CHOOSE OR LOSE: SEX, VOTES AND HIGHER POWER (TV)
Summary
One in this series of educational news programs focusing on current events in the political sphere. This installment, hosted by pop singer Christina Aguilera, explores the impact of politics, particularly the upcoming 2004 Presidential election, on sexual education and freedoms. Speaking from her hometown of Pittsburgh, Aguilera explains that many public schools favor abstinence-only education, as taught via programs like "The Silver Ring Thing," which strives to categorize pre-marital sex as universally harmful. Aguilera chats with a young couple who has taken the "pledge" and decided to abstain, though she notes that 80% of Americans will eventually engage in sex before marriage. Teenager Nicole explains that she was pressured into sex by an older boyfriend and, having little information and no one in whom to confide, gave in and became pregnant, later choosing to give her baby up for adoption. She states that schools should provide a wide range of sexual information, though abstinence advocates argue that teaching about contraceptives sends a "mixed message" about whether or not to engage in sex. President Bush intends to spend $268 million on abstinence-only education, though his Democratic rival John Kerry prefers an "abstinence-plus" curriculum. Statistics show that those who "take the pledge" are just as likely to contract STDs as those who have not, largely due to having received misinformation about the reliability of condoms and other protective methods.
Some of the Silver Ring Thing kids explain that their choice is based in religion and a belief in the sanctity of marriage, though Aguilera notes that same-sex couples, banned from marriage in most states, require sexual education as well. On the topic of abortion, Aguilera explains that it was legalized through the famous 1973 Roe v. Wade case, though Bush, who does not believe in a woman's right to choose, recently banned a certain form of late-term abortion and passed a law criminalizing the injury of an unborn fetus separate from injury to the mother. Two young women, Rebecca and Melissa, then describe their similar stories of unplanned pregnancies, with Melissa stating that she kept her child, believing that he automatically had "a purpose in life," and Rebecca stating that she chose to terminate, feeling that it was not the right time in her life to raise a child. Melissa declares that she will vote for the candidate who opposes abortion, though Rebecca states that she will do the opposite and adds that not voting at all is a harmful choice. Later, Aguilera talks to 19-year-old Shaiquia, who explains that she sought refuge at a women's shelter after being physically abused by her live-in boyfriend, including during her pregnancy. Aguilera, also a survivor of domestic violence, comments on the difficulty of leaving a toxic relationship, adding that many such shelters have been defunded by the government. Aguilera concludes by reminding the viewer to make an educated choice and take part in the election, adding that MTV will hold a "prelection" on its official website, where viewers can "vote" for their candidate of choice. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: MTV
- DATE: November 30, 1999 10:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:21:34
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:84418
- GENRE: News
- SUBJECT HEADING: News; Public affairs/Documentaries; Sex education
- SERIES RUN: MTV - TV series, 1992-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Dave Sirulnick … Executive Producer
- Betsy Forhan … Supervising Producer
- Adam Hootnick … Producer
- Dana Mason … Associate Producer
- Kathleen McDonough … Associate Producer
- Amy Brill … Field Producer
- Ryan Kroft … Segment Producer
- Christina Aguilera … Host
- George W. Bush
- John Kerry