Why the drastic difference? There are a lot of reasons. In the Netherlands, France, and Germany, adults treat teenagers with respect. They view them as contributing members of society, not problems to be solved.

Each of these European countries has an unwritten social contract with teenagers: "We'll respect your right to act responsibly, giving you the tools you need to avoid unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV," according to Advocates for Youth.

Just Say No

Do you feel treated that way? My guess is, no. Instead, U.S. adults hammer us with the message that we have to wait until we're married to have sex. They often make us feel guilty if we choose to have sex, even if we act responsibly. And that, ironically, makes us less likely to take steps to protect ourselves.

Many conservative politicians impose their own moral and religious beliefs on us, trying to force schools to teach abstinence-only sex education.

For some, abstinence might be the right choice. But it's not the right decision for everyone. That's why U.S. teenagers deserve the same comprehensive sexual education our European peers receive.

 

Double-Dutch

Another reason for Europe's lower teen pregnancy rates is the acceptance and availability of contraception. Teenage girls in Germany and the Netherlands use more oral contraceptives than U.S. girls.

"First, European teens are provided with national health insurance, which is universal and covers the cost," said Barbara Huberman, director of education and outreach at Advocates for Youth.

"Secondly, young woman are taught in school how to use the Pill. Last, but not least, instead of being taught to say 'no' to sex, women are supported in their prevention of unplanned pregnancy."

In Europe, teen contraception is so accepted that a commonly-used term is "double-dutch," which is when the guy wears a condom and the girl is on the Pill, says Huberman. This has contributed to the lower rates of teen pregnancies, abortions, and STDs.

The European focus, Huberman says, is on empowering young people to make an informed decision on whether they want to become sexually active. If they decide to, then they know it is expected they will always use protection against pregnancy and STDs.

The U.S. media are also to blame. Teenagers receive a lot of information—or misinformation—about sexuality from television, movies, and the Internet.

A popular teen show might depict a teen couple having casual sex, making it look like fun, but ignoring the possible consequences. Some teens feel pressure to copy what they see, as if this is the "norm."

One strategy would be for the government to launch a widespread, long-term media campaign to educate teenagers about protecting themselves against unplanned pregnancy and STDs.

Huberman says that the three European countries' governments support "massive, consistent, long-term public education campaigns."

The U.S. campaign could reinforce the idea that abstaining from sex is a good choice for many, but also advance the belief that teenagers have a duty—and a right—to protect themselves, should they decide to become sexually active.

MTV's Fight for Your Rights: Protect Yourself campaign is one of the few programs that provide honest information about sex to teens. But not all U.S. teens have access to MTV and the network only spends a limited amount of time on such programming.

U.S. policy-makers should re-evaluate the abstinence-only approach and realize it's time to provide quality, government-supported sexuality education. Research has shown that this approach works best.

"Research and science should guide policy, not individual or religious belief," Huberman says.

It is also absolutely crucial for our society to become more comfortable with sexuality. In the European countries mentioned, Huberman says, media campaigns are "far more direct and humorous than in the U.S. and focus on safety and pleasure."

 

Take Action

What can you do about this? Get involved. Become an activist. If you attend a school with sex ed that is "too little, too late," demand your right to complete information and access to health services. If you want to change sex ed at your school, check out our Roadmap: A Teen Guide to Changing Your School's Sex Ed.

Small changes are happening. For example, the California Legislature recently approved a bill mandating comprehensive sexual education in the classroom. But much more needs to be done. You can help.

Huberman recommends logging onto the organization's Web site and joining a youth activist network, or becoming outspoken in your own service and community organizations.

Get active. Our future depends on it.