People are inflexible to change their beliefs, and even more stubborn to change their behaviors. Now the Bush administration tries to conquer this hurdle.

Bush advocates abstinence from sex in teenagers to prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) which includes HIV infection. Many schools already have sex education. However, the abstinence-only education programs are way too insufficient. Researchers found that those curricula distorted information about the effectiveness of contraceptives and/or misrepresented the risks of abortion. In particular, it blurred religion and science, as it is well known that Bush firmly rejects the abortion idea based on his religious belief.

Furthermore, supporters to “abstinence until marriage” idea believe that teaching young people about “safer sex” is an invitation to have sex. This is ridiculous. CDC has reported that 61% high school seniors have already had sex. For those adolescents whose knowledge is limited to abstinence, they may lack skills to protect themselves when they become sexually active.

Recent FDA decision on plan B pills also reflected this ridiculous idea. Plan B pills can prevent unwanted pregnancy even after sex.Conservative people believe that making Plan B pills over the counter will tout careless sex among young people. They never think about those teenage mothers who have to discontinue their education to raise children. Almost all female headed families are below or close to poverty level. A large percent of them are black women. I don’t think they want to be poor.

Psychologically speaking, people’s beliefs and behaviors can be changed if social norm changes. Bush’s “abstinence from sex” campaign may have some merits on this. However, focusing on abstinence only is insufficient if not misleading.