16 year-old Sanjana Senthil explores the problems with sex education programs in the US
When the words ‘sex education’ appear in any context, there is often a sort of discomfort that lingers behind the text or within the reader.
Or it reminds them of a certain hit Netflix show starring Asa Butterfield, Gillian Anderson and other familiar faces. Sex Education, created by Laurie Nunn, is a teen comedy drama centred around its title and sets a fantastic example of how modern media can do more for young people than simply entertain.
For instance, it demonstrates that sex education is crucial and should not be restricted and shameful—something that schools and institutions in the United States could certainly learn.
In her research paper on this very topic, Louisa Allen mentions how “Sex Education offers information about sex and sexuality in ways that attend to many of the criticisms young people make of school-based programmes”.
The main plotlines, while focused on sex education (and the importance of it), also feature strong, complex characters and work to show young people the topic in an “inclusive and diverse” environment, as described by student activist Cecilia Vorfeld from Johns Hopkins University, Maryland.
She goes on to detail how the show builds multicultural, LGBTQ+ characters who do more than simply fit stereotypes.
That cast of characters, along with Emmy-winning writing, have resonated with a wide audience. The latest season (2023) had 97.6mn hours viewed within the first week of its release.
This staggering statistic should serve to prove that the drama/comedy has successfully synthesised both educational and entertainment values.
Problems with sex education in the US
The show’s success and relevance is not just due to its own quality, it’s also because American sex education is not as effective as it should be. Both students and teachers are socially conditioned into thinking that sex education is taboo or even something to be laughed at. Depending on the region of the US this idea can stem from religion, public policy, or conservative-thinking in the community.
The American Academy of Pediatrics says that comprehensive sex education is a ‘critical component’ of a young person’s education. But, according to Planned Parenthood, the leading US organisation advocating for sex education and sexual/reproductive healthcare, ‘fewer than half of high schools and less than a fifth of middle schools teach all 20 topics recommended by the CDC [the US national public health agency] as essential components of sex education’.
It is teenage girls who will be affected the most by abortion bans in the US
This means that the majority of American students are not receiving adequate sex education that would help them develop healthy relationships, get to know their own bodies, and reduce teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
There is no nationwide sex education program. Only 39 out of 51 states mandate some guidance around sex education. Planned Parenthoodremarks on this topic that ‘there’s no guarantee that the sex education students get is high quality or covers the topics young people need to learn about to stay healthy.’ Certain US states even prohibitsex education to include topics such as contraception and sexual orientation.
It’s important to recognize that faults in US sex education are not just because of regional interests or strong conservative groups. In something of a trickle-down inadequacy, this subpar education is allowed by federal policies and laws. Most famously, the Supreme Court’s overturning of the landmark decision in Roe v. Wadeended the constitutional right to abortion. This decision was a major win for conservatives nationwide.
What needs to change
The interesting thing about most issues in American politics, especially concerning education, is that they all tend to have the same solution: remove outside opinion, or more specifically, separate the church and state.
Education is a critical part of a country’s political complex in that it is the place where young people learn how to be adults. When that place is moulded to fit a certain agenda, young people are unaware of what they are not learning because they aren’t learning it.
A lack of comprehensive sex education doesn’t mean a more or less conservative new generation — it means a less educated one. By creating a national sex education curriculum that follows internationally accepted standards and ethics, it can be ensured that everyone is made aware of the same health problems, risks and safety precautions.
This curriculum should at the very least mandate the following information from some of Planned Parenthood’s recommendations:
- Contraception: usage, source, risks and necessity
- Prevention of unintended pregnancy
- Prevention of dating violence, sexual abuse and rape
- Trusted sources of information about sexual health
There is already so much to be unsure about as a young person in the United States: where to apply to college, what to do in the future, what makes money, what political opinions you hold—and that’s just the beginning. The beauty of these problems is that the purpose of life is to find the answers on your own.
However, other problems arise with increasing political polarisation: where to get information from, who to trust and, pertinently, how to make smart sexual health choices. But you should not be discovering these things on your own. The education system and knowledge from previous generations should be taught to young people in order to make sure no one is left to find out the hard way.
Science is not political. And neither is education. To limit sex education is to withhold information from young people for no good reason. Sex education classes must be standardised, and they must include all of the possibilities, all of the problems, and all of the preventative measures.
Edited by:
