SEX EDUCATION - A MYTH

 Isn't it ironic ? the same janta that shimmies to the tunes of sheela ki jawani, rolls their eyes when asked about one of the biggest fruits of said jawani, sexuality?

Indians, sometimes even the well read urban kind , often tend to attach a whole lot of sensitivity to the topic of sex, regarding it with the most vicious taboo. It is thus a natural consequence that education that teaches their children about sexual well-being is met with the highest resistance possible – from parents, teachers, lawmakers and nosy neighbours, especially nosy neighbours.

Let’s talk about sex? No thanks. Not until a magical switch is flipped on the day you say I do.

But jokes apart, this is serious business. India needs a comprehensive sex education plan, and it needs to move beyond the birds and the bees .That sex is a taboo topic in India is no breaking news. It is evident by how we handle the subject from a young age or the time we first find out about it. But in the day and age of the Internet, social media, and unlimited access to information, how do we know for sure that children are getting the right information about everything, including sex and sexuality? Especially , in the absence of a detailed, comprehensive conversation at home and at school?

 

What exactly is Sex Education !!!

“Sex education is a broad term used to describe education about human sexual anatomy, sexual reproduction, sexual intercourse, and other aspects of human sexual behaviour.”

Does sex education encourage sex?

Sex-education and reproductive health programmes for young adults often face opposition but research has shown that these programmes do not lead to early sex or promiscuity. There is a constant debate going on amongst parents, policy makers and educators on whether or not one should teach young people about sex and reproduction in schools. On the contrary, it encourages individuals to respect the integrity of their own body and life and to have a better understanding of their responsibilities towards other people.

Why is Sex Education, for adolescents, essential in India?

Adolescence is a period of life typically characterised by relatively good health in which vulnerability to infectious childhood diseases is greatly reduced and the illnesses of adulthood and old age are still further off. However, it is during adolescence that patterns of behaviour are formed , which largely determines a person’s adult health and longevity. As young people enter puberty, new health concerns arises which are related to their sexual and reproductive maturation, and the behaviours that follow. They come really having a lot more physical experience than knowledge or understanding” about sex and sexuality.

 

EMERGING TRENDS

·        Increase in Sexually Transmitted Disease prevalence among young people

·        Rapid increase in HIV infections among 15-24 years

·        Inadequate knowledge about reproductive health and needs

·        Early marriage and early pregnancy

·        High fertility rates among adolescents

·        Huge proportion of unwanted teenage pregnancy

NEED FOR SEX EDUCATION

. Whatever knowledge they have is incomplete and confused. Low rate of educational attainments, limited sex education activities, and inhibited attitudes towards sex , attenuate this ignorance leading to unwanted pregnancy, illegal abortion, mortality and morbidity among young girls. Most of the people aren’t aware about ‘MARITAL RAPE’. According to many people there’s no such thing as ‘marital rape’ everything is alright after marriage…this is what mostly everyone believes in. Even when there is a law regarding MARITAL RAPE in India.

Knowledge differs based on gender, education, and place of residence with uneducated rural girls having the least information. Interviews with boys and girls reveal an inherent gender bias in relations, and a double standard favouring boys prevails.  In our societies, ‘good’ girls are not supposed to know about sex, thus forbidding girls from seeking information.

How young is too young?

There is a case for starting sex education at a young age, as young as even kindergarten. The conversation need be just about the body parts, good touch and bad touch, it can actually be the perfect opportunity to normalise conversations around sex and help build a healthy attitude towards it. When children and young adults view sex and sexuality as a normal, human process, they are less likely to fall victim to false information and studies show that starting conversations from a young age can also help decrease cases of sexual abuse.