Bristol Palin as Spokeswoman for Abstinence

Double X (Slate Magazine): Is Bristol Palin a Good Spokeswoman for Abstinence?, by Jessica Grose:

She could be worse.

Last February, Bristol Palin told Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren that abstinence was “not realistic at all” for teens. [2] Then this month in an interview with the tabloid In Touch, Bristol said that although she is obviously no longer a virgin, since she has a baby and all, she is now going to be abstinent until she is married. “I can guarantee it,” she said. When Oprah questioned Bristol’s commitment to a second virginity last week, Bristol responded, “I just think it’s a goal to have and that other young women should have that goal.” . . .

If the statistics are anything to go on, Bristol is unlikely to meet her goal of remaining celibate. According to Mark Regnerus, the author of the forthcoming Premarital Sex in America, among women who made virginity pledges and are now married, only 13. 9 percent waited until their wedding night to have sex. There aren’t good data on women who make virginity pledges after they are sexually active—who try to become “secondary virgins,” as researchers put it. What we do know is that some young women—often born-again Christians, like Bristol—believe that repledging virginity can erase their sexual histories. . . . 

It's worth checking out the website of The Candie's Foundation, for which Bristol is a teen ambassador. The website features a revealing tank top with a strategically placed "new sexy slogan": "I'm SEXY enough . . . to keep you waiting."  This is just one of a collection of "Be Sexy Tees." At the same time, its "Tips for Teens" section provides not one bit of information about contraception or safer sex practices.  This is how to address teen pregnancy?