The Politics of Virginity: Abstinence in Sex Education

The Politics of Virginity: Abstinence in Sex Education - Reproductive Rights and Policy

Hardback (30 May 2008)

Save $8.45

  • RRP $51.11
  • $42.66
Add to basket

Includes delivery to the United States

10+ copies available online - Usually dispatched within 2-3 weeks

Publisher's Synopsis

Abstinence is currently taught as the only form of sex education in a third of public schools. Although most Americans oppose federal funding for abstinence-only education, the federal government has spent more than $1 billion on Title V and community-group programs that promote abstinence before marriage as the sole healthy and moral choice. Studies show that students in abstinence-only programs are no more likely to abstain from sex than their peers who are in comprehensive sex education programs. Moreover, argue Doan and Williams, abstinence-only programs perpetuate gender stereotypes that disproportionately constrain women, retail medical disinformation, and violate the separation of church and state.

Doan and Williams detail what abstinence programs teach students, expose the political and religious agendas behind them, and analyze the damaging effects to women of the resurrection of the chastity belt: including sexual disempowerment, distorted power dynamics in relationships, increased vulnerability to sexual assault, increased emotional vulnerability, increased risk of unintended pregnancy, and STD/HIV infection. By focusing on the marriage of morality politics with gender politics and of ignorance with chastity that underlies abstinence-only education, the authors fill a major gap in the literature of reproductive politics and policy.

Book information

ISBN: 9780275990091
Publisher: ABC-CLIO
Imprint: Praeger
Pub date:
DEWEY: 306.73208350973
DEWEY edition: 22
Language: English
Number of pages: 185
Weight: 476g
Height: 235mm
Width: 155mm
Spine width: 22mm