In this modern world we are able to get information about everything from the technology, but we’re not getting the right things from the resources, which are surround us. The society is revealing some secrets, which should be hidden. And hiding some important issues which must to be spoken openly. If someone post an inappropriate content about a girl, there are hundreds of people to support that hate speech. But how many of them know about the truth. So think, what should have concealed from this society?
The main reason for this is; the poor knowledge, that we have for the SEX. Being uncomfortable talking about things you aren’t used to hearing is normal especially when it comes to something as awkward as sex. As for overcoming it, first step is to accept the fact that no matter how “weird” sex may sound it’s a normal thing that happens all around and you just have to get use to that. First of all, we must clear what is sex?
Sex is an important part of life and overall well-being. In relationships, orgasms play a significant part in bonding. Physical and emotional benefits like reduced risk of heart disease, improved self-esteem, and more can come from having sex.
Sex is just one way of improving your quality of life. Sex is something that’s difficult to ignore in our lives because it’s everywhere in our culture; it’s reflected in magazine and TV advertising, fashion, music, TV series and movies. You’d think we would all be open, relaxed and comfortable with it, but often the opposite is true.In fact, many people find it extremely difficult to talk about sex; it can be a sensitive and awkward topic that raises feelings of embarrassment, shame or inadequacy.
Given all the negative messages that most of us received about sex when we were young, this shouldn’t be a surprise. Unfortunately, a lack of sex education means most of us don’t even have relatively basic information. In our society sex is just not an acceptable topic for conversation. To be silent about sex keeps us ignorant and it’s vitally important that we talk openly about sex as a society, preferably starting at school level.
This is the main reason that we were not able to speak about sex, we are ashamed to use that word in public, even in front of our family. Children should be made to realize that sex is a natural thing and not something exotic or shameful, not only children parents also want to know about this. That only make the next generation more knowledgeable. But many parents and care providers do not feel comfortable discussing sexuality related issues with children; and they may not have adequate and accurate information on these issues. Schools and Colleges are the best places where sexuality education can be imparted to children and young people. Having it in school curriculum also makes it easy to provide accurate, up-to-date, standard information to children and young people. Trained educators may be better equipped to deal with sensitive issues like sexuality.
Nowadays, with rapid growth of information, sex information is everywhere. Children are curious about sex. Therefore, parents need to instill correct concepts of sex to their children as early as possible before they are misled by indecent magazines and irresponsible media. When children grow up, they need to learn and adapt to the physiological and psychological changes in different stages of development. The learning