Sex education
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| - | {{Template}}'''Sex education''' is a broad term used to describe [[education]] about human [[sex organ|sexual anatomy]], [[sexual reproduction]], [[sexual intercourse]], and other aspects of [[human sexual behavior]]. Common avenues for sex education are parents or caregivers, school programs, and public health campaigns. | + | {{Template}} |
| + | '''Sex education''' is a broad term used to describe [[education]] about human [[sex organ|sexual anatomy]], [[sexual reproduction]], [[sexual intercourse]], and other aspects of [[human sexual behavior]]. Common avenues for sex education are parents or caregivers, school programs, and public health campaigns. | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Overview == | ||
| + | Sex education may also be described as "sexuality education," which means that it encompasses education about all aspects of sexuality, including information about [[family planning]], [[reproduction]] ([[fertilization]], [[Conception (biology)|conception]] and development of the [[embryo]] and [[fetus]], through to [[childbirth]]), plus information about all aspects of one's sexuality including: [[body image]], [[sexual orientation]], [[sexual pleasure]], [[values]], [[decision making]], [[communication]], [[dating]], [[Intimate relationship|relationships]], [[sexually transmitted infection]]s (STIs) and how to avoid them, and [[birth control]] methods. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Sex education may be taught informally, such as when someone receives information from a conversation with a [[parent]], [[friend]], [[religious]] leader, or through the [[Mass media|media]]. It may also be delivered through sex [[self-help]] authors, magazine [[advice columnist]]s, [[sex columnist]]s, or through sex education web sites. Formal sex education occurs when [[schools]] or health care providers offer sex education. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Sometimes formal sex education is taught as a full course as part of the [[curriculum]] in [[junior high school]] or [[high school]]. Other times it is only one unit within a more broad [[biology]] class, [[health]] class, [[home economics]] class, or [[physical education]] class. Some schools offer no sex education, since it remains a [[controversy|controversial]] issue in several countries, particularly the United States (especially with regard to the age at which children should start receiving such education, the amount of detail that is revealed, and topics dealing with [[human sexual behavior]], eg. [[safe sex]] practices, [[masturbation]], [[premarital sex]], and [[sexual ethics]]). | ||
| + | |||
| + | In 1936, [[Wilhelm Reich]] commented that sex education of his time was a work of [[deception]], focusing on biology while concealing [[sexual arousal|excitement-arousal]], which is what a [[pubescent]] individual is mostly interested in. Reich added that this emphasis obscures what he believed to be a basic psychological principle: that all worries and difficulties originate from unsatisfied sexual impulses. (''[[Die Sexualität im Kulturkampf]]'') | ||
| + | |||
| + | When sex education is contentiously debated, the chief controversial points are whether covering [[child sexuality]] is valuable or detrimental; the use of birth control such as [[condom]]s and [[hormonal contraception]]; and the impact of such use on pregnancy outside marriage, [[teenage pregnancy]], and the transmission of STIs. Increasing support for [[abstinence-only sex education]] by conservative groups has been one of the primary causes of this controversy. Countries with conservative attitudes towards sex education (including the UK and the U.S.) have a higher incidence of STIs and teenage pregnancy. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The existence of [[AIDS]] has given a new sense of urgency to the topic of sex education. In many [[African]] nations, where AIDS is at epidemic levels (see [[HIV/AIDS in Africa]]), sex education is seen by most scientists as a vital [[public health]] strategy. Some international organizations such as [[Planned Parenthood]] consider that broad sex education programs have global benefits, such as controlling the risk of [[overpopulation]] and the advancement of [[women's rights]] (see also [[reproductive rights]]). | ||
| + | |||
| + | According to [[SIECUS]], the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States, 93% of adults they surveyed support sexuality education in high school and 84% support it in junior high school. In fact, 88% of parents of junior high school students and 80% of parents of high school students believe that sex education in school makes it easier for them to talk to their adolescents about sex. Also, 92% of adolescents report that they want both to talk to their parents about sex and to have comprehensive in-school sex education. Furthermore, a "...study, conducted by Mathematica Policy Research Inc. on behalf of the U.S. Department of | ||
