Oh, the Hypocrisy

Everyone is probably getting up in arms over Bristol Palin advocating absitence just months after herself declaring the system "unrealistic". I, on the other hand, find it perfect. It is a great example of the hypocrisy of the abstinence-only position. All these people say abstinence while fully knowing that teens don't stay abstinent (or at least a large number of them). In fact, most of the advocates probably didn't "save" themselves for marriage either -- I would loooove to see those numbers (not that I would expect these people to be honest).

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With Bristol Palin, you have a clear example of how hypocritical it is. She's not advocating for the use of contraceptives, for practicing safe-sex, like she should have been doing with that prize of a man, Levi. She's advocating not having sex at all, something I'm sure she promised her educators and parents she'd do -- and didn't do! Why does she think teens will listen to her? Because she has a baby? I'm pretty sure that won't work. If the 18-year-old person advocating for abstinence took the same pledge she's asking you to take is walking around with her infant, what sort of confidence does that instill. It's a great way to scare kids straight, but most teens say "it won't happen to me" and "i'm not dumb enough to get pregnant" and shrug off the warning.

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What the abstinence-only education advocates need is a reality check. Bristol was right the first time: stressing abstinence and only abstinence to teens is unrealistic. Abistinence is a great concept. It is the only way to 100% prevent pregnancy and STDs. But teens are living in a world of competing messages. Boys are being told sex is cool and sex is a status symbol and girls are feeling pressure from the media and boys their own age to conform to an impossible standard.

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What needs to be taught is that abstinence is ideal, but if you can't make it until marriage, here's how to protect yourself. They need to be taught that sex is a big deal and it changes everything and with sex comes HUGE responsibilities and potentially HUGE repercussions. Sex education needs to be more well-rounded and it makes me sad that Bristol changed her tune. I'm sure it's a result of mommy's political team trying to save face, but I still think Bristol could have actually made a bit of a difference had should stood up to her mom and other abstinence-only advocates and said, loudly, "it doesn't work!"