Abstinence Education in schools

[JillGat]

Do those who support Abstinence-Only sex education in the schools teach about and/or promote masturbation to their students? If not, why not?

[Hoodoo_Ulove]

They remember what happened to Joycelyn Elders.

[Whack-a-Mole]

Not sure this helps but for what it is worth I do not see anything mentioning masturbation one way or another.

The federal definition of an eligible abstinence-only education program is one that:

* has as its exclusive purpose, teaching the social, physiological, and health gains to be realized by abstaining from sexual activity;
* teaches abstinence from sexual activity outside marriage as the expected standard for all school age children;
* teaches that abstinence from sexual activity is the only certain way to avoid out-of-wedlock pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and other associated health problems;
* teaches that a mutually faithful monogamous relationship in context of marriage is the expected standard of human sexual activity;
* teaches that sexual activity outside of the context of marriage is likely to have harmful psychological and physical effects;
* teaches that bearing children out-of-wedlock is likely to have harmful consequences for the child, the child's parents, and society;
* teaches young people how to reject sexual advances and how alcohol and drug use increases vulnerability to sexual advances; and
* teaches the importance of attaining self-sufficiency before engaging in sexual activity. 

SOURCE: http://womensissues.about.com/od/healthsexuality/i/isabstinenceonl.htm

I kow guesses are frowned on in GQ but I would be surprised at an abstinence only sex ed course that touted the benefits of mastubation. Masturbation would probably be seen as a precursor to sexual activity with another person (sort of like a gateway drug such as marijuana is to harder drugs). Add to that the whole thing smacks of a puritanical viewpoint and I just do not see masturbation as an alternative to sex as part of a sex ed course.

[Chronos]

There’s an awfully big generalization implicit in the OP, since people could support or oppose such a program for many different reasons, and could likewise support or oppose masturbation for a number of different reasons. And even among those with no objection to masturbation, it’s not something that really needs to be taught: Most folks seem to figure it out on their own.

[Cervaise]

@JillGat

If not, why not?

Sex is bad. Bad! Go sit in the corner.

[Hoodoo_Ulove]

@Whack-a-Mole

Not sure this helps but for what it is worth I do not see anything mentioning masturbation one way or another…
The federal definition of an eligible abstinence-only education program is one that has as its exclusive purpose, teaching the social, physiological, and health gains to be realized by abstaining from sexual activity

So, is masturbation a sexual activity?

[ouryL]

@Hoodoo Ulove

So, is masturbation a sexual activity?

So I can truthfully brag that I’m getting some twice a day!! :smack:

[even_sven]

@Chronos

And even among those with no objection to masturbation, it’s not something that really needs to be taught: Most folks seem to figure it out on their own.

Forget about half the population often? The “obviousness” of masterbation is very different for girls than boys. Some figure it out, but a shocking number of girls are too afraid/ashamed/confused/disgusted/unaware to go poking around down there. A good portion of the female population can’t draw a reasonable sketch of their own thingies. Sad, isn’t it?

[Eleusis]

@Chronos

Most folks seem to figure it out on their own.

I’ll admit I’m drifting out of GQ, but I tend to disagree here.

In highschool, anybody admitting to masturbation, or (gasp) getting caught, tends to suffer ridicule from their peers.

I think it should be taught, if for no other reason than to make it less of a social stigma.

[Cervaise]

@even sven

A good portion of the female population can’t draw a reasonable sketch of their own thingies.

Some even refer to them with cute euphemisms like “thingy.”

[CC]

@Hoodoo Ulove

So, is masturbation a sexual activity?

It is the way I do it.

[ParentalAdvisory]

@Whack-a-Mole

Not sure this helps but for what it is worth I do not see anything mentioning masturbation one way or another.

• teaches the importance of attaining self-sufficiency before engaging in sexual activity.

Hey, it could mean that! Practice, practice, practice!

[monica]

Just to weigh in as one who recieved abstinance only education in high school (I live in the conservative state of Virginia), we were not told a thing about masterbation. Granted, it was not a very complete or informed curriculum- the teachers had to teach that homosexuality was bad.

[rfgdxm]

@even sven

Forget about half the population often? The “obviousness” of masterbation is very different for girls than boys. Some figure it out, but a shocking number of girls are too afraid/ashamed/confused/disgusted/unaware to go poking around down there. A good portion of the female population can’t draw a reasonable sketch of their own thingies. Sad, isn’t it?

Citation?

[cheezmonger]

@even sven

Forget about half the population often? The “obviousness” of masterbation is very different for girls than boys. Some figure it out, but a shocking number of girls are too afraid/ashamed/confused/disgusted/unaware to go poking around down there. A good portion of the female population can’t draw a reasonable sketch of their own thingies. Sad, isn’t it?

Clearly, you don’t hang out with the same girls I do…

[Queen_Tonya]

@rfgdxm

Citation?

I wouldn’t begin to know how to google it, can I offer anecdotal evidence instead? I know more than a few women that don’t, not because they think they ought to abstain but they have no desire, can’t figure out how to, think it’s icky, etc.

Y’all get the hydraulic pressure thing going, but we don’t. Add in generations of social conditioning that “nice girls” aren’t even supposed to enjoy sex with another person, much less have quality alone time, and yeah the numbers are different.

[Guinastasia]

Why do you think there are all those guides on “How to find your clitoris?”

[CC]

@cheezmonger

Clearly, you don’t hang out with the same girls I do…

any chance you could shoot a few phone numbers this way?

[NinjaChick]

I was not in an abstinance-only program, however I was in high-school sex-ed probably the most recent of anyone else who’s posted here. My school taught about birth control, but did very firmly say that it’s not 100% effective, we can’t rely on it, absitinance is best, blah blah blah. They did also talk about masturbation, mostly a quick glance over it: “Some people do this. Don’t do it in public.”

I think it would probably be addressed by any self-respecting health teacher, but, uh…it’s not like they go really in-depth and stuff.

[Strinka]

High school student chiming in.

Masturbation has never been discussed in any of my Health classes. The portrayal of sex in those classes is actually more sophisticated than “Sex is bad.” It’s more like “Sex is bad…until you get married.”