Contraception Discussion 1

[Angel]

Abstinence.
We at aspecc define abstinence as “A personal decision that someone makes to abstain (refrain) from engaging in sexual activity. This might mean they are choosing to not engage in any type of sex at all, it might mean they are not engaging in penis in vagina sex, or it might mean they are only engaging in outercourse (petting, masturbation, making out but no penetration of any orifice at all). Abstinence might be something they choose for life, or for a certain period in their life.”

Why do you think it is important to be this comprehensive in defining abstinence? What type of responses might you experience if you define abstinence this way?

[Kim]

It is important to be broad in the way we define abstinence because the definition can vary drastically from person to person, depending on their experiences, what their values are, etc. In order to properly account for different perspectives, the way we define it must not only be comprehensive, but also ever evolving as we learn more about how other people view it.

Some people might argue that it only counts as abstinence if they completely refrain from sexual activity. Some people may also argue that it’s a more religious or spiritual decision rather than a personal one. While these opinions are valid, ultimately they would be trying to make abstinence fit into the definition they feel suits it best, without fully taking into account why other people would define it differently.

[Jenn W]

To be completely clear, I googled the actual definition of comprehensive in order to answer this question.

com·pre·hen·sive
/ˌkämprəˈhensiv/
adjective
1.
complete; including all or nearly all elements or aspects of something

Like many topics, there can be many ways to interpret “abstinence” so it is important to be clear and cover all elements and aspects of what “abstinence” may mean to different people. It can be very easy for anyone to find a “loophole” to accommodate their own thoughts or beliefs, however, this may not actually end up being truly accurate, thus resulting in unexpected consequences. By covering all aspects as we know them, we reduce the chances of individuals being ill informed when they are making important decisions regarding themselves and their bodies.

[Author]

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