Hiv And Its Effects On The United States - 1440 Words

Half of all new human immunodeficiency virus, also known as HIV infections in the United States and two thirds of all sexually transmitted diseases (STD) occur among young people under the age of 25 (Starkman, Rajani). It’s estimated that by the end of high school, nearly two thirds of American’s youth are sexually active, and one in five has had four or more sexual partners (Starkman, Rajani). Despite these alarming statistics, less than half of all public schools in the United States offer information on how to obtain contraceptives and most schools teach abstinence only education (Starkman, Rajani). Even more alarmingly there is little evidence that abstinence only curriculums are successful in encouraging teenagers from delaying†¦show more content†¦Required academic programs can help adolescents develop a sense of embodiment and sexual agency, and cultivate the social, emotional, and cognitive skills they need to make healthy decisions and engage in fulfil ling relationships (Sanoff). For every rape victim there is a rapist, and though it’s hard to say what causes someone to rape, society must start the transition from saying â€Å"Don’t get raped.† to â€Å"Don’t rape.† Sexuality education and youth development, if utilized properly can work as a cohesive tool in helping adolescents understand the gravity of their sexual actions. In John Willey’s book ‘The Trauma of Sexual Assault† he dedicates an entire chapter to stereotypes in rape culture. One such stereotype being that â€Å"real mean, can’t be raped† as well as â€Å"rapist have a biological uncontrollable desire† both of these are examples of such topics that should be discussed with children (Willey, 10-12). Society should be supporting the idea that it is never the victims fault, regardless of gender and they should also discuss the topic of mental health. By addressing these stereotypes it opens the door to open conversations and awareness. Youth development is about nourishing the strengths of youth, building life skills, and providing an open environment to discuss questions and concerns. One common reason many are