Dutch Teens: More Sex, Less Pregnancy

A Dutch study of parents and teenagers yielded some highly interesting results: Dutch parents are generally much more accepting of their teenage children participating in sleepovers with their romantic partners — and this permissive culture has actually led to teen pregnancy rates much, much lower to than their more prudish American counterparts. The report, "Sex, Love, and Autonomy in the Teenage Sleepover," by sociologist Amy Schalet, paints a fascinating portrait of the two different cultures' attitudes on teenage sexual activity and the consequences of these belief systems.

Just how common in the coed sleepover in Dutch culture? A 2003 study "found that two thirds of Dutch fifteen to seventeen-year-olds with steady boy- or girlfriends are allowed to spend the night with them in their bedrooms." Yet the birth rate among American teens is a whopping eight times that of the Dutch (something the Dutch have managed to accomplish while maintaining a low abortion rate for teenage pregnancies). The rate of STDs among Dutch teens, too, is significantly lower. Furthermore, Dutch teenagers are less likely than American teens to engage in sex outside a committed, monogamous relationship. To recap: Dutch teens are having safe sex in the context of loving relationships and under their own roofs, while American teens are engaging in alarming rates of unprotected sex in questionable relationships god knows where.

So, why the huge cultural divide, especially given how much time, energy, and money America funnels into the prevention of teenage pregnancy? Essentially, it boils down to this: the Dutch treat their teenagers' emerging sexuality as normal and healthy, and react accordingly. Contraceptives and reproductive health care are readily available. Conversely, in America we tend to treat teenage sexuality as a demon to be fought. We throw money into unrealistic abstinence-only education programs while simultaneously neglecting to educate our youth on their bodies and sexual health. We throw up barriers to birth control and abortion services.

Schalet believes that this can, in large part, be attributed to religion. Americans are far more likely to claim religious devotion that the Dutch. Shlalet also points to another interesting potential cause for the differing approaches to teen sexuality: the Dutch seem far more likely to validate their teens romantic feelings, whereas American parents tend to trivialize those emotions as "puppy love."

For all of the positive outcomes of the Dutch way of thinking about teenage sexuality, I don't see America embracing that outlook anytime soon. Sure, we want low rates of abortion, pregnancy, and sexually-transmitted diseases, but not if we have to give up our conservative sexual ethics to achieve it. We want the results, but are seemingly unwilling to do what it takes to get them. What do you think:  Are the Dutch taking a healthy approach to teenage sexuality, or do the ends not justify the means?

Photo credit: C.G.P. Grey