Boys Get Less Sex Education

Two-thirds of 15-19-year-olds have had formal instruction in methods of birth control. Seems like we should do better, but anyways.

I never noticed this before, but boys get less sex education, at least regarding methods of birth control -- which, because that lesson includes (hopefully) information about how condoms prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections, seems like the most important lesson.

Interestingly, boys are much less likely to have sex talks with their parents.

This is disheartening, evidence of the persistence of the sexual double-standard, in which sex is more policed and restricted for women than for men. You might think that, if men are going to be rewarded culturally for promiscuity while women are punished, the least we could do is train men better for how to minimize its negative health consequences.

Check out Motherlode for a discussion of how Europeans and Americans talk differently to kids about sex.

Cross posted from the Family Inequality blog.

 

Comments

[KLMwrites]

12:30 PM on 11/08/2010

As the parent of three teenage daughters, please people, talk to your boys. We also have an 11 year old who knows more about condoms than the 18 year olds who walk in this house with virginity pledge cards in their wallets. Keep them if you want, right next to this fresh, handy dandy rubber. http://www.returntoworkmom.com/

[fem56]

11:14 AM on 11/07/2010

Men should receive sex education for their own benefit as well. If there partner gets pregnant the choices are out of their hands. For instance their partner decides to have the child they will have no choice in the matter but still have to pay child support. They will probably have little to no say on how the child is raised. On the other hand if they really don't believe in abortion but their partner does-no choice there either. They may have a child in the world that they don't even know about. Unless the guy is a cad-and most guys are not- it is lousy situation for men too. Men should be aware of the consequences not just to the woman but to them too! I have a friend who found out that the woman who was seducing him just wanted to get pregnant by a good sperm doner. He is a really nice guy and ran the other way.

[realitytrumpsbull]

12:44 PM on 11/07/2010

Well, how much sex education do you really need? I mean, Tab A, Slot B, really not splitting the atom, here, just fertilizing an ovum, and somehow, wild animals that have never spent a day in the classroom seem to have generally mastered this topic. So, what's the big problem with people, and what do educators hope to achieve here? I think the real lack, or deficiency, is parent-based, meaning that they don't really do a very good job of raising their kids, who then go on to leave little DNA trails from here to the poorhouse, and as a result, teen pregnancy is a constant social phenomenon. Responsibility means you're responsible for what you do in life, or who, in this case, and if you happen to become a biological father without intending to do so, well, that's what DNA testing is for, and the 'deadbeat dads' law. Watch where you point that thing, other people do...