memphis.edu/crow. Center for Research on Women. Center for Research on Women. Examining Issues of Gender and Social Ine...
Non-profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 207 Memphis, TN
Center for Research on Women
Examining Issues of Gender and Social Inequality
337 Clement Hall Memphis, TN 38152-3530
Memphis Parents Say Sex Education Matters!
Center for Research on Women Supporting scholarship on race, class, gender and social inequality since 1982
Center for Research on Women
memphis.edu/crow The University of Memphis, a Tennessee Board of Regents institution, is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action University. It is committed to education of a non-racially identifiable student body.
337 Clement Hall Memphis, TN 38152 901-678-2770
[email protected] http://memphis.edu/crow
Center Staff
Lynda M. Sagrestano, Ph.D., Director Ace Madjlesi, M.A., Research Associate Teresa Rawlings, M.A., Project Coordinator Layout and Design by: Holly Whitfield
Memphis parents say
The high rate of teen pregnancy in the Memphis area suggests the need for a multifaceted strategy that addresses sexuality among our youth, yet the implementation of comprehensive sex education continues to be a controversial issue in the Mid-South. This fact sheet provides a snapshot of the attitudes of Shelby County residents towards sex education as a preventive strategy for teenage pregnancy.
educate. explain. equip. sex education matters
educate:
The overwhelming majority of Memphis women in the sample thought comprehensive sex education should be taught in public schools.
80%
15%
Comprehensive sex ed should be taught in public schools.
100% 80%
Sex ed should not be taught in public schools.
contraceptives.90 Source: Early Childhood Public Opinion Poll, 200990 80
60%
white women
60
60
50
50
40% 20% 0%
40
Parents who think all schools should provide contraception.
10 0
40 think Parents who off-campus 30 school health clinics 20 should provide contraceptives. 10 0
white men
100% 80%
Source: Early Childhood Public Opinion Poll, 2009 Sample of 588 participants consists of 55.4% African Americans and 44.5% Whites
100 80 20% 4040%60 60% 80% 100%
20
100 90
PARENTS WERE ASKED: Births to teens are on the rise for the first time in 15 years. What do you think would be most effective in helping teens avoid pregnancy?
white women
educate:
The vast majority of Shelby County residents, both black and white, wish that teenagers were provided with more information about both abstinence and birth control.
PARENTS WERE ASKED: Do you wish teens were getting more information about abstinence, more information about birth control or protection, or more information about both?
80 70
70
Parents who think contraception 30 should be widely available in 20 the community.
black women
0 0%
80
70
black women white men
black men
More availability of condoms
The majority of Shelby County residents think that contraceptives should be widely available throughout the community and that off campus school health clinics should provide 100 them. About half of black participants and about a third of white participants100believe
black men
More frequent/better quality sex and relationship education
5%
Abstinence-based sex ed should be taught in public schools.
that schools should provide
The majority of Shelby County residents think that the most effective way to avoid teen pregnancy is to have more open conversations with parents.
Source: All About Women, 2009. Sample of 138 participants consists of 82.2% African Americans and 14.5% Whites
equip:
explain:
More open conversations with parents
60%
60
40%
50
black men black women white men
Source: Early Childhood Public Opinion Poll, 2009 Sample of 588 participants consists of 55.4% African Americans and 44.5% Whites
white women
40
20%
More information about abstinence
30 20
0%
10 0
Already get enough information
More information about birth control or protection
More information about both
