Used toothbrushes,chewed up gumsand education Are you sure you knowhow kids are educatedin the United States?

One of these bubbles shows things kids are taught in some schools.

Can you guess which one?

you have to understand the implications you should wait to be ready there are risks can lead to complications learn to protect yourself with knowledge you can make better choices

just don't do it before marriage it's a huge mistake you'll be ruined forever no one will want you ever again you don't need to know because you don't have to do it there is only one way or you will pay

It's the second bubble.

Kids can be shame victims during sex education lessons: The use of strong expressions to convince kids to follow what they’re taught is a common theme when talking about sex education in U.S.A.These are some examples with links to the sites. * data taken through digital methods, see the report at the end “ CHECK THE WEBSITE The instruction materials suggest explaining sexual purity to children in terms of a new toothbrush or fresh stick of gum:"Today, virgin means not having participated in any sexual activity of any kind. Toothbrush or stick of gum demonstration can be used here to show the difference in used versus new. Encourage students to stay like a new toothbrush, wrapped up and unused. People want to marry a virgin, just like they want a virgin toothbrush or stick of gum." “ CHECK THE WEBSITE Last, abstinence-only education furthers the cultural notion that if you have sex outside of marriage, you are worthless. By telling adolescents that the only reason they should wait for sex is because they owe it to themself and their future spouse, you are creating a link between sex and personal value which perpetuates a culture that shames young people (especially women) for not dressing modestly, being out at night, and being a victim in a rape. “ CHECK THE WEBSITE “I understand so easily … why someone wouldn’t run because of that alone,” said Smart in the video. “Can you imagine turning around and going back into society where you’re no longer of value?” At the end of the talk, Smart emphasized that children should be taught that they will always have value no matter what.. “ CHECK THE WEBSITE And the wrong way, as Calah Alexander so deftly demonstrates, is to tell girls that nobody likes dirty, soiled, second-hand women. So if they don’t want to be dirty, soiled and second-hand, they had better abstain. And if they don’t abstain, they are doomed to being dirty, soiled hand-me-downs whose worth has already been used up. According to Alexander, this is the road taken by many, if not all, abstinence-only programs. “ CHECK THE WEBSITE The messages here are pretty clear: STDs are inevitable (all of the cups have STD labelled on them) and people who have had sex are dirty. The interesting thing about how the Tennessee speaker framed this discussion, however, is that she pretty much said all sex is gross because it involves exchanging bodily fluids. We might not want our kids to have sex right now, but I don’t think most parents want their children to grow up thinking sex is disgusting—not exactly the way to set them up for a happy and healthy sex life. “ CHECK THE WEBSITE Pam Stenzel, a speaker on the national abstinence-only-until-marriage circuit, was out in full force in West Virginia last week telling students at George Washington High School that sex outside of marriage is bad and that anyone who has had sex outside of marriage is similarly bad. She allegedly told students that if they were on the birth control pill “their mother probably hated them” and that she could look any one of them in the eyes and tell whether they were going to be promiscuous. “ CHECK THE WEBSITE The Canyon Independent School District in Texas has recently come under fire for a sex education curriculum scandal. Sexual health advocate Katie Gustainis Vela obtained what seems to be a work sheet or PowerPoint