Abstract
Abstinence-only-until-marriage ideology continues to be promoted in US high schools as part of sex education, despite its well-documented lack of success at delaying onset of sexual initiation and sexual risk avoidance. As schools are often the single source of formal sex education, it is important to investigate whether students are given proper tools with which to negotiate their sex lives. This study uses a content analysis of nine US high school health textbooks to examine how the textbooks address marriage, reasons for remaining abstinent until marriage, and adult life outside of marriage. Results indicate that the ways in which marriage and abstinence are described are inconsistent with modern realities of adult relationships (e.g., increased age of first marriage, cohabitation, etc.). These findings suggest that the textbooks constitute a failure of pedagogy and a lack of social-scientific accuracy.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