| + | Health and Human Services, found that abstinence-only-until-marriage programs are ineffective." | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | == Morality == | ||
| + | One approach to sex education is to view it as necessary to reduce risk behaviours such as unprotected sex, and equip individuals to make informed decisions about their personal sexual activity. Ethicist and sexuality columist [[Jacob Appel]], who coined the phrase, "pro-sex if pro-safety," takes this approach one step further, arguing that teen sex should be encouraged to ensure that teens have safe places, both literally and figuratively, to explore their sexuality. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Another viewpoint on sex education, historically inspired by sexologists like [[Wilhelm Reich]] and psychologists like [[Sigmund Freud]] and [[James W. Prescott]], holds that what is at stake in sex education is control over the body and liberation from social control. Proponents of this view tend to see the political question as whether society or the individual should teach sexual [[mores]]. Sexual education may thus be seen as providing individuals with the knowledge necessary to liberate themselves from socially organized [[sexual oppression]] and to make up their own minds. In addition, sexual oppression may be viewed as socially harmful. | ||
| + | |||
| + | To another group in the sex education debate, the question is whether the [[Sovereign state|state]] or the [[family]] should teach sexual [[mores]]. They believe that sexual mores should be left to the family, and sex-education represents state interference. They claim that some sex education curricula break down pre-existing notions of [[modesty]] and encourage acceptance of practices that those advocating this viewpoint deem immoral, such as [[homosexuality]] and [[premarital sex]]. They cite web sites such as that of the [[Coalition for Positive Sexuality]] as examples. Naturally, those that believe that homosexuality and premarital sex are a normal part of the range of human sexuality disagree with them. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Many religions teach that sexual behavior outside of marriage is immoral, so their adherents feel that this morality should be taught as part of sex education. Other religious conservatives believe that sexual knowledge is unavoidable, hence their preference for curricula based on [[abstinence]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | == See also == | ||
| + | * ''[[The ABC of Sex Education for Trainables]]'' (film) | ||
| + | * [[About Your Sexuality]] | ||
| + | * [[Adolescent sexuality]] | ||
| + | * ''[[Harmful to Minors]]'', a book by [[Judith Levine]], which deals with [[sexual morality]] and sex education in the United States | ||
| + | * [[Harm reduction]] | ||
| + | * [[Our Whole Lives]] | ||
| + | * [[Permissive society]] | ||
| + | * [[Promiscuity]] | ||
| + | * [[Refusal skills]] | ||
| + | * [[Section 28]] (UK) | ||
| + | * [[Sex manual]] | ||
| + | * [[Sexual morality]] | ||
| + | * [[Sexual orientation]] | ||
| + | * [[Sexual revolution]] | ||
| + | * [[Social conservatism]] | ||
| + | * [[The birds and the bees]] | ||
| {{GFDL}} | {{GFDL}} | ||
Revision as of 12:35, 29 March 2010
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Sex education is a broad term used to describe education about human sexual anatomy, sexual reproduction, sexual intercourse, and other aspects of human sexual behavior. Common avenues for sex education are parents or caregivers, school programs, and public health campaigns.
Overview
Sex education may also be described as "sexuality education," which means that it encompasses education about all aspects of sexuality, including information about family planning, reproduction (fertilization, conception and development of the embryo and fetus, through to childbirth), plus information about all aspects of one's sexuality including: body image, sexual orientation, sexual pleasure, values, decision making, communication, dating, relationships, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and how to avoid them, and birth control methods.
Sex education may be taught informally, such as when someone receives information from a conversation with a parent, friend, religious leader, or through the media. It may also be delivered through sex self-help authors, magazine advice columnists, sex columnists, or through sex education web sites. Formal sex education occurs when schools or health care providers offer sex education.
Sometimes formal sex education is taught as a full course as part of the curriculum in junior high school or high school. Other times it is only one unit within a more broad biology class, health class, home economics class, or physical education class. Some schools offer no sex education, since it remains a controversial issue in several countries, particularly the United States (especially with regard to the age at which children should start receiving such education, the amount of detail that is revealed, and topics dealing with human sexual behavior, eg. safe sex practices, masturbation, premarital sex, and sexual ethics).
In 1936, Wilhelm Reich commented that sex education of his time was a work of deception, focusing on biology while concealing excitement-arousal, which is what a pubescent individual is mostly interested in. Reich added that this emphasis obscures what he believed to be a basic psychological principle: that all worries and difficulties originate from unsatisfied sexual impulses. (Die Sexualität im Kulturkampf)
When sex education is contentiously debated, the chief controversial points are whether covering child sexuality is valuable or detrimental; the use of birth control such as condoms and hormonal contraception; and the impact of such use on pregnancy outside marriage, teenage pregnancy, and the transmission of STIs. Increasing support for abstinence-only sex education by conservative groups has been one of the primary causes of this controversy. Countries with conservative attitudes towards sex education (including the UK and the U.S.) have a higher incidence of STIs and teenage pregnancy.
The existence of AIDS has given a new sense of urgency to the topic of sex education. In many African nations, where AIDS is at epidemic levels (see HIV/AIDS in Africa), sex education is seen by most scientists as a vital public health strategy. Some international organizations such as Planned Parenthood consider that broad sex education programs have global benefits, such as controlling the risk of overpopulation and the advancement of women's rights (see also reproductive rights).
According to SIECUS, the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States, 93% of adults they surveyed support sexuality education in high school and 84% support it in junior high school. In fact, 88% of parents of junior high school students and 80% of parents of high school students believe that sex education in school makes it easier for them to talk to their adolescents about sex. Also, 92% of adolescents report that they want both to talk to their parents about sex and to have comprehensive in-school sex education. Furthermore, a "...study, conducted by Mathematica Policy Research Inc. on behalf of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, found that abstinence-only-until-marriage programs are ineffective."
Morality
One approach to sex education is to view it as necessary to reduce risk behaviours such as unprotected sex, and equip individuals to make informed decisions about their personal sexual activity. Ethicist and sexuality columist Jacob Appel, who coined the phrase, "pro-sex if pro-safety," takes this approach one step further, arguing that teen sex should be encouraged to ensure that teens have safe places, both literally and figuratively, to explore their sexuality.
Another viewpoint on sex education, historically inspired by sexologists like Wilhelm Reich and psychologists like Sigmund Freud and James W. Prescott, holds that what is at stake in sex education is control over the body and liberation from social control. Proponents of this view tend to see the political question as whether society or the individual should teach sexual mores. Sexual education may thus be seen as providing individuals with the knowledge necessary to liberate themselves from socially organized sexual oppression and to make up their own minds. In addition, sexual oppression may be viewed as socially harmful.
To another group in the sex education debate, the question is whether the state or the family should teach sexual mores. They believe that sexual mores should be left to the family, and sex-education represents state interference. They claim that some sex education curricula break down pre-existing notions of modesty and encourage acceptance of practices that those advocating this viewpoint deem immoral, such as homosexuality and premarital sex. They cite web sites such as that of the Coalition for Positive Sexuality as examples. Naturally, those that believe that homosexuality and premarital sex are a normal part of the range of human sexuality disagree with them.
Many religions teach that sexual behavior outside of marriage is immoral, so their adherents feel that this morality should be taught as part of sex education. Other religious conservatives believe that sexual knowledge is unavoidable, hence their preference for curricula based on abstinence.
See also
- The ABC of Sex Education for Trainables (film)
- About Your Sexuality
- Adolescent sexuality
- Harmful to Minors, a book by Judith Levine, which deals with sexual morality and sex education in the United States
- Harm reduction
- Our Whole Lives
- Permissive society
- Promiscuity
- Refusal skills
- Section 28 (UK)
- Sex manual
- Sexual morality
- Sexual orientation
- Sexual revolution
- Social conservatism
- The birds and the bees