slide from an abstinence-only sex education course that literally compares non-virgins to used toothbrushes and pieces of gum — in other words, trash. “ CHECK THE WEBSITE Last week, when curriculum from the abstinence-only education program in Texas was made public (comparing non-virgins to used toothbrushes and tape that had lost its adhesive ability after being passed around the room, for instance), it was another reminder of why shaming students into celibacy doesn’t work. “ CHECK THE WEBSITE My favorite story of hers, however, comes when Stenzel tells of the 6’8” basketball player who ran up to her after one of her speeches to tell her that he was virgin. He complained that his teammates often teased him about his choice. “I said young man, the next time your friends start to tease you because you’re saving yourself for your wife I want you to look at your friends and I want you to say this: Any day, tonight, I could choose to be like you, but you will never again be like me.”That’s right—once you give away that virginity you are damaged goods. “ CHECK THE WEBSITE The chewed-up piece of gum is a common trope of abstinence-only education. Sometimes there’s some variation on the gum lesson: Maybe instead of being a piece of gum, you’re a passed-around peppermint patty or a piece of with the student’s ripped off arm hairs or a rose missing its petals. “ CHECK THE WEBSITE The word “virgin,” even when used in a non-insulting manner, holds very serious implications itself. The idea of being a virgin, which suggests being “pure,” implies that anyone who isn’t a virgin is impure. And this rhetoric is so deeply rooted in everyday life that it often goes unnoticed. “ CHECK THE WEBSITE Nobody likes to chew second-hand gum, to drink water somebody else has spat in, or to eat an Oreo cookie that has already been in somebody else’s mouth. These are, apparently, real analogies that have been used. Alexander’s article was occasioned by the negative reaction of sexually righteous souls to a rape victim who complained that these images made her feel absolutely worthless. But one cannot help but wonder also about the woman who, in a fit of unfortunate passion, does something she wishes afterwards that she had not done. (Men apparently don’t have this problem; nobody ever talks about them as “sloppy seconds”.) “ CHECK THE WEBSITE Early on Stenzel tells her audience this: “If you forget everything else I told you today, and you can only remember one thing, this is what I want you to hear. If you have sex outside of one permanent monogamous—and monogamy does not mean one at a time, that means one partner who has only been with you—if you have sex outside of that context, you will pay.” “ CHECK THE WEBSITE Death and disease crops up more than condoms in Stenzel’s tirade. So do so-called ‘Purity rings’ the ‘princesses, daughters of the king of kings’ can wear until they have found a male virgin. As for the girls, she warns them: “You contract Chlamydia one time in your life, cure it or not, there is about a 25 per cent chance that you will be sterile for the rest of your life.” “ CHECK THE WEBSITE Third, not only does this curriculum teach kids to shame and devalue themselves, but it also teaches them that it’s okay to devalue other people. Instilling this idea that what is “pure” is more valuable is the origin of the “slut shaming” phenomenon so prevalent in everyday life.I don’t think a majority of teens and young adults actually believe that someone who has engaged in premarital sex is a less valuable person, but I do think most are guilty of using the word “slut” or something of the same meaning at least once. CHEWED-UPPIECES OF GUM WORTHLESS VALUELESS DIRTY SHAMEFUL USED TOOTHBRUSHES BAD TRASH NO MORE ADHESIVE TAPE STERILE DAMAGED GOODS PASSED-AROUNDPEPPERMINT PATTIES SOILED IMPURE CHEWED-UP OREO COOKIES ROSES MISSING THEIR PETALS WATER IN WHICHSOMEBODY ELSE HAS SPAT IN WILL PAY SECOND-HANDWOMEN

