Sex education is the need of the hour, not only for children and youth, but also for adults.
Sex education is not just about teaching young people how to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), but also about helping them develop healthy relationships, respect diversity, and protect themselves from abuse and violence.
Sex education can also benefit adults by improving their sexual health, well-being, and satisfaction.
Sex education is important for children and youth because they have a right to accurate and comprehensive information about their sexuality and sexual health.
Research has shown that sex education can help young people delay the initiation of sexual activity, increase the use of contraception and condoms, reduce the rates of unplanned pregnancy, STIs, and HIV, and enhance their self-esteem and communication skills.
Sex education can also help prevent child sexual abuse, create safer school spaces for LGBTQ young people, and reduce relationship violence. Sex education is also important for adults because they face many challenges and changes in their sexual lives.
Adults may experience changes in their sexual function, desire, or orientation due to aging, illness, medication, or life events.
They may also need to cope with issues such as infertility, menopause, divorce, remarriage, or widowhood. Sex education can help adults understand these changes and seek appropriate care and support.
Sex education can also help adults maintain or improve their sexual satisfaction, intimacy, and pleasure by providing them with skills and strategies to communicate their needs and preferences, explore their fantasies, and overcome barriers to sexual expression.
Sex education is a lifelong process that should start early and continue throughout one’s life. It should be provided by trained educators in a variety of settings, such as schools, health care facilities, community
organizations, or online platforms.
It should be evidence-based, inclusive of LGBTQ people, explicitly anti-racist, learner-centered, and community-specific.
It should cover a range of topics that are relevant to different age groups and stages of development, such as anatomy and physiology, adolescent sexual development, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation and identity, consent, healthy relationships, the full range of birth control methods and pregnancy options.
Sex education is not only a need but a right for everyone.
It can empower people to make informed decisions about their sexuality and sexual health, respect themselves and others, and enjoy their sexuality throughout their lives.
Sex education can also contribute to social justice by challenging stigma, discrimination, and violence based on gender and sexuality.
Sex education is a vital component of human development that should be accessible to all.
For consultation please visit: https://taponn.me/Jaitrali
Links:
https://powertodecide.org/news/why-sex-education-matters
Jaitrali Jhanjharya
( India )