Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. After 11 years in the health department and 10 years as a nurse practitioner in clinics, I disagree with this approach. It has not been effective in this region, and we have a very high rate of teen and preteen pregnancy.
It has been an advantage to be in the health department and clinics, where the staff can discuss sexuality with the young patients who really want to know more about how to take care of themselves and how to make wise choices.
Providing that knowledge of risks β both physical and emotional β assists them in making wiser choices when confronting early sexual experiences. It is interesting that it seems those who are the loudest in their protest of sexual education are the ones who whisk their daughters off for a quiet abortion. This provides a confusing atmosphere for our young teens and preteens. Thank you, Dr. Schalet, for doing this study. I just wanted to say that Dr. Schalet's article [1] made me think. I can't say that I agree with a lot of what is said, but I think there is a medium road between the United States' and The Netherlands' approaches to sex.
I don't think that just because one could attempt to normalize teenage sex that it is right. I also disagree with the thinking that normalized sex will not have a harmful emotional impact on a teenager. I think sex should be normalized.
I really like the idea of helping teenagers set their own boundaries and communicate feelings and boundaries to someone with whom they are in a relationship, but I also think sexual intercourse inside the commitment of marriage is the best sex and that people should wait for marriage. I think the emotional damage is just as bad; and, as I stated above, I feel that even normalized sex has the potential for negative effect on the emotions of people if conducted outside of marriage. I was a virgin when I married at 26 and have no regrets.
