Why We Need To Teach Our Kids About Abortion In Sex Ed

It’s that time of year again, when eighth-grade parents in my district receive the curriculum outline for abstinence-emphasized reproductive health education. As I scroll through the list, I note that a huge amount of class time is, predictably, devoted to different variations of saying no to sex: “Not Everybody’s Having Sex,” “Deciding Not to Have Sex,” “Saying No to Having Sex” — these are all distinct classes.

I’m glad to see two classes devoted to safer choices and using protection. But wedged between all of the classes on abstinence vs. safer sex is the thing that makes me want to scream. It’s the class titled, “Impact of Pregnancy,” which is followed by “Adoption and Safe Delivery.” Period.

For a minute, I frantically scan to the end of the outline for that other option — you know, the one other than birth or…birth. And then I remember.

Even though in the United States, abortion is a safe and legal option, conservative lawmakers in my state have made sure that among the hundreds of regulations restricting access to legal abortion, restricting the mere mention of it in public schools is up at the tippy top.

Apparently, “abortion” is like talking about Jesus or the Buddha — forbidden, as though it’s a form of proselytizing, instead of a fundamental health care option. American teachers are required to teach about abortion like they’re asked to teach about the fact that the United States was founded on genocide and slavery — you know, as though all of it didn’t even exist.

The implication is that some health care options are so scandalous, we must not even mention them. The effect that this has on a vulnerable young person’s self-image is detrimentally huge. According to research, 1 in 3 cisgender women will have an abortion in her lifetime — some of those who need an abortion will be our children; some will be our children’s friends.

When we can’t even speak the word “abortion” out loud in a classroom dedicated to discussing reproductive health, we actively perpetuate a culture that shames certain people about their bodies and their choices.