Sex Education and our children
Fahmi Ela ।। I went to a Library in Norway in April last year. This was my first library visit in Europe. I found a corner where all the children’s books exist. I went there with interest and found some books about sex education for children.
I was surprised. The contents of the book were what is human body, difference between male and female body, how the body works, what is personal organs and who can touch them, what is sexual intercourse, how a child is born and so on. Literally, I was astonished!
In my childhood, I did not learn anything about sex. Traditionally, children and adolescents in many cultures are not receiving any information on sexual matters, with the discussion of these issues being considered a taboo. I did not know about menstruation before experiencing it myself and the first experience was horrible. Even I knew that if a male kisses a female, she could be pregnant! Yes! I had this concept until I was 16 years old! I got some sex education when I was 21 years old, with help of my friends in the university. That time I felt that my body was totally unknown to me for 21 Years!
This is quite common in my society. How does an adolescent learn about sex in my society? By reading porn books, watching porn movies, discussing with friends and these are socially shameful also. And according to my experience, of course, the first lesson from these sites is not healthy. Because sex education does not mean sexual intercourse only. Rather it means emotional relations and responsibilities, human sexual anatomy, sexual activity, sexual reproduction, age of consent, reproductive health, reproductive rights, safe sex, birth control and sexual abstinence. And obviously you cannot find these contents in porn!
I believe that government should make sex education available for our children For a healthy society.
[This article written by Fahmi Ela was previously published in Norwegian language in a Magazine’s `300 words article’ category in Norway. Feminist Factor publishes this in English.]
