Chastity Pledges

Popularity, Support, and Criticism

The popularity of chastity pledges among teens and young adults is reflected in American popular culture. Popular discourses around sexuality and virginity are constantly in flux; however, the public endorsement and support of chastity pledges by teen celebrities like Cyrus, Sparks, and the Jonas Brothers acts to shift discussions of virginity and make it “cool” to say no.

The effectiveness of chastity pledges in preventing teen pregnancy and STD contraction continues to be debated by critics and supporters of abstinence-only education. This debate is further challenged by the often-contradictory research results on chastity pledges as an exclusive prevention method.

Supporters of chastity pledges argue that sex education gives teens the wrong message about sex and assumes that all teens are sexually active. Abstinence-only supporters stress adhering to moral systems that justify saying “no” to sex and advocate the belief that sex belongs within marriage. They contend that pledges assist teens (especially girls) in developing self-esteem and self-respect. Furthermore, by encouraging teens to remain sexually abstinent, they argue that pregnancy and STD contraction rates are reduced because teens wait until marriage to engage in sexual activity.

Critics of chastity pledges argue that it sets unrealistic standards for adolescents, particularly with regards to the normative assumption that sex only occurs within a marriage and is only for married individuals. They critique the reliance on images of romantic and heterosexual love and its associated traditional gender roles for girls and boys. Without adequate sex education, critics contend that pregnancy and STD rates will increase because teens do not have access to prevention information if and when they become sexually active. Moreover, chastity pledges may lead to unrealistic relationship standards, early marriages and subsequently higher divorce rates. Critics argue that teens need to be given information on how to protect themselves from pregnancy and STDs, in addition to discussing the positive impacts of abstinence.

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