Fwd: [wff-discuss] FW: GenderPAC Calls for an End to Abstinence-Only Curricula that Treat Stereotypes about Boys and Girls as Scientific Fact

[Valerie White <valerie forevermail com>]

Another interesting article.



> ?Every American taxpayer should be outraged that out-dated stereotypes 
> about male-female relationships are being taught in the public schools. 
> These old roles went out with the Edsel.?
>
>
>
>
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> GenderPAC Calls for an End to Abstinence-Only Curricula that Treat 
> Stereotypes about Boys and Girls as Scientific Fact
>
> WASHINGTON (December 7, 2004) GenderPAC called on the Bush Administration 
> and Congress to stop using taxpayers? money to teach out-moded and harmful 
> gender stereotypes in abstinence-only education programs. Last week, 
> Congressman Henry Waxman released a report that showed many 
> federally-funded abstinence-only curricula teach adolescents false and 
> misleading information about reproductive health.
>
> ?Every American taxpayer should be outraged that out-dated stereotypes 
> about male-female relationships are being taught in the public schools. 
> These old roles went out with the Edsel,? said Riki Wilchins, Executive 
> Director of GenderPAC.
>
> In fiscal year 2005, the federal government will spend $170 million on 
> abstinence-only education, including programs that teach stereotypes that 
> undermine girls? achievement, characterize girls as weak and in need of 
> protection, and present males as sexually aggressive.
>
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>
> For example:
>
> One curriculum described in ?The Content of Federally Funded 
> Abstinence-Only Education Programs? report instructs: ?Women gauge their 
> happiness and judge their success by their relationships. Men?s happiness 
> and success hinge on their accomplishments.?
>
> Another curriculum teaches: ?The father gives the bride to the groom 
> because he is the one man who has had the responsibility of protecting her 
> throughout her life. He is now giving his daughter to the only other man 
> who will take over this protective role.?
>
> In addition, another example from the curriculum tells participants: 
> ?While a man needs little or no preparation for sex, a woman often needs 
> hours of emotional and mental preparation.? (See report pp. 16-18, 
> http://democrats.reform.house.gov/Documents/20041201102153-50247.pdf)
>
> ?This curricula hurts boys and girls, and does nothing to prevent teenage 
> pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases. It?s time ? past time ? to 
> give our young people accurate information about building healthy lives 
> and healthy relationships,? said Wilchins.
>
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>
> ----------
> Support youth leaders fighting discrimination and violence on college 
> campuses and in high schools by making a donation today at: 
> <http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=fwswt7n6.0.0.c9oyz8n6.0&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gpac.org%2Fdonate>www.gpac.org/donate. 
>
>
> For more information on joining the GenderYOUTH Network, visit us at 
> <http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=fwswt7n6.0.0.c9oyz8n6.0&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gpac.org%2Fyouth>www.gpac.org/youth. 
>
>
> The Gender Public Advocacy Coalition (GenderPAC) works to end 
> discrimination and violence caused by gender stereotypes. To join today, 
> visit us at 
> <http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=fwswt7n6.0.0.c9oyz8n6.0&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gpac.org%2Fjoin>www.gpac.org/join.