Sex Education and Society

Sex education is educating about reproductive system, sexual interaction and other aspects of human sexual behavior. It is the method of teaching essential knowledge about sex, sexual identity, human relations, gender roles, contraception methods and prevention of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs). Sexuality education is not an optional topic. Actually young people deserve information about their own bodies and know that the changes that occur physiologically and psychologically are normal.

   

Sex education has not been a very welcomed issue in the Indian society. The so-called moral police argue that introducing these topics into formal education will corrupt the culture of India. But ignoring the influences that media and internet has on them and leave them to sort all the incomplete and inappropriate information they get from various sources will be more dangerous.

    

The primary goal of sex education in the schools should be to help young people to build a foundation as they mature into sexually healthy adults. While children reach teenage level, lack of sex education may lead the way to their unusual behavior. Following are some of the reasons for which sex education should be included in the school curriculum:

• to reduce cases of teenage pregnancy

• to make students aware of Sexually Transmitted Diseases and prevent them from occurring

• to make them conscious of crimes such as sexual abuse and rape

• to tell them essential facts about their own bodies and sexual orientation

Child marriages and teenage pregnancies are very much prevalent in India. Child marriage means the adolescents are socially being permitted to have sex. If these teenagers are educated about the appropriate age to have sex, the precautions to be taken and also the dangers of unprotected sex, they will be better prepared to deal with the choices that they make. This is particularly important for girls because the maternal mortality rate is high as a result of their unprepared and poorly nourished body for conceiving.

  

Sex education is also an effective way to bring down the incidences of AIDS. In India 15 percent of the HIV patients are children below the age of 15 years. Teens should be made aware of the different ways through which the STDs are transmitted and how to prevent them.  The stigma surrounding AIDS can also lead to unjust treatment of the HIV positive person by society and sex education should address this with sensitivity and emphasize on normal and fair behavior with HIV positive patients.

   

With the increasing number of people with homosexual orientation, it is inevitable to let children know that even if the male-female relationship is considered to be normal in society, they should not disregard the fact that there are people who may have attraction towards people of same gender. They should behave with them normally and never look down on them or treat them with hatred. Teachers should not place their own views about it which may influence and affect the children’s opinions in a negative way as well.  

  

There has been a rise in incidents of physical abuse to children. The terrible truth is that most of the abusers are familiar to the child. The children need to be taught the difference between affectionate touch and abusive touch. Children especially girls are most vulnerable to such heinous acts as mostly they cannot oppose and complain against it. In most of the recent rape cases including the Delhi gang rape incidence, the accused are mostly juveniles. This brings to our notice the dangerous mentality of teenage boys about girls as sexual objects. Thus it is very much the need of the hour to teach the youth about equality of both the genders, to control their sexual desires and channelize their energy in constructive things.

Sex education at home and school

Parents and guardians should take up the responsibility of educating their children about sex from an early age. However, most of the parents and guardians are very uncomfortable to talk about or provide information about sex. Parents should talk with their children frankly about issues related to sexuality so that the child feels comfortable in discussing not only his feelings but even the problems he may face. This will help the child to grow as a matured adult in all aspects of life with proper guidance of parents.

   

School life remains an integral part of every child's development. Teaching children about sex in classroom would encourage them to view it as a natural, normal and healthy part of life. If children and youngsters learn about sex in scientific and objective way, they would be more careful before indulging in sex. Teachers should be trained in this regard, doctors and psychologists should be consulted about the proper age and the content appropriate to be taught at that age. Schools and colleges can work in collaboration with NGOs which create public awareness programs and materials for HIV prevention and treatment.

The curriculum

Sex education comprises of physiological, psychological and social issues, and all of these need consideration especially when including it as a part of academic syllabus. The content of the subject should be decided by specialized doctors and psychologists of the respective field. Discussions on important topics such as puberty, sexual health and hygiene, reproductive systems, pregnancy and contraception will not only make them aware of the myths and facts about such things but also make them realize that these processes are normal. Abstinence, use of condoms, contraceptive methods, pregnancy related issues, safer sex and sexual behavior need to be talked about freely so that they do not keep any misconceptions and later commit mistake that may harm them. Recommendations of the

  

National Curriculum Framework 2005 emphasizes provision of knowledge to children so that they have a proper perspective of sexuality and the matters like sexuality, gender, sexual orientation, etc which are important in the process of growing up.

Conclusion

     Thus imparting appropriate information regarding sex to children at an appropriate age right from elementary level to the high school level is very important. Society needs to understand that keeping the children away from the inevitable truth that sex is a normal part of life will only make them ignorant and they will be more vulnerable to the risks that we have discussed above. It can be kept as an optional subject if not compulsory so that parents who want their children to get sex education may choose it and eventually other children will also get knowledge about it from those who are studying it. Dramas based on the dangers of being ignorant about sex can be done in school as a part of some events where parents are also present so that they become aware of its importance. Real-life cases of teenage pregnancy,HIV positive patients,rape survivors can be included in the curriculum in a subtle way so that children get alert and aware instead of becoming afraid. Government along with the educationalists should take effective measures for implementing the inclusion of sex education in school curriculum and not let the orthodox and hypocrite sections of the society take away the children’s right to know such an essential part of their lives.