Writer's Block: Old enough ...

[tabular_rasa]

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Shoot, if a teenager is responsible enough to acquire and pay for birth control on her own, she is acting as an adult anyway and I see no need for other adults to step in and potentially complicate things.

Naturally I would prefer that the parents knew about their teenager's sexual activity and were sympathetic to the teenager and willing to assist him/her in determining appropriate contraception, ensuring s/he was making healthy decisions about his/her body-- but obviously a lot of families do not have the kind of dynamic that makes that possible. There are too many minors who are harmed because their parents naively believe that forbidding the means for safe sex means their children won't have it. For their sake, I think giving minors the right to acquire contraception without permission from their parents is imperative. Consider the alternatives here: Turned away from contraception, sexually active teenagers are not going to go, "Oh well, I guess I'll just lay off 'til marriage, then!" They are still going to have sex, just perhaps less safely /-:

I plan on speaking openly to my someday-children about sexual health and personal responsibility in hopes that when the time comes they will make wise and healthy decisions, and I hope to have the kind of relationship in which they feel comfortable talking to me about sexual issues as they come up. However, I cannot depend on them wanting to go through me to acquire birth control, and so I would want confidential, accessible sources available for them just in case. I would much rather have my children sneaking around but healthy and safe than in trouble because they were afraid to talk to me.

Comments

[sidheblessed.livejournal.com]

I pretty much agree with this. Refusing access to safe sex just means the kids will have unsafe sex, not that they will abstain.

When it comes to sex, I believe in openness and honesty. I think it's far more likely that your kid will make wise choices if they have all the information they'll need to make such a choice.

[tabular-rasa.livejournal.com]

I think it's far more likely that your kid will make wise choices if they have all the information they'll need to make such a choice.
Precisely. As much as they'd like to, parents cannot hold their child's hand forever. The best thing that can be done is give a child the wisdom and knowledge to live the best life possible for his or herself.

[jenny_evergreen]

I swear I don't ever need to write again, just point people to what you write! :P Well said.

[tabular-rasa.livejournal.com]

Maybe once I move back to the US you'll get first dibs on the Writer's Block questions as they come out, and I'll start stealing from you :-P

Thanks!

[jenny_evergreen]

*laugh* Maybe!

[silverfyre.livejournal.com]

I agree completely. Children with supportive parents have the option of talking to them (and sometimes still may feel more comfortable getting birth control on their own), but for those whose parents sadly aren't supportive, going to get it on their own is their only option for safe sex, it's important that they have that option available.

[kuriboo.livejournal.com]

Well said.