Date of Award
2015
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelors
Department
Social Sciences
First Advisor
Fairchild, Emily
Keywords
Sex Education, United States, Government, Abstinence
Area of Concentration
Sociology
Abstract
In this thesis, I analyze Reducing the Risk: Building the Skills to Prevent Pregnancy, STD & HIV (RTR). As one of the first evidence-based curricula in the U.S., RTR is now one of the numerous programs funded by the U.S. government. While this curriculum has been evaluated twice for its ability to influence student sexual behavior, messages found in the inclusion of abstinence and protection has not. Using an open coding method, I delve into this curriculum and find a disconnect between the stated goal of RTR—to provide students with the skills to abstain and use protection—and the material presented. Although this curriculum does increase protection use for students, it primarily presents abstinence as the best and at times only prevention method appropriate for students. I discuss implications of my findings in the context of federal funding in the United States.
Recommended Citation
Desangles, Julia, "WHAT ABOUT PROTECTION? A CONTENT ANALYSIS OF REDUCING THE RISK, AN EVIDENCE-BASED SEX EDUCATION CURRICULUM" (2015). Theses & ETDs. 5006.
https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/theses_etds/5006