With abortion being a hot-topic politically, many are found searching for a solution as neither side of the debate backs down. A key argument circulating in this debate concerns access to complete sexual education. Women who have not had proper sex education are unable to fully understand the ramifications of their actions, or hold misconceptions that lead them to believe they are safe although they are not. 

A misconception in itself is that sex education is currently taught in schools. While in Kansas it is mandated in the curriculum, the reality is that this means one or two class periods covering abstinence-only and promoting female virginity. From personal education experience in the state of Kansas, my experience was similar in that the only sex education my school provided was to not have sex or boys would not like you.

A comprehensive sexual education program in schools would include explanations of how an embryo is created scientifically, but also explanations of birth control (medicinal as well as products such as condoms) and consent. By educating younger generations about these topics we are giving them the tools to act adequately in their future interactions. It would be wrong to assume teaching abstinence-only will lead to only abstinence, so it would make more sense to prepare teenagers for the more likely scenario.

This is an issue that disproportionally affects lower-income communities as they have less access to comprehensive health education programs. This is important to remember when speaking of this issue, as it is those communities that should be focused on first as they are affected the most.

By providing younger generations with this kind of information, we will be preparing them to make better, more informed decisions that will lead to a decrease in accidental pregnancies.