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Current Issues: January |
| Story 3c | |
| Such contempt for Parents and our Daughters |  |
| -moral vacuum. | |
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As the mother of a daughter, I agree with those that rightly hold that
we'd do better to teach young girls self-confidence and self-assertion.
Teenage pregnancy often has more to do with low self-esteem, boredom, a lack of goals and poor education. In fact, there are a host of reasons which we rarely discuss why young women get pregnant. Peer pressure is often a factor - as is being prey to aggressive males. The whole concept of a morning after pill - something that instantly 'takes care' of the mess that can result from unthinking sexual conduct - trivialises sex. True, there is very little that is 'scared' any more about sex, with the pornographic ideal promulgated in everything from fashion magazines to rap songs - but the morning after pill degrades the act even further. It becomes shallow, meaningless and mechanical. And it will further alienate men form women. With the morning after pill, who needs intimacy, discussion, mutual decision making, commitment or indeed anything remotely connected with a responsible loving relationship? Once again, this Government is putting sex in a moral vacuum. It is also being unbelievably patronising to our young people with its dispiriting message that's there no point in teaching them about self-discipline, responsibility, fidelity, chastity or sex within a loving committed relationship. In the Government's eyes, they do not have the finer human qualities necessary to take any of this on board. No wonder, then, that parents are upset and angry. Their daughters are being treated with contempt. |