Teens encounter a barrage of messages about sexuality in popular culture--messages that shape their identities and schooling experiences in profound ways. Meanwhile, teen sexuality, pregnancy, and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) increasingly arouse public panic. To date, however, schools do little to help teens make sense of their…

Access to and availability of contraceptive methods in stores play an important role in the prevention of AIDS, unwanted pregnancies, and other sexually transmitted diseases. Although teens are generally knowledgable about birth control, many encounter barriers when attempting to obtain contraceptive. Forty-five drug stores and 15 convenience…

The nation's attention must be focused on the growing risk to its teenagers of contracting AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). As part of this effort, the Center for Population Options (CPO) organized a teen AIDS prevention project in Washington, D.C., based on information obtained from four focus groups comprised of 8-12 teens each. The…

Outlines public policy goals regarding substance abuse, sexually transmitted diseases, unintended pregnancies, and violence. Concludes that the nation will continue to be high-risk until reforms are implemented that will equalize access to the opportunity structure. (DM)

The double-bind message given women about preventing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection suggests that, if a partner will not use a condom, the woman should use a spermicide. The debate about the protection offered by spermicides is reviewed, and research on prevention effectiveness is urged. (SLD)

A review of literature on sex education in the schools traces the changing opinions and attitudes on the subject over the past century. Early sex education efforts (1880s to 1920s) in the schools focused upon the repression of sexual activity, the prevention of immorality, hygiene, and prevention of venereal diseases. A gradual movement (1940s to…

A careful analysis by Zelnik and Kanter of the Department of Population Dynamics at Johns Hopkins disclosed that abortions, unwed teenage pregnancies, venereal diseases, and sexual promiscuity have all increased dramatically in spite of a massive public and private program of contraceptive indoctrination and dissemination. This increase is…