Empowering Mississippi Youth: A Mother's Mission for Comprehensive Sex Ed

In the face of diminishing comprehensive sex education requirements across the United States, Wendy Pfrenger, a mother in Oxford, Mississippi, decided to take matters into her own hands. Concerned that the abstinence-only or abstinence-plus options offered at her children's high school were falling short, she set out to create a sex education class at her local church that would provide the medically accurate information her teens needed.

Pfrenger's decision was driven by a desire to ensure her children had access to the resources and knowledge necessary to navigate the realities of adolescence. The abstinence-focused curricula available at their school, while well-intentioned, failed to address the practical considerations that young people face in the real world.

As state-level requirements for comprehensive sex education have been scaled back in recent years, parents and faith communities across the country have stepped in to fill the gap. In Mississippi, where the state mandates abstinence-only education, Pfrenger's church-based class stands as a testament to the determination of some communities to provide their young people with the tools they need to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health.

The class, which Pfrenger designed and leads, covers a range of topics, including anatomy, contraception, sexually transmitted infections, and healthy relationships. By drawing on medically accurate resources and inviting guest speakers, she aims to create a safe and non-judgmental space for her students to ask questions and explore these important subjects.