abstinence Education” by Ryan T. Anderson, First Things
Magazine
Anderson begins with an anecdote on the resistance that abstinence education programs
are meeting with throughout the US, particularly in California. He provides sociological data
suggesting that abstinence education is working, or that at the very least, the claim that
legislators make (that abstinence only education is ineffective) is not discernable from the
information.
http://www.firstthings.com/onthesquare/?p=1097
“You Won’t Read It in the Papers” by Mona Charen, Townhall.com
Charen describes the media frenzy over a study released claiming that the rate of pre-
marital sex among those taking abstinence pledges is not significantly lower than among
those who have not taken pledges. A recent study making the opposite claim garnered
almost no attention. Charen also points out that there is a significant difference between
signing an abstinence pledge and participating in an abstinence education program, the
effectiveness of which is much greater than a simple pledge.
http://townhall.
com/columnists/MonaCharen/2005/04/29/you_wont_read_it_in_the_papers
“Facts About Abstinence Education” by Robert Rector
In preparation for an (at the time, in 2004) upcoming bill diverting funds from abstinence
education programs to “safe sex” programs, Rector presents a list of 14 facts about
abstinence education programs, focusing on the benefits of abstinence and the effectiveness
of and need for abstinence education programs. Each fact is supported by a study or article
further elaborating on his point.
http://www.heritage.org/Research/Abstinence/wm461.cfm
“Comprehensive Sex Education vs. Authentic Abstinence: A Study of
Competing Curricula” by Shannan Martin, Robert Rector, and Melissa G.
Pardue
This study assesses the merits of “abstinence plus” sexual education, which is meant to
serve as a middle ground between the “safe sex” approach to sexual education programs,
which focuses on contraception, and an all abstinence approach, which teaches teens to
delay sexual activity. The study found that the traditional abstinence approach was more
effective.
http://www.heritage.org/Research/Abstinence/abstinencereport.cfm
“Executive Summary: Government Spends $12 on Safe Sex and
Contraceptives for Every $1 Spent on Abstinence” by Melissa Pardue, Robert
E. Rector, and Shannan Martin
Studies have shown that there is a huge discrepancy between the amount of money the
government spends on safe sex or abstinence plus sex education programs, which place little
or no emphasis on abstinence, and abstinence programs. This is radically opposed to the
preferences of American parents, 85% of whom said that the emphasis placed on abstinence
should be equal to or greater than that placed on contraception. Despite the risks of early
sexual activity, safe sex programs send teens the message that society expects, if not
condones, early sexual activity.
http://www.heritage.org/Research/Family/bg1718es.cfm
“The Harmful Effects of Early Sexual Activity and Multiple Sexual Partners
Among Women: A Book of Charts” by Robert E. Rector, Kirk A. Johnson, Ph.
D., Lauren R. Noyes, Shannan Martin
This study found that the earlier a woman first engages in sexual activity the more sexual
partners she will have. The study then examines the link between early sexual activity and
multiple sexual partners and human well-being.
http://www.heritage.org/Research/Abstinence/abstinence_charts.cfm
“Sexually Active Teenagers Are More Likely to Be Depressed and to Attempt
Suicide” by Robert E. Rector, Kirk A. Johnson, Ph.D., and Lauren R. Noyes
This study found that teenagers who are sexually active are significantly more likely to be
depressed or to attempt suicide than those who are not, even when controlled for race,
gender, age and family income. Two thirds of those who were sexually active wished they
had waited longer before becoming sexually active.
http://www.heritage.org/Research/Abstinence/cda0304.cfm
Rector offers a critique of the anti-abstinence plan set forth by Senator Max Baucus in
light of public support for abstinence education. Rector suggests that certain special interest
groups have an influence over lawmakers in deciding on these issues, causing them to make
decisions that are not in line with public opinion.
http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/rector200504290806.asp
“Sex Education” by Walter H. Schneider
Schneider discusses the importance of abstinence-based sex education and suggests that
there is an ideology behind “comprehensive” sexual education. He adds that advocacy of
condoms sends a message to children about the permissibility of sex.
http://fathersforlife.org/health/sex-ed.htm#6
“Abstinence: In the No” by Rebecca Hagelin, Townhall.com
This article suggests that abstinence-only sexual education has helped teens, and is
preferable to the comprehensive sex education that treats teenagers as sub-rational.
