I'm a Materna-Smack Junkie

One of the many reasons why I love Stephen Colbert. I couldn't get the video to embed, so go here to see the video. It's hilarious, so I highly recommend it!

Let's first address the issue of being suspended for taking birth control...

Yes, birth control is a prescription drug, which makes it a controlled substance. But really? You're going to punish someone for being responsible about their sex life? Talk about abstinence-only education at its best. Apparently no form of birth control is safe. By suspending Freesia Jackson for taking birth control, the school is essentially telling all of the women at the school that birth control is bad, which could make unsafe sex more prevalent at the school. If girls are afraid to take birth control, then they won't. Especially during the teenage years when you feel like everyone is judging you.

The schools reason for suspending her: she was taking a controlled substance, and as far as the rule is concerned (direct quote) "birth control pills are just as dangerous as heroin." Oh no! I've been a birth control junkie for a couple years and if it's just as bad as heroin, I'm ruining my life. What am I to do? I just can't believe that guy said that.

This seems like some weird form of slut-shaming. The school could have easily gotten around suspending Jackson even if they have a rule against "controlled substances." But because they chose not to, they are punished Jackson for having sex (at least she's being responsible about it, which is more than can be said for a lot of teenagers). Or at least they think she's having sex, because that's the only reason she could be on birth control, right? While I applaud Jackson for having the responsibility to take birth control if she is having sex, did the school even make sure that she wasn't taking it for a medical reason? Because yes, there are medical reasons for taking birth control. I had friends in high school that, for medical reasons, needed the hormones that were in birth control. If they suspended her for taking birth control when it was for a medical reason, are they going to stop people from taking ADD medication? I don't think so.

Now on to Stephen Colbert...

I loved his handling of this issue. It was filled with his usual sarcasm yet did a really good job at pointing out the ridiculousness of the situation. With terms like "fallopian dope," "baby proofies," and "materna-smack," how can we not love him?

Further Reading:
Stephen Colbert Won't Let This Teen Birth Control Junkie Off Easy [The Frisky]

MTSS Goes Cable

I love the Midwest Teen Sex Show. I was introduced to it this past spring and the proceeded to watch every episode, some more than once. If you have never seen it, watch you can watch the episodes on their website (above).

It is a great way to counter abstinence-only education because it does not require reading a lot of research and information, it just requires watching an entertaining video. Many people watch it without abstinence-only just for the entertainment value.

From the MTSS website:

Teens and sex. It happens. Not every teen is having sex and not every teen is abstaining. We hope the Midwest Teen Sex Show will create a space for frank discussion of all things related to teen sexuality. Broadcast media shies away from any real exploration of the topic, and they forget that not all teens live in Orange County.

But MTSS does not pretend to be experts or a replacement proper sex education from parents or schools:

Is this sex education?

Sort of–we like to call it sex information. We’ll leave the formal education to classrooms and textbooks. Midwest Teen Sex Show is here to provide sex information in a clear and entertaining way. We won’t pretend to be experts, but hopefully a few of our own embarrassing experiences and insights will keep you out of trouble.

I think MTSS is a great way to provide information and I'm glad that they don't present themselves as the end-all-be-all of sex education...they are just their to supplement proper sex education.

And now onto the really good news. Comedy Central has asked MTSS to make a pilot that could be picked up by the cable network as a regular, 30-minute show. From the Women's Media Center:

after expressing interest following its third episode, Comedy Central has invited MTSS to make a full-length pilot episode this summer that may leap the online favorite to cable television. The news comes shortly after MTSS videos and fan groups were pulled from YouTube, Facebook and MySpace, which contended that they conflicted with community guidelines.

I think that bringing MTSS to a cable network is a great step in the conversation about teen sexuality. This will bring it to a wider audience and continue to help combat the abstinence-only people.

I can't wait to see if Comedy Central picks up MTSS. I know I will be tuning in!

Further Reading:

MTSS goes CC [The F Bomb]

We Heart MTSS - And So Does Comedy Central [The American Virgin]

Comprehensive Sex Ed Works (Well, duh)

Straight from Feministing, we find out that comprehensive sex education really works...

The Council on Science and Public Health gave a report at the AMA annual meeting that shows that comprehensive sex education, not abstinence-only programs, is the way to go.

Sex education that provides information about abstinence, condom use and other contraceptive methods is the most effective way to reduce the growing number of teenagers who contract a sexually transmitted infection or become pregnant.
...
"What we're talking about is comprehensive programs which, of course, include abstinence, but we can't just stick our heads in the sand and expect them to do the right thing. We have to provide them with all of the information they need to make responsible, adult decisions," said Barry Sheppard, MD, a thoracic surgeon and alternate delegate for the California Medical Assn.

This is what people have been saying all along. Maybe now the abstinence-only people (I'm looking at you, Abstinence Clearinghouse - among others) will get the message with yet another research study.