Roundup: Oh, The Things You'll Learn!

by Robin Marty, RH Reality Check

December 17, 2009 - 9:55am (Print)

Generation Y is dumb. Or, at least, so says the latest study from the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancies. According to the group's press release:

Many unmarried young adults say they know little about contraception. Even though 82% have used some form of contraception in the past and 90% believe they have all the knowledge they need to avoid an unplanned pregnancy:

About six in ten (63%) say they know "little" or "nothing" about birth control pills.

Three in ten (30%) say they know little or nothing about condoms.

So what has caused this great ignorance? The Examiner has its own ideas:

There are many reasons that one could say is the cause of such ignorance towards unprotected sex within Gen Y. Some may say that the parents are to blame, that they did not give “the talk” to their kids at an early age (if ever at all). Others may say that it is the lack of sex education being taught in schools; whether it is due to not enough funding or lack of support by the faculty, students, and/or parents.

EmpowerHER also believes that lack of sex ed is primarily to blame:

Laura Lindberg, senior research associate at the nonprofit Guttmacher Institute, attributes the results to abstinence-only education. She tells CNN, "Abstinence-only curriculums have gone explicitly out of their way to teach misconceptions about contraception ... This generation of 20-somethings have missed many opportunities to get medically accurate and correct information."

Here are just a couple of the more egregious misconceptions young adults surveyed had about sex:

18% of men think having sex standing up reduces the chances of pregnancy.

42% of men and 40% of women believe that the chance of getting pregnant within a year while using the pill is 50% or greater, despite research showing that the birth control pill is typically 92% effective.

28% of men incorrectly think wearing two condoms provides extra protection; in fact two condoms are more likely to break due to friction.

However, on the good news side, at least it's been proven now that "casual sex won't make you go insane." That's a relief.

Mini Roundup: Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson may still seem really important. But that doesn't mean everyone knows who he is...

December 17, 2009

Wisconsin 'pro-choice Catholic' group is disowning Catholic heritage ... Catholic News Agency

Abortion is not health care Casper Star-Tribune Online

In Senate Health Showdown, Round Goes to GOP New York Times

How well do we support teen girls deciding against abortion? St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Family Planning Contracts Approved Austin Chronicle

Significance Of Women's Health Graphic Online

Could it be true? Is Gen Y sexually unprotected? Examiner.com

Young Adults Know Nothing About Sex EmpowHer

Guess What? Casual Sex Won't Make You Go Insane AlterNet