Hello folks! I read an interesting paper on sex education. It is a literature review of effectiveness of sex-ed, gathered by analysing papers over the last 3 decades apart from those on STI, STDs and pregnancies. I already believe that sex-education is important and effective, but I needed some evidence for its outcomes. And this paper served it well. Key outcomes are: • Appreciation of sexual diversity (sexual orientation and gender identity) ◦ Lower homophobia. ◦ Reduced homophobic bullying ◦ Expanded understanding of gender/gender norms. ◦ Recognition of gender equity, rights, and social justice. • Dating and intimate partner violence prevention ◦ Improved knowledge and attitudes about, and reporting of, DV and IPV. ◦ Decreased DV and IPV perpetration and victimisation. ◦ Increased bystander intentions and behaviours. • Healthy Relationships ◦ Increased knowledge, attitudes, and skills. ◦ Improved communication skills and intentions. • Child sex abuse prevention ◦ Improved knowledge, attitudes, skills and social emotional outcomes related to personal safety and touch ◦ Improved disclosure skills and behaviours • Additional outcomes ◦ Social and emotional learning. ◦ Media literacy. Also got to know about National Sex Education Standards and this paper reviewed in correspondence to following topics from the standard: • CHR consent and healthy relationships; • AP anatomy and physiology; • PD puberty and adolescent sexual development; • GI gender identity and expression; • SO sexual orientation and identity; • SH sexual health; • IV interpersonal violence; • YRBS Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance. Last but not the least, this is an important unmet needs of sex-education I read about. I quote

Several areas of focus are notably absent from the evaluation literature. Two topics often excluded from curricula, and therefore not included in outcome evaluations, are pleasure and desire [130,131]; most sex education is focused on sex as a problem behaviour. The literature suggests that there is a need for, but little evidence of, teaching that views teen sex as normative, rather than pathological [132e134]. Furthermore, a few studies have

concluded that it is not sexual behaviour, per se, but the lack of a relationship context when it occurs, that is predictive of poor school outcomes [135,136]. Yet, the focus on sexual behaviour as problematic itself eliminates the opportunity for young people to explore and experience normal, healthy, safe, and pleasurable sexual activity.

So I speculate, sex education around the world is still not open about

pleasure and desire

and considers sex as a behavioural problem. It is not considered fully normative, rather pathological. Not a single paper being reviewed from India. It is still a taboo. Even IITs and IIMs are not open minded to this topic, schools are a pipe dream. I studied at a co-ed convent school. Girls were seated in a separate row, and girls and boys were not allowed to interact much. Not even had lunch together, or played sports together. Haven't taught even the biology of sexual reproduction system in detail. I always wonder what are we really afraid of? Are we afraid that students may indulge in sexual activity if they are taught sex education, or its because of religious and cultural beliefs?

Thanks for sharing these. Very insightful.

Thanks for the appreciation. I also got to know that, the sex education really make adolescents exercise abstinence of sexual activity along all its other benefits. If abstinence is what the government really wants, then too comprehensive sex education is the way to go. It is the immediate need of the hour.