http://www.townhall.
com/columnists/RebeccaHagelin/2008/05/02/abstinence_in_the_no?page=2
“‘Real Solutions’ and Teen Sex” by Rebecca Hagelin,Townhall.com
Hagelin suggests that rejection of abstinence-only education is not empowering teenagers,
and that comprehensive sex-ed programs are detrimental to youth. Most articles on this
topic overlap, so this one is similar to Hagelin’s other townhall.com article.
http://www.townhall.
com/columnists/RebeccaHagelin/2008/01/24/real_solutions_and_teen_sex?page=1
“The War on Abstinence Education” by Ryan T. Anderson, First Things
Magazine
Anderson begins with an anecdote on the resistance that abstinence education programs
are meeting with throughout the US, particularly in California. He provides sociological data
suggesting that abstinence education is working, or that at the very least, the claim that
legislators make (that abstinence only education is ineffective) is not discernable from the
information.
http://www.firstthings.com/onthesquare/?p=1097
“You Won’t Read It in the Papers” by Mona Charen, Townhall.com
Charen describes the media frenzy over a study released claiming that the rate of pre-
marital sex among those taking abstinence pledges is not significantly lower than among
those who have not taken pledges. A recent study making the opposite claim garnered
almost no attention. Charen also points out that there is a significant difference between
signing an abstinence pledge and participating in an abstinence education program, the
effectiveness of which is much greater than a simple pledge.
http://townhall.
com/columnists/MonaCharen/2005/04/29/you_wont_read_it_in_the_papers
“Facts About Abstinence Education” by Robert Rector
In preparation for an (at the time, in 2004) upcoming bill diverting funds from abstinence
education programs to “safe sex” programs, Rector presents a list of 14 facts about
abstinence education programs, focusing on the benefits of abstinence and the effectiveness
of and need for abstinence education programs. Each fact is supported by a study or article
further elaborating on his point.
http://www.heritage.org/Research/Abstinence/wm461.cfm
“Comprehensive Sex Education vs. Authentic Abstinence: A Study of
Competing Curricula” by Shannan Martin, Robert Rector, and Melissa G.
Pardue
This study assesses the merits of “abstinence plus” sexual education, which is meant to
serve as a middle ground between the “safe sex” approach to sexual education programs,
which focuses on contraception, and an all abstinence approach, which teaches teens to
delay sexual activity. The study found that the traditional abstinence approach was more
effective.
http://www.heritage.org/Research/Abstinence/abstinencereport.cfm
“Executive Summary: Government Spends $12 on Safe Sex and
Contraceptives for Every $1 Spent on Abstinence” by Melissa Pardue, Robert
E. Rector, and Shannan Martin
Studies have shown that there is a huge discrepancy between the amount of money the
government spends on safe sex or abstinence plus sex education programs, which place little
or no emphasis on abstinence, and abstinence programs. This is radically opposed to the
preferences of American parents, 85% of whom said that the emphasis placed on abstinence
should be equal to or greater than that placed on contraception. Despite the risks of early
sexual activity, safe sex programs send teens the message that society expects, if not
condones, early sexual activity.
http://www.heritage.org/Research/Family/bg1718es.cfm
“The Harmful Effects of Early Sexual Activity and Multiple Sexual Partners
Among Women: A Book of Charts” by Robert E. Rector, Kirk A. Johnson, Ph.
D., Lauren R. Noyes, Shannan Martin
This study found that the earlier a woman first engages in sexual activity the more sexual
partners she will have. The study then examines the link between early sexual activity and
multiple sexual partners and human well-being.
http://www.heritage.org/Research/Abstinence/abstinence_charts.cfm
“Sexually Active Teenagers Are More Likely to Be Depressed and to Attempt
Suicide” by Robert E. Rector, Kirk A. Johnson, Ph.D., and Lauren R. Noyes
This study found that teenagers who are sexually active are significantly more likely to be
depressed or to attempt suicide than those who are not, even when controlled for race,
gender, age and family income. Two thirds of those who were sexually active wished they
had waited longer before becoming sexually active.
http://www.heritage.org/Research/Abstinence/cda0304.cfm
Abstinence Education