The politics of virginity
Subtitle: abstinence in sex education
By: Alesha E. Doan and Jean Calterone Williams.
Contributors: Williams, Jean Calterone, 1966-
Series: Reproductive rights and policy
Publisher: Praeger Publishers; Praeger
Published: 2008
Place of publication: Westport, Conn
Language: eng
Number of pages: 185
ISBN-13: 9780275990091
Subjects: Sex instruction for teenagers -- Political aspects -- United States; Sexual abstinence -- Study and teaching -- Political aspects -- United States
Description: The Politics of Virginity details what abstinence programs teach students, exposes the political and religious agendas behind such programs, and analyzes the damaging effects to women of the resurrection of the chastity belt: including sexual disempowerment, distorted power dynamics in relationships, increased vulnerability to sexual assault, increased emotional vulnerability, increased risk of unintended pregnancy, and STD/HIV infection. By focusing on the marriage of morality politics with gender politics and of ignorance with chastity that underlies abstinence-only education, the authors fill a major gap in the literature of reproductive politics and policy.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Under the radar : the advent of stealth tactics in morality policy; title: Tightening the sexuality noose : Title V and abstinence-only education; title: "Good girls" or "dirty whores?" : images and behaviors of adolescent women; title: Resurrecting the chastity belt: lessons from abstinence-only curricula; title: In their own words : sexuality, knowledge, and power; title: Whom and what are we "saving?" : morality, sexuality, and abstinence.