What are the opinions of the involved people?

Bristol Palin

Regardless of what I did personally, I just think that abstinence is the only way you can effectively, 100% foolproof way you can prevent pregnancy.

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Katie Gustainis Vela - Mother

I'm frustrated because children are being taught that their worth is synonymous with their level of sexual activity. Information like this suggests that anyone who has sex before marriage is undesirable, worthless, and disposable

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Girl - Student

Just because I love you, that doesn't mean we have to have sex!

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Katelyn Campbell - Student

If you're afraid of having sex, then you probably won't. But I think there's a better, more scientific way to address sex than saying, Just don't do it. School is supposed to be a place where you’re safe, not where you should be shamed for what you have or haven't done.

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Girl - Student

No one ever told me you could contract an STD by [having] oral sex. I thought I was being responsible, because I was saving myself for marriage…I come from a very religious background, and that's what I was taught. Good girls don’t practice safe sex; they don't have sex until marriage. We weren't told about that stuff. Sex ed was literally a bunch of kids giggling about gross slides and our teacher telling us not to do it. Some of us even signed a paper saying we would'’t until we were married. So I only had oral sex, and look where that got me.

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Kristina Drumheller - Mother

When I was sent the picture of the Reality Check curriculum, I felt it was important to inform others of what was being taught to the children in this community. There is a difference between teaching children about the real consequences of any sexual encounter and teaching them that they become less valuable because they chose to have sex before marriage

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Girl - Student

She doesn't like you if you're not a virgin. I hope people are calling in about the sex ed speaker this morning. Shaming girls for having sex isn't teaching abstinence.

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Jeremy - Student

I always wanted to wait for marriage and I hope it’s not weird for me to say that. They said in class that we should be more accepting of sexual expression that doesn’t conform to older ideas. But I still always wanted to wait for marriage. But at this point I feel like an outcast or something.

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Boy - Student

While her intentions may have been good, her tone was very loud, like she was shaming everyone in the audience. She was making girls cry. There were pregnant girls in the audience and she was implying, if you had sex, you’re not an OK person. The only reason I am standing up against it is so other schools in West Virginia dontt have to hear this.

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Boy - Student

One of my friends moved from my school in Cupertino, CA to Pearland High School in Texas. He told me, "We [have] around 10 pregnancies in my school a year! I was surprised that a different method of sex education can cause an increase in the rate of teen pregnancies so much.

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Christina Davis - Student

Sex is real. Sex has been around as long as we have, and it's something that teens deal with every day. I don't think it is realistic to say that all teens everywhere can be abstinent. And for the teens that aren't practicing abstinence, they need the information to keep them safe.

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Carly Thaw - Student

There are a number of pregnant girls at my school, greater number of girls who have had sex before. And for her to come up and tell people that if you've had sex before you're married, you're impure, there's nothing you can do about it, you're screwed for life... It was just, like, What are you saying?

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Boy - Student

Hearing about both abstinence and contraception helped me make a more responsible sexual decision. Had I not a class where both were presented, a thorough discussion between my partner and I would probably never have taken place. I knew after hearing all the considerations that we not ready for the responsibility.

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Jamie Calloway-Hanauer - Writer and Mother

Learning from my own life lessons, I felt like I owed my teenage son a fuller, more informative conversation than I had. I first taught him abstinence, then addressed safe sex—while making clear my expectation that he wait until marriage. In a culture where premarital sex has become the norm, I feel confident I have maintained relevancy, respect, and my convictions as a Christian parent.

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Justin - High School Student

Your talks had a huge impact on me. I have been thinking a lot about my life and choices. You have changed my relationship with my girlfriend. I told her I wanted more communication. It was cool to hear about her life and her dreams. We also decided to wait on sex and it feels like a huge weight was lifted. Now I have goals, a better relationship with my girlfriend, and I'm happy. Thank you so much!

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Levi Johnston - Bristol's ex

Abstinence is a great idea. But I also think you need to enforce, you know, condoms and birth control and other things like that to have safe sex. I don't just think telling kids "You can't have sex" it's not going to work.

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What is this education for?

It's the answer to the huge problem of teen pregnancies in U.S.A.

The solution is education, but which one?

The debate ignites when trying to define the program of choice.

ABSTINENCE-ONLY SEX EDUCATION COMPREHENSIVE SEX EDUCATION Covers abstinence as an option,but informs also on contraceptionand techniques to avoid both pregnanciesand sexually transmitted diseases. Promotes sexual abstinence until marriageboth against teen pregnancies and sexually transmitteddiseases. Does not provide information on contraception and birth control. This is the one that receives fundingsand the most debated one, which can beunderstood considering the expressions usedand the confusion around it.To understand it betterwe did a research on the web.

Cultural and political factors influence the rates and the choice over education.

