The Abstinence Mission:

Emissions, Taboos, Hell, Purity & Reproductive Abundance

This presentation explores the texts and images used in abstinence-only-until-marriage rhetoric disseminated in public school sex education programs throughout the US. Detractors of these programs believe that the curricula discriminate against those who live in a nontraditional household by characterizing heterosexual marriage as the only healthy adult relationship. The program rhetoric often emphasizes that condoms may fail, leaving teenagers with incurable STDs and unwanted pregnancies. Proponents of these programs point out that abstinence is the only absolute method for preventing pregnancy and STDs. This presentation analyzes the rhetorical strategy – design and content –of booklets from several popular abstinence-only-until-marriage programs currently in use in public schools.

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