Of course they should. I feel like stopping there, but I should explain. The potential alternatives are either having a baby, or being pressured into abortion - these are not positive results. I would hope my daughter would tell me what was going on at age 13, but I know I never did, or would have done in a million years - I took myself off to the Family Planning Clinic instead - not ideal, of course, but what are the alternatives to those 100 of families who may or may not feel able to discuss sex with their parents?
They, at only 12 or 13, own their body and they're out there whether we like it or not, and always have been according to my mum - let's make the situation easier for them, it won't "advertise" sex with Anon, et al, it will educate and we all know the knowledge enables, not disables. These so called children are a lot more capable than we think.
Here's the link:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/nov/02/girls-contraceptive-pill-isle-of-wight
Agreed. I would want any young girl to avoid the fear that comes with lack of knowledge. All young people SHOULD be better educated on this - especially with regard to STIs as well as unwanted pregnancy.
ReplyDeleteYou hit it perfectly with:
ReplyDeleteI would want any young girl to avoid the fear that comes with lack of knowledge.
It made me feel slightly weak at the prospect - and it's a fact - it's what we're all doing by hiding information from people (people: young women, girls - etc!).
It really pisses me off when people think that fp clinics for younger people are encouraging young people to have sex. Bollocks. Society encourages young people to have sex and it's so important that if they are going to do so they need to be aware and protected.
ReplyDeleteSurely if a young woman is well informed she will be more likely to feel confident in saying "no" if she wants to as well as protecting herself if she wants to have sex. No brainer to me....