Ready or Waiting?Ready or Waiting?The Affects of Abstinence-Only Education on The Affects of Abstinence-Only Education on

Heterosexual and Homosexual WomenHeterosexual and Homosexual Women

Research compiled and presented byResearch compiled and presented byLaura HughesLaura Hughes

Choosing a Topic: The Process Choosing a Topic: The Process

-Sexual education and reproductive health-Sexual education and reproductive health-Long-standing interest-Long-standing interest-Invested interests -Invested interests

-Memories of sex ed-Memories of sex ed-Internship at Planned Parenthood-Internship at Planned Parenthood

-Encourage women to be confident and -Encourage women to be confident and knowledgeable in sexual health decisionsknowledgeable in sexual health decisions

-Program evaluation-Program evaluation-Public policy continually changes-Public policy continually changes-Many changes currently being made-Many changes currently being made

Research Statement Research Statement “The purpose of this program evaluation is to identify the affect

of the East Texas Abstinence Program on heterosexual and homosexual adolescent women participants.

By measuring the acquired practical knowledge of sexual health and women’s perceptions of intimate relationships after participating in public school Abstinence-Only Education, program effectiveness of the East Texas Abstinence Program will be evaluated.

In addition, differences heterosexual and non-heterosexual women experience during and as a result of Abstinence-Only Education will be studied.

The ultimate objective is to determine if the East Texas Abstinence Program is teaching young women of heterosexual and homosexual orientations to be confident and knowledgeable with their sexuality while preparing for relationships of the romantic and intimate nature.”

Review of Literature: Synopsis Review of Literature: Synopsis • AOE receiving criticism for method of educationAOE receiving criticism for method of education

• Currently proven ineffective, losing government funding Currently proven ineffective, losing government funding • East Texas Abstinence ProgramEast Texas Abstinence Program

• Role of the TeacherRole of the Teacher• Information delivered by teachers carries more weight than when delivered Information delivered by teachers carries more weight than when delivered

by peers or familyby peers or family

• Focus of study on womenFocus of study on women• Heterosexual and non-heterosexualHeterosexual and non-heterosexual

• Gender RolesGender Roles• Stigmas of men and womenStigmas of men and women

Wanting sex vs. wanting loveWanting sex vs. wanting love

Men= dominant; women= submissiveMen= dominant; women= submissive

• Confidence amid sexual stereotypesConfidence amid sexual stereotypesWomen finding a voice when making decisions about sexual healthWomen finding a voice when making decisions about sexual health

Contradiction in being the ‘gatekeeper’ while being submissiveContradiction in being the ‘gatekeeper’ while being submissive

• Homosexual womenHomosexual women• Unsure of relationship rolesUnsure of relationship roles• Less communication and education= more STDs and partner abuseLess communication and education= more STDs and partner abuse

Overview of Methodology Overview of Methodology

• Semi structured InterviewsSemi structured Interviews• Regionally basedRegionally based• Subject qualifications:Subject qualifications:

Women of any sexual preference, in or out of relationship(s)Women of any sexual preference, in or out of relationship(s)Ages 12-18Ages 12-18Attending public school and participating in sexual health educationAttending public school and participating in sexual health education

• QuestionnairesQuestionnaires• Sent by mail to students who did not participate in interviewsSent by mail to students who did not participate in interviews• Parental consentParental consent• Close-ended questionsClose-ended questions

• CountsCounts• Terms/ categories compiled in advance, reviewed by interviewers

• MatricesMatrices• Used to organize results from questionnaire, making connectionsUsed to organize results from questionnaire, making connections

Participants Interviewed

19%

8%

2%

17%

54%

Single Heterosexuals

Single Lesbian/Homosexuals

Single Bisexuals

Same-Sex Couples

Opposite-Sex Couples

Figure 2: Sexual orientations and status of subjects participating in semi structured interviews.

Results & Discussion: Synopsis Results & Discussion: Synopsis

•Semi structured interviewsSemi structured interviews•808 participants from a variety of sexual backgrounds808 participants from a variety of sexual backgrounds

•Participants described themselves as ‘confident’, ‘nervous’, Participants described themselves as ‘confident’, ‘nervous’, ‘cautious’, and others‘cautious’, and others

•27% of the participants identified as lesbian/homosexual 27% of the participants identified as lesbian/homosexual •There is a need to focus on same-sex relationships and healthy relationship behavior in sexual education

•QuestionnairesQuestionnaires•1247 questionnaires were completed and returned (out of a possible 1247 questionnaires were completed and returned (out of a possible 1600 parent-consented and distributed)1600 parent-consented and distributed) •Heterosexual sample: direct positive correlation between the reliance on Public School Sexual Education and cases of abuse and pregnancy •Homosexual sample: positive correlation with between AOE and occurrence of abuse and STDs

“It is the recommendation of the researcher that the East Texas Abstinence Program be completely cut from government funding until the program is revised. The updated program would be more effective for a broader population if it included comprehensive sexual education styles and a more expansive curriculum for healthy relationships. In order to see societal changes in adolescent sexual decision-making, confidence and knowledge will be essential to this growing process.”

ConclusionConclusion