Quote:
Originally posted by MTSUGURL
Wow, talk about generalizing... it's all over this thread.
I am an absitinence teacher for the crisis pregnancy center in my county, and I thank God ever day that some teenagers are signing those little pieces of paper that some of you are rolling your eyes at. That commitment has kept a lot of these kids out of situations that would've resulted in broken hearts, disease, pregnancy, etc. If you hate it so much when people ridicule you for your choices, why are you belittling and ridiculing theirs?
|
I don't think virginity pledges are the answer. If someone is committed to remaining a virgin until marriage they're going to do it regardless of a piece of paper, and if they're not, their "pledge" won't make a bit of difference. Studies have shown that those who sign pledges are more likely to delay sex until they're older than their peers (which is great) but no more likely to remain virgins until marriage than those who don't sign pledges, and some studies have shown that they are much LESS likely to use protection when they eventually do have sex.
Furthermore -- not having sex doesn't save you from heartbreak. In fact, it may lead to more issues in a relationship than the actually having sex does (I speak from experience). And like James said -- we're human! Our hearts were meant to be broken. That's how we learn.
Don't get me wrong. I think virginity is great. I was an older than average when I lost my virginity, for some of the reasons listed in this thread (not the "couldn't get any" reason, fortunately
). But a lot of programs that push abstinence ignore the reality that kids are going to have sex at some point, be it now or later, and they need to be prepared. Too many programs are too idealistic in thinking that virginity pledges are going to work 100% of the time. But they don't. Kids who are committed to abstinence need to be taught the same things that kids who are having sex are taught -- because someday they WILL have to face the same situations.
Threaded Mode