Just say no! 'Parental Rights,' the Christian Right, and paternal power in abstinence-only sex education

Just say no! 'Parental Rights,' the Christian Right, and paternal power in abstinence-only sex education

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Knapp, Mary A.
Language:English
Published: The Ohio State University / OhioLINK 2001
Subjects:
AOSE
ABSTINENCE-ONLY
PRM
SEX EDUCATION
PARENTAL RIGHTS
public problems
sexuality
Online Access:http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1140034600
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spelling ndltd-OhioLink-oai-etd.ohiolink.edu-osu11400346002021-08-03T05:50:47Z Just say no! 'Parental Rights,' the Christian Right, and paternal power in abstinence-only sex education Knapp, Mary A. AOSE ABSTINENCE-ONLY PRM SEX EDUCATION PARENTAL RIGHTS public problems sexuality <p>The Parental Rights movement and its relationship to the growing trend of abstinence-only sex education in United States public schools has not yet been addressed by feminist scholars or other progressive health advocates. This thesis examines how public policy on sex education has been influenced by the Parental Rights movement, and how both the movement and the abstinence education currently mandated by federal law are associated with the Christian Right. Specifically, I explain the correlation between the Parental Rights movement and abstinence-only public policy through a rhetorical analysis of the movement's texts and the abstinence policy itself.</p> <p>Evident in parental rights rhetoric are multiple definitions of "public problems," which I have categorized as sexual "immorality," gender role transgression, and teenage pregnancy. I focused my analysis on the construction of these "public problems" in the rhetoric of both the Parental Rights movement and U.S. government documents. My findings indicate that the Parental Rights movement was successful in its promotion of abstinence-only curriculum policy because its cultural values, evident through its construction of "public problems," mirrors the cultural values present in U.S. federal legislation. That is, the cultural narratives of Judeo-Christian moralism and democratic liberalism are embedded in Parental Rights rhetoric and this is turn expedites the abstinence-only policy the movement proposes.</p> <p>Moreover, my research indicates that the "public problems" constructed in the rhetoric primarily focus on the female sexual subject. For example, in the texts I analyze, the "public problems" of pre-marital sex, "out-of-wedlock" births, poverty, and female autonomy are each listed as evidence in support of increased regulation of the female sexual subject. In this manner, abstinence-only sex education is an example of paternal (state) power and social regulation of the female subject. My findings confirm the importance of a feminist response, and opposition, to the Parental Rights movement and abstinence-only sex education public policy. Ultimately, a feminist response would articulate the sexual rights of adolescents, and adolescent females especially, while calling for comprehensive sex education in all public schools.</p> 2001 English text The Ohio State University / OhioLINK http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1140034600 http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1140034600 unrestricted This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.
collection NDLTD
language English
sources NDLTD
topic AOSE
ABSTINENCE-ONLY
PRM
SEX EDUCATION
PARENTAL RIGHTS
public problems
sexuality
spellingShingle AOSE
ABSTINENCE-ONLY
PRM
SEX EDUCATION
PARENTAL RIGHTS
public problems
sexuality
Knapp, Mary A.
Just say no! 'Parental Rights,' the Christian Right, and paternal power in abstinence-only sex education
author Knapp, Mary A.
author_facet Knapp, Mary A.
author_sort Knapp, Mary A.
title Just say no! 'Parental Rights,' the Christian Right, and paternal power in abstinence-only sex education
title_short Just say no! 'Parental Rights,' the Christian Right, and paternal power in abstinence-only sex education
title_full Just say no! 'Parental Rights,' the Christian Right, and paternal power in abstinence-only sex education
title_fullStr Just say no! 'Parental Rights,' the Christian Right, and paternal power in abstinence-only sex education
title_full_unstemmed Just say no! 'Parental Rights,' the Christian Right, and paternal power in abstinence-only sex education
title_sort just say no! 'parental rights,' the christian right, and paternal power in abstinence-only sex education
publisher The Ohio State University / OhioLINK
publishDate 2001
url http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1140034600
work_keys_str_mv AT knappmarya justsaynoparentalrightsthechristianrightandpaternalpowerinabstinenceonlysexeducation
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