Culture.

the GOP made "traditional family values" a centerpiece of their sales pitch in the late 80s. According to them, the problem is people not getting married, or getting divorced. So, their solution was to make it a lot harder to get divorced, and ram religion down everyone's throat. Nancy Reagan made a big deal of "just say no". Schools were teaching fear based abstinence programs, like "sex respect". There was a push to restrict access to contraceptives, contending their availability "encouraged" people to fool around. Dan Quayle carried on, at length, about the messaging behind a fictional, high income, TV character having a baby out of wedlock. According to the net sifter births outside of wedlock increased from 28% in 1990, to 41% in 2008.

From the Google net sifter about "sex respect".

"Sex Respect" is an abstinence-focused sex education program that teaches teens about saying "no" to premarital sex from a health and character perspective. It is designed as an alternative to comprehensive sex education, focusing on abstinence, consequences of premarital sex, and the development of healthy attitudes and values, while omitting details on contraception and abortion.

Program components

Student workbook: Provides information on sexual abstinence, male-female differences, and the consequences of premarital sex.

Teacher manual: Includes lesson plans, teaching objectives, and strategies for teaching abstinence-based sex education.

Parent guide: Offers a guide for parents and teachers to support the program's message.

Key focus areas

Abstinence: The core message is that saying "no" to premarital sex is a right and can lead to "true sexual freedom".

Health and character: It teaches abstinence from a health perspective and emphasizes character development and psychological and emotional well-being.

Consequences: The program discusses the potential consequences of premarital sex, including risks of STDs, unintended pregnancy, and emotional impacts.

Social pressures: It addresses cultural pressures against abstinence

Program limitations

Contraception and abortion: Critics note that the curriculum does not include information on contraception, abortion, or other options for pregnancy outcomes, which they argue does not "respect" free choice.

Manipulation: The program's focus on abstinence is seen by some as manipulative because it omits comprehensive information on all available options, according to Gale.

Steve