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1. Say: There is a saying that goes: With rights, come responsibilities. (Write the saying where everyone can see it.) What do you think that means?

2. Ask students to list some of the rights or freedoms that come with getting older or becoming an adult. (Examples might include: driving, going to R-rated movies, being allowed to buy alcohol and cigarettes, being allowed to get married, becoming sexually involved, getting to stay out as late as you want to, voting.) Write a list where everyone can see it under the title "Rights".

3. Ask students to list some of the responsibilities that go with those rights. Write a list under the title "Responsibilities", matching the responsibilities with the rights on the other list.

4. Use the following questions to guide discussion:

Let�s look at each of the items you�ve listed. At what age do you think people should be entitled to each of these rights or freedoms? (Point out that they should decide what age they think would be appropriate, whether or not it agrees with the current law.) Ask students to explain their reasoning.

Why do you think teens are often very concerned about getting more freedom and more rights while adults are often very concerned about getting teens to be more responsible? Why do you think adults worry that teens won�t be responsible?

Are adults always responsible about exercising these privileges? Explain your answer.

Do you think age is always a good criterion for deciding when someone should be allowed certain privileges? Why or why not? And, if not, what would make better criteria?

5. Have students read "Beating the Stats" and "No Regrets" on page 1. Use the following questions to guide discussion:

One of the responsibilities of having sex is to visit a doctor or clinic to find out more about STD prevention and contraception. Can you picture yourself or other people your age going for a clinic or doctor visit the way these two teens did? Why or why not?

What are some of the obstacles these two teens faced when trying to be responsible about their sexuality? What are other obstacles you think might prevent teens from being responsible by visiting a clinic or doctor before they have sex? (Write responses where everyone can see them. Label the list "Obstacles to Being Responsible About Sex". Examples might include: difficulty communicating with one�s partner, fear about going to the doctor to get birth control, embarrassment, lack of transportation, lack of helpful adults on the other end of the phone when you call to get information, fear or your family finding out that you are having sex).

How can teens overcome some of these obstacles?

Do you think the double standard (i.e., the belief that it�s okay for boys to have sex, but not girls) gets in the way of girls being responsible about sex? Explain your answer.

Do you think there are also gender stereotypes that create obstacles to boys being responsible about sex? Explain.

Some people think that, if a teen is too afraid or embarrassed to visit a family planning clinic or a doctor before having sex, that it is a sign he or she is not yet mature enough to have sex. Do you agree or disagree? Explain.

Some people think that, if a teen can�t tell his or her parents about his or her decision to have sex and feel comfortable and confident about that decision no matter what his or her parents� reaction might be, that it is a sign he or she is not yet mature enough for sex. Other people think that a teen�s sex life is none of his or her parents� business. What do you think? Explain your answer.

How do you think Jenna Brown�s experience might have been different if she had taken responsibility herself for visiting a doctor or family planning clinic before she had sex instead of being made to go after her mother found out about her sexual involvement? If Jenna had been able to tell her mother that she was already using birth control under a doctor�s supervision, do you think her mother might have reacted differently when she found out Jenna was sexually active? Explain your answer.

If a teen in our school needed to visit a doctor or clinic before deciding to have sexual intercourse, where could he or she go and how could he or she get there?

WINTER 2000
Discussion Guide