Mind Reading: What We Can Learn From the Dutch About Teen Sex

[MrScorpio]

By MAIA SZALAVITZ Monday, November 14, 2011

(Updated) Teen birth rates are eight times higher in the U.S. than in Holland. Abortion rates are twice as high. The American AIDS rate is three times greater than that of the Dutch. What are they doing right that we're not?

For starters, two-thirds of Dutch parents report allowing their teenage children to have sleepovers with their boyfriend or girlfriend, a situation even the most liberal American parents would rarely permit. Is there something Americans should learn from the Dutch about relaxed attitudes toward sex (and drugs — indeed, the Netherlands has more lenient drug laws than the U.S., but three times lower rates of marijuana use)?

What got you interested in the studying the differences between American and Dutch approaches to teen sexuality?

I was born in the U.S., but grew up in the Netherlands. When I moved back to this country at 21, I was stunned to find out that teen pregnancy was a problem in the U.S. Growing up, I had not known of anyone pregnant.
The other piece I'd noticed with my American friends is that there wasn't a lot of conversation between parents and teens about sexuality, and there was a lot of discomfort around the issue. It was handled very differently than what I'd seen in the Netherlands.

Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2011/11/14/mind-reading-what-we-can-learn-from-the-dutch-about-teen-sex/#ixzz1dpfzIbl0

[TheDebbieDee]

1. I think that hypocritical Americans are obsessed with sex

and drive themselves crazy trying to prevent their teenagers and other adults from having sex, and more significantly, prevent them from enjoying sex!

I have never understood how some people can spend so much time and effort in the endless and mindless pursuit of stopping people from having sex. I mean, I think it's like trying to keep people from breathing - it ain't gonna work!

[CoffeeCat]

4. Yes, Americans are obsessed with sex...

...but they are repulsed by their own obsession.

This makes for horrendously confusing messages when it comes to young people. Sex
is everywhere--prime-time television, in movies, and in music. Yet, parents
are supposed to explain to kids that you shouldn't do something that is glorified
and glamorized all around them!

I think kids just give up, figure their parents have absolutely no clue. Frankly,
I'm beginning to think that we don't!

[Demonaut]

2. it's the puritan and evangelical side, they'd burn wiccans if allowed

[RainDog]

3. don't provide a national media platform for the religious right

and a lot of our social problems could be dealt with effectively.

the religious right is a pox on this nation. honestly.