TEEN PREGNANCY RATES The map represents the US issue about the teen pregnancies: the states with a higer rate of teen pregnancy are mainly focused in the southern part of the United States, while the ones with a lower rate are in the north. tpr = n°. of pregnant teen x1000 TEEN PREGNANCY RATES RED AND BLUE STATES FUNDINGS REFUSER BIBLE BELT Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services RED AND BLUE STATES The map shows the political orientation of the US states at the Presidential elections of 2012: the states with the higher teen rates are mostly part of the Repubblicans. TEEN PREGNANCY RATES RED AND BLUE STATES FUNDINGS REFUSER BIBLE BELT Source: Politico.com - Data Provided by Associated Press FUNDING REFUSERS The marked states are the refusers of the Title V funds for the abstinence-based educationprograms: these steates are mostly part of those that have the lower rate of teen pregnancy. TEEN PREGNANCY RATES RED AND BLUE STATES FUNDINGS REFUSER BIBLE BELT Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services BIBLE BELT The Bible Belt is an informal term for the states in which socially conservative evangelical Protestantism is very influential. The states with the higher rates are in this area, showing how this phenomenon is highly cultural influenced. TEEN PREGNANCY RATES RED AND BLUE STATES FUNDINGS REFUSER BIBLE BELT Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services WASHINGTON tpr: 25 NORTH DAKOTA tpr: 28 SOUTH DAKOTA tpr: 34 NEBRASKA tpr: 27 KANSAS tpr: 35 MINNESOTA tpr: 19 WISCONSIN tpr: 23 ILLINOIS tpr: 30 INDIANA tpr: 35 OHIO tpr: 32 KENTUCKY tpr: 44 WEST VIRGINIA tpr: 44 VIRGINIA tpr: 25 DELAWARE tpr: 29 MARYLAND tpr: 25 VERMONT tpr: 17 NEW JERSEY tpr: 19 NEW YORK tpr: 21 NEW HAMPSHIRE tpr: 14 RHODE ISLAND tpr: 21 MASSACHUSETTS tpr: 15 CONNECTICUT tpr: 16 MAINE tpr: 21 PENNSYLVANIA tpr: 25 MICHIGAN tpr: 28 MONTANA tpr: 29 ARIZONA tpr: 39 NEW MEXICO tpr: 49 COLORADO tpr: 49 WYOMING tpr: 49 NEVADA tpr: 36 CALIFORNIA tpr: 29 ALASKA tpr: 36 TEXAS tpr: 47 LOUISIANA tpr: 45 TENNESSEE tpr: 41 NORTH CAROLINA tpr: 35 SOUTH CAROLINA tpr: 39 GEORGIA tpr: 38 FLORIDA tpr: 30 ALABAMA tpr: 41 MISSISSIPPI tpr: 51 ARKANSAS tpr: 51 MISSOURI tpr: 35 IOWA tpr: 25 OKLAHOMA tpr: 48 HAWAII tpr: 30 OREGON tpr: 26 IDAHO tpr: 28 UTAH tpr: 23

What's the general opinion on this?

A research through digital methods can show that

Who is talking?

These are the sites that are more interested in discussing over the sex educaton issue. We can see how each category of actors interacts one another and the most important sites in it.

Why them?

By looking at them we can have an overview of the debate on the web and the most important topics, divided in categories.

The programs are a topic of the debate, showing confusion over their definition.

fundamental never safe insecure real challenge access to be supported not controversial false safety highly effective effective WHAT DO PEOPLE SAY ABOUT BIRTH CONTROL METHODS, CONTRACEPTIVES AND CONDOMS? PEOPLE’S FEELINGS FUNDING BIRTH CONTROL PERCEPTION EDUCATION “ABSTINENCE” LESSONS to be opposed not deserved to be stopped waste hurt must be eliminated less expensive than comprehensive must end financial burden too much WHAT DO PEOPLE SAY ABOUT ABSTINENCE-ONLY FUNDING? PEOPLE’S FEELINGS FUNDING BIRTH CONTROL PERCEPTION EDUCATION “ABSTINENCE” LESSONS unethical offends medieval approach not fun insecure rubbish uncostitutional undermines comprehensive education mistake violates right unequal uncomfortable failure humiliates WHAT ARE THE PEOPLE FEELINGS ABOUT ABSTINENCE AND ABSTINENCE-ONLY? PEOPLE’S FEELINGS FUNDING BIRTH CONTROL PERCEPTION EDUCATION “ABSTINENCE” LESSONS censorship dangerous false and misleading inaccurate medically and scientifically accurate medically and scientifically inaccurate misrepresented evidence none or little relies on fear and shame restricted spreads myths teaches fail rate withholds information mistakes and distortion HOW ARE THE INFORMATION TAUGHT BY ABSTINENCE-ONLY LESSONS PERCEIVED? PEOPLE’S FEELINGS FUNDING BIRTH CONTROL PERCEPTION EDUCATION “ABSTINENCE” LESSONS ethically and morally problematic only certain way important ideological extremely valuable discriminatory controversial blurs religion and science dangerous expected standard useless unrealistic outrageous only acceptable one HOW IS THE ABSTINENCE-ONLY EDUCATION PERCEIVED? PEOPLE’S FEELINGS FUNDING BIRTH CONTROL “ABSTINENCE” EDUCATION LESSONS PERCEPTION does not teach safe sex does not represent Christ does not reflect american values teaches important self-sufficency does not delay does not prevent does not work rejects sexual advances teaches harmful consequences delays sexual intercourse WHAT DOES THE ABSTINENCE-ONLY EDUCATION DO? PEOPLE’S FEELINGS FUNDING BIRTH CONTROL PERCEPTION “ABSTINENCE” LESSONS EDUCATION intimate kiss possibility no anal contact no any kind of sex play no genital contact no penis-vagina contact no sex no sexual activity no sexual contact no vaginal intercourse religious safety touch possibility value WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF ABSTINENCE? PEOPLE’S FEELINGS FUNDING BIRTH CONTROL PERCEPTION EDUCATION LESSONS “ABSTINENCE”

