Sex Education and the Impediments to its Implementation

Kama sutra, or the ancient Indian writings, and the presence of Kama (sex) as a part of one of the life goals as key concepts in Hinduism among Dharma (religion) and Artha (money) are a testament to the prevalence of sex education since ancient times. The reason for the stigmatization of sex education is a lesser-known fact when it is actually mentioned in the Hindu scripture, the Gita. Lord Krishna identifies himself as the sexual desire in the human body. 

Talking about one’s sexuality is still taboo in many remote areas of the world. Schools skip the task of creating awareness about sex because of a lack of understanding of the theme. Parents often assume the role of just a provider and mentor, barring the children from sharing their issues and experiences. 

Young and inquisitive children are then forced to take refuge with their peers and, nowadays, the internet to realize their curiosity.

Consequences

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repercussions of depriving young pupil of appropriate sex education are unparalleled. Kids aged 13 are looking for answers on the internet and are often misguided. Unwanted pregnancies, unprotected sex, especially oral sex and a rise in sexually transmitted diseases are all fallouts of this negligence. Adolescents are unaware of the changes that happen in their bodies and, more often than not, have set perceptions about themselves and others. 

For instance, teenagers have body image issues concerning their weight, height, and shape, which reflect in their sexual health and behaviors. Taboo around the word “sex” bans people from using safe contraceptives openly, which are meant to protect them.

Another issue is the reiteration of taboos and norms like patriarchy, misogyny, homophobia, etc that stigmatize this concept and avert societal progress. Perpetuation of these taboos deprives people of knowledge about their bodies and their functioning. 

A way out 

The society is set in it’s ways. We can only try to tweak our way into the practice of unraveling truths about sex education in some ways: 

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1. Inclusion of sexual knowledge in the curriculum, which can be based on age. Teaching about god and bad touch, about one’s body parts and their functions. 

2. Open conversations about menstruation and developments that happen in the age of adolescence. Educating every teenager, irrespective of gender, helps to do away with patriarchy. 

3. Communicating your desires and preferences to your partner for which there is a need to explore and learn about your body. Studying anatomy should not only be restricted to biology students. 

4. Parents should have a practice of talking to their children.  They must use age-appropriate language and terms to educate the kids from their early years. The kids must seek guidance from home first and later move on to seek professional help if needed. 

5. Regulation of an individual’s health by themself or by a guardian to keep in check sexual variations.

 These are some small pivots that can be made in the existing scenario where choosing one’s desired partner is also seen as deviant behavior. Sex education is not new to any society; we just need to expand our horizons and visions to incorporate the progressive development of individuals. This concept is not aimed at instructing ways to do things but rather at providing healthy ways to prevent mishaps.