Sex Education In Brave New World

Morals and science have long collided over whether teens should or should not be taught how to have safe sex in school. Sexual education teaches teenagers abstinence until marriage and about the use of contraceptives during sex. However, due to moral and religious concerns, teaching students about contraceptives and safe sex in school has become a taboo, when such information should be used to encourage teenagers to make good choices, which is a stark contrast to how contraceptives and sex are considered a necessity for social stability, and are almost worshipped, in Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World.

The purpose of sexual education is to spread information on safe sex. This issue has a long history in American society, but beginning “in 1981

There is a strong correlation between parents who have religious beliefs and parents who approve of abstinence. One such example is “a core group of mothers” a woman named Gort “calls the "prayer warriors" [gathered] regularly at [Gort’s] house to pray. The prayer warriors prayed for the success of the abstinence class in their cars, while walking, or sometimes even in the hallways and parking lots outside important sexuality-committee meetings” (Lerner). These mothers leave the fate of their children’s well being in the hands of a deity rather than relying on proven science to educate their children. Religion is so ingrained in American society that such an unreliable source of information is relied upon in the education system. However, during Brave New World’s version of mass, which is called solidarity service, the participants go around a circle chanting “"Orgy-porgy.. Orgy-porgy, Ford and fun, kiss the girls…"” (Huxley 85), and at the end of the service all the participants collapse in the circle and partake in sexual activities. Because giving birth is considered taboo in this society, yet sex is so heavily encouraged, having a good sex education and contraceptive system is paramount to uphold society’s ideals. It is considered normal, even necessary

There are many other, more beneficial, methods of sex education, with the most popular one being comprehensive sex education. Many pro-abstinence supporters believe that comprehensive sex education encourages young teenagers to go out and have sex. However, “[r]esearch clearly shows that comprehensive sex education programs do not encourage teens to start having sexual intercourse; do not increase the frequency with which teens have intercourse; and do not increase the number of a teen 's sexual partners” (Frohnapfel-Krueger). Despite most pro-abstinence people’s beliefs, there is significant proof to support that talking about the consequences of sex does not encourage teens to have sex. As well, it is safer for the teens that do have sex to know how to do so safely than to just assume that no teen will have premarital sex. Given that so many students will not abstain from sex, “programs have an obligation to help teens understand the risks and responsibilities that come with sexual activity. Survey after survey indicates that adolescents have a tremendous unmet need for information related to sexuality, contraception, STDs, and making sexual decisions” (Government Should Fund Sex Education). Comprehensive sex education will prepare teens in the event that they chose to not stay abstinent. It will teach them how to make good choices and how to weigh the benefits and consequences of their actions, because it is impossible to make an accurate decision without knowing all of