Another step is the debate around risks and benefits over both programs.

delays sexual activity works teaches responsible decision helps decision easy choice educates prevents pregnancy reduces sexual partner reduces pregnancy risk lasting effects protects prevents STDs must include abstinence gives information WHAT ARE THE COMPREHENSIVE SEX EDUCATION BENEFITS? BENEFITS RISKS COMPREHENSIVE dangerous do not affect contraception use do not decrease sexual activity do not delay sexual intercourse do not lead to abstinence do not prevent do not reduce sexual activity fail harm people ignore contraception increase risk increase STDs ineffective threaten human right WHAT ARE THE ABSTINENCE AND ABSTINENCE-ONLY EDUCATION RISKS? BENEFITS RISKS COMPREHENSIVE free avoid STDs prevent risk sex avoid pregnancy decrease teen pregnancy no side effects less partners effective wait for right partner prevent pregnancy safe risk less likely prevent STDs support values and beliefs WHAT ARE THE ABSTINENCE AND ABSTINENCE-ONLY EDUCATION BENEFITS? BENEFITS RISKS COMPREHENSIVE

When checking the methods we find the shaming words in the Abstinence Only programs.

abandons profundly negative excludes denigrates ignores stigmatizes promotes stereotypes WHAT DO FACTIONS THINK ABOUT ABSTINENCE-ONLY RELATED TO SEXUAL ACTIVITY? SEXUAL ACTIVITY MESSAGES LGBTQ TEENS leads to sterility impure insult leads to mentalconsequences leads to emotionalconsequences leads to psycologicalconsequences leads to socialconsequences harmful risky behavior safe dehumanizes develops cancer regret negative HOW IS SEEN AND DESCRIBED THE SEXUAL ACTIVITY OUT OF MARRIAGE? SEXUAL ACTIVITY MESSAGES LGBTQ TEENS bad reputation dirty soilde stigmatize second hand woman already drunk water re-eaten oreo like chewed gum dirty and worthless shaming WHAT ARE THE MESSAGES EXPRESSED BY ABSTINENCE-ONLY PROGRAMS ABOUT TEENS WHO ENGAGE IN SEXUAL ACTIVITY? SEXUAL ACTIVITY MESSAGES LGBTQ TEENS do not lead tonegative behavior economicconsequences harmful moral decay terrible moral choice personal choice dangerous WHAT ARE THE OPINIONS ABOUT TEENS WHO ENGAGE IN SEXUAL ACTIVITY? SEXUAL ACTIVITY MESSAGES LGBTQ TEENS

Is shaming the key?


The main users of these methods are speakers advocating abstinence in schools.

“God made guys as leaders.” “Men of God are wild… They keep women covered up” “Dateable girls know how to shut up.” motherjones.com JUSTIN LOOKADOO Author of The Dateable Rules and Dateable: Are you? Are They? and runs the website R U Dateable. Christian Pro-Abstinence speaker, he has led more than 3,000 programs about abstinence-only education across the nation. (data from thedailybest.com) Founder of Totus Tuus Press and Chastity Project, an organization that promotes chastity primarily to high school and college students. Chastity Project promotes the virtue of chastity through seminars, resources, clubs, and social media. (data from en.wikypedia.org) “Girls... only lift the veil over your body to the spouse who is worthy to see the glory of that unveiled mystery.” “A culture of immodest women will necessarily be a culture of uncommitted men.” “True feminine liberation isn't about having the 'freedom' to dress like Miley Cyrus” “It's a joke to think the girl needs to be the chastity cop... but to reach [a] level of mutual respect in society, I don't think Daisy Duke shorts are going to expedite the process.” motherjones.com JASON EVERT Director for many years of Alpha Women’s Center, actually is director of Enlighten Communications. She takes her speeches in all the United States, Canada, Australia, Messico and Ireland, and is payed between $3,500 and $5,000 for an appearance. (data from thedailybest.com) “No one has ever had sex with more than one partner and not paid.” “Who’s to say the next time you decide to put this gun to your head it doesn’t go off?” She claims that numerous boys have told her they plan to “fool around and sleep with every girl who’s stupid enough to sleep with me but when I get married then I don’t want that girl - who has slept with half the football team - then I want a virgin.” Her response to these foolish young men: “Why would a virgin want you?” “The medical line over which you cannot step, and if you have stepped over this line, you’ve risked disease, you’ve risked disease, and you need to get tested and don’t you dare tell anyone you’re a virgin. Don’t you dare.” rhrealitycheck.org “You’ve found this girl you love. I mean this is it, all those other girls, they were just messing around. This is the real thing. Pull out that diamond, look her in the eyes, if you’re really cool guys you get on your knees, you say marry me - by the way, I’ve got genital warts, you’ll get it too, and we’ll both be treated for the rest of our lives, in fact you’ll probably end up with a radical hysterectomy, cervical cancer, and possibly death, but marry me.” “I have had to tell a lot of young girls that their test was positive. Immediately they want an easy painless way out of this pregnancy they didn’t plan, and I have to look at this little girl and say, guess what sweetheart, your choices at this point are bad, terrible, and even worse. You had a good choice; that was before you had sex. Now all the choices you have are going to carry life-long consequences.” rhrealitycheck.org “If you take birth control, your mother probably hates you.” motherjones.com “I could look at any one of you in the eyes right now and tell if you’re going to be promiscuous.” thelogicaloutlook.blogspot.it PAM STENZEL “Girls are more feelings-oriented, and boys are more facts-oriented.” “Do you get closer to your God or do you get farther away when you have sex?” “(Girls) are like spaghetti, with their feelings about parts of their lives entangled,” ”The boys want to love and respect these girls, and the girls won't let them. The girls are backing up the booty, the girls are being assertive, these girls are emasculating these boys.” motherjones.com Speaker pro-abstinence of WAIT abstinence-until- marriage program, which receives $220,000 per year from the state of Colorado. She is currently a national speaker and trainer for The Center for Relationship Education. (data from blogs.westword.com) SHELLY DONAHUE JOI WASILL “The avoidance of the risky behavior that leads to infection, disease, and teenage pregnancy is the best outcome for all students and enables them to live healthy, productive and successful lives.” motherjones.com Executive Director of Decisions, Choices & Options: it provides classroom training and abstinence education in more than 40.000 americans high schools. The founded organization is non-profit and based in Hendersonville, TN.

Recurring controversial topics regardless of the position of the actor

46% of the actors contrary to Abstinence Only education name “shaming” as one of the main problems Risks and benefits Personal opinion Distorted information Birth control 100% of the total amount of actors 0% Shaming Teeneger and sex Federal fundings Definition

Education
can solve the problem
of teen pregnancy,

but wouldn't it
be better to avoid
shaming the kids?

Used toothbrushes,
chewed up gums
and education.


Does it really
need shaming?
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