SExuality Education
What is Sexuality Education?
Sex education is the teaching of issues relating to human sexuality and behavior, including anatomy, reproduction, health, relationships, responsibilities, abstinence, and birth control. This information can be taught by parents or guardians, provided by school programs or public health organizations and campaigns. "Kearney (2008) also defined sex education as “involving a comprehensive course of action by the school, calculated to bring about the socially desirable attitudes, practices and personal conduct on the part of children and adults, that will best protect the individual as a human and the family as a social institution. Thus, 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, 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 (Da La Mare, 7)." What is the History of Sexuality Education? "Sylvester Graham (who used wheat flour to create the cracker that now bears his name) traveled the East Coast in the 1830s warning audiences that "self pollution" (masturbation) was responsible for everything from warts and constipation to insanity and death! (CornBlatt)." Health reformers in 1800s used sex ed manuals to conduct the notion that ideal manhood is tied to self control (no masturbation). "The Reverend John Todd's highly popular 1835 Student's Manual encouraged young men to overcome the "secret vice" of masturbation because ejaculation decreased energy and productivity (CornBlatt)." The urbanization of the late 1800s brought about an increased interest in organized sex ed. There was a greater need for public instruction about the facts of life and sexual behavior. In 1892, The National Education Association passed a resolution that called for "moral education in the schools (CornBlatt)." In 1913, Chicago became the first major city to incorporate sex ed in public schools. and from there the rest is herstory... |
Who benefits from Sexuality Education?
Sexuality Education benefits all human beings. It can provide information about the human body (from male and female to intersexed). It provides a holistic approach to staying sexually healthy and avoiding major diseases and infections. It establishes confidence with family structures, relationships and overall self-esteem issues. These important parts of life benefit not just women, but men, transgender, bisexuals, and intersexed individuals. Sexuality Education Around the World: In Uganda, Sexuality Education focuses mainly on the overwhelming and steadily growing AIDS epidemic. Their government has established AIDS workshops and educational classes to prevent future outbreaks and help individuals with AIDS to take care of their bodies (Uganda). In Thailand and other Asian countries, sexuality education was not taught in schools until 1978. "It was called “Life and Family Studies,” and the information consisted of issues related to the reproductive system and personal hygiene (Wikipedia)." The curriculum has been revised several times, and it has been accepted as a problem solving tool for adolescent sexual issues. In India, there are many programs promoting sex education including information on AIDS and public education. AIDS clinics provide information and assistance from large cities to small villages. India has a strong prevention program, which has helped the infection and AIDS rate to decline by over 50% (India's Presence..., 5). In England, sexuality education is often not taken seriously because parents can refuse to let their children to take part in such lessons. Information about contraception and sex is limited and relationship discussions are neglected or rare (Wikipedia). The Types of Sexuality Education Include: As Stated by the Advocates for Youth Website: "Abstinence-Only which "teaches abstinence as the only morally correct option of sexual expression for teenagers." Abstinence Only Until marriage which "teaches abstinence as the only morally correct option of sexual expression for unmarried young people." Abstinence Plus Programs which teach "information about contraception and condoms in the context of strong abstinence messages." Comprehensive sexuality education "teaches about abstinence as the best method for avoiding STDs and unintended pregnancy, but also teaches about condoms and contraception to reduce the risk of unintended pregnancy and of infection with STDs, including HIV (Advocates for Youth)." |
References:
Alford, Sue. "Sex Education Programs: Definitions & Point-by-Point Comparison ."
Advocates for Youth. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr 2013.
<http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/publications/655?task=view>.
CornBlatt, Johannah. "The Sin of Yielding to Impure Desire." The Daily Beast. Daily Beast
Company LLC, 27 Oct 2009. Web. 15 Apr 2013.
<http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2009/10/27/the-sin-of-yielding-to-impure-desire.html>.
Da La Mare, Jeanette. "Miramar South School ." (2011): 1-19. Web. 15 Apr. 2013.
<http://www.educationalleaders.govt.nz/Leadership-development/Professional-information/Principals-sabbatical-reports/Report-archives-for-2007-2011/Primary-award-recipients-2011/De-La-Mare-Jeanette>.
"India's Presence at the 65th Annual UN General Assembly High Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS." 7.1 (2011):
1-35. Web. 15 Apr. 2013. <http://www.nacoonline.org/upload/naco
newsletters/NACO Jan-June11.pdf>.
"Sex Education ." Wikipedia. N.p., 09 Apr 2013. Web. 15 Apr 2013.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_education>.
"Uganda Reverses the Tide of HIV/AIDS." Who. N.p.. Web. 15 Apr 2013.
<http://www.who.int/inf-new/aids2.htm>.