2008 Woodie Awards
Missouri legislation doesn't prevent abortions
By: Bryan Coplin
Issue date: 9/27/07 Section: Opinion/Editorial
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The problem with legislation like this is that it does nothing to limit abortions, just to limit access to them.
This legislation appeals to the right wing in two ways: it chips away at abortion rights and it underlines paternalistic overtures about young people being too immature to handle meaningful information about sexuality, much less participate in it.
The fallacy of this is that, whether or not an 18-year-old is too young to be having sex, he or she probably is sexually active. Two out of three people are sexually active by 18, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. It would seem logical, in light of this, to give young people meaningful sex education early on. Maybe comprehensive education is why teen pregnancy fell every year under the Clinton presidency.
Complete sex education and contraception go hand-in-hand. According to the CDC, people with abstinence only education are not less likely to have sex, but they are more likely to not have safe sex. Everyone should have access to cheap, reliable contraception. It is not infallible, but if used properly, does reduce the risk of pregnancy and the spread of disease to practically nil. Education should be provided on contraception's function and use.
Real information will prevent abortions. Anti-choice advocates should be clamoring for real sex education, not trying to suppress it.
This legislation appeals to the right wing in two ways: it chips away at abortion rights and it underlines paternalistic overtures about young people being too immature to handle meaningful information about sexuality, much less participate in it.
The fallacy of this is that, whether or not an 18-year-old is too young to be having sex, he or she probably is sexually active. Two out of three people are sexually active by 18, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. It would seem logical, in light of this, to give young people meaningful sex education early on. Maybe comprehensive education is why teen pregnancy fell every year under the Clinton presidency.
Complete sex education and contraception go hand-in-hand. According to the CDC, people with abstinence only education are not less likely to have sex, but they are more likely to not have safe sex. Everyone should have access to cheap, reliable contraception. It is not infallible, but if used properly, does reduce the risk of pregnancy and the spread of disease to practically nil. Education should be provided on contraception's function and use.
Real information will prevent abortions. Anti-choice advocates should be clamoring for real sex education, not trying to suppress it.
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