Put the Sex Back in Sex Ed

TIME ^ | March 13, 2014 7:02 AM ET | Camille Paglia

[thecodont]

Fertility is the missing chapter in sex education. Sobering facts about women’s declining fertility after their 20s are being withheld from ambitious young women, who are propelled along a career track devised for men.

The refusal by public schools’ sex-education programs to acknowledge gender differences is betraying both boys and girls. The genders should be separated for sex counseling. It is absurd to avoid the harsh reality that boys have less to lose from casual serial sex than do girls, who risk pregnancy and whose future fertility can be compromised by disease. Boys need lessons in basic ethics and moral reasoning about sex (for example, not taking advantage of intoxicated dates), while girls must learn to distinguish sexual compliance from popularity.

Above all, girls need life-planning advice. Too often, sex education defines pregnancy as a pathology, for which the cure is abortion. Adolescent girls must think deeply about their ultimate aims and desires. If they want both children and a career, they should decide whether to have children early or late. There are pros, cons and trade-offs for each choice.

[cloudmountain]

Paglia’s been publishing books on poetry and film and art - where have YOU been?
She’s very strong on the importance of men in this society.

Well, the last time I listened to her was several years ago. THAT was her mantra then too. However, being "very strong on the importance of men" doesn't mean that she liked them or spoke of them with anything more than tolerance.

Of course I DID say that she really deprecated EVERYTHING and everybody...and HAD to be right all the time--ALL THE TIME.

I never did see her do an interview by or with a man. I read intolerance and BARELY suppressed contempt for men.

I would rather read the PHONE BOOK that read anything from her poison mind.

However, if you enjoy her books on poetry, film and art, I am glad for you.

[miss marmelstein]

In 1996, my husband and I invited her to speak at our private club. She was at table with us and I can assure you that she talked to all of the men at the table and was an amazing conversationalist. After she gave her address, she took questions from the floor - mostly from men.

Stop thinking in giant clichés. She is a dissident feminist precisely because she admires the accomplishments of men.

[cloudmountain]

Well, you sure took a page out of HER book. Now YOU are telling ME how to think. miss marmelpagliastein.

Look in your OWN mirror before castigating someone else.

[Great-Horned Owl]

That’s because pregnancy in teens is a pathology. I mean seriously, who would want their kid having kids?

[cdcdawg]

If you haven’t see the first few minutes of the movie, Idiocracy, you have only yourself to blame. A bit of foul language, but it makes a few strong points.