If it is of matter, it is your cue to learn
In the 21st century, generation Z is proceeding into the future but in most of the countries sexual and reproductive health education is still a sensitive and a heavily disputed issue. But we have been unable to understand the importance and the nature of sexual education. That being the comprehensive nature of society as well as the fact, it being inappropriate on par with age according to society is also crucial in this regard. It is for the well-being of children, youth and adults that we need sexual education, so that their overall development is supported. Lack of effective curricular and learning/teaching materials on sexual and reproductive health education has been identified as one of the primary challenges when it comes to youth and education on sexual and reproductive health based on preliminary results of the United Nations’ survey on the development of System-wide Action Plan on Youth.
Repudiate the urge for Repudiation
Substantial evidence is brought out pointing to the alignment of reservations, panic and anxieties of people about the sexual behavior of individuals with deep religious and cultural predispositions. The aspects of moral panic come into play with the process of analyzing reservations about Comprehensive Sexual Education (CSE). There is exaggerated discussion about the potential content and consequences of CSE which is also constituted as a part of moral hegemony.
The UNESCO review published in 2018 found out that while the evidence base for CSE has expanded since 2008, the original International Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education [ITGSE] still maintains much of its validity and applicability. The evidence emphasizes that sexual education in or out of schools does not increase sexual activities and sexual risk-taking behaviours. There are still relatively few high quality trials of school based CSE that measure the biological outcomes, but there continues to be good evidence on the positive effects of CSE on increasing young people’s knowledge and improving attitudes related to sexual and reproductive health education. Cultural Inhibition: surrounding culture which shapes the actions of individuals, affects the sexual and reproductive health education. Significantly, cultural resistances affect the nature and content of sexual education as well. These formidable cultural barriers have been successful in shifting the familiar norm of silence upon hearing about sexual and reproductive health education into a tradition.
Do not hide it; Divulge it.
Sexual and reproductive health education controversies have torn communities apart. The mentalities and perspectives of people have had a bigger hand in that scenario due to which the subject matter has drifted away. Be it liberal cultures or restricted cultures, discussing sexual and reproductive health education has not been without challenges. The most frequently brought out opposition by policy makers, parents and teachers is that making children and the youth aware about sexual and reproductive health education is a premature exposure to the world of adults which is a way of corrupting innocent minds, ushering young people into teenage pregnancies, abortion, Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and mental and emotional problems. In layman’s terms, the social stigma is that sexual and reproductive health education spoils the morality of children and youth. A 1993 World Health Organization survey has not revealed any evidence that sexual education in schools lead to earlier or increased sexual activity in young people, annulling the opposition of the adults, but rather sexual and reproductive health education delays the onset of inappropriate sexual activity.
So how about an acknowledgement?