Abstaining…’from the goddamn truth!

As anyone who has read Feministing before knows, there’s just something about abstinence-only education that really gets me going.
I don’t know if it’s the misleading info it dishes out to teens, the gross way it values young women only for their virginity, or the insane amount of money that�s being wasted on it. (can you say $170 million a year?!)
Whatever it is that pisses me off most though, it seems that I�m not the only one. Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) has just released a report on the problems with abstinence-only education.
The Content of Federally Funded Abstinence-Only Education Programs points out that �over 80% of the abstinence-only curricula . . . contain false, misleading, or distorted information about reproductive health.� Oh, only 80 percent? I guess having 20 percent of true information is good enough for American youth.
Maybe thats why kids are getting STD-prevention tips like: Get plenty of rest�When you’re tired, it’s hard to think clearly.
Outside of the problems with medical accuracy, abstinence-only programs also push bullshit sex stereotypes. One curriculum cited in the report teaches that women need “financial support,” while men need “admiration.” Another tells students: “Women gauge their happiness and judge their success on their relationships. Men�s happiness and success hinge on their accomplishments.”
Yeah. I’ll just let that one sit for a bit.
Also check out The Washington Post’s take on it.
Apologies for the pic; I couldn’t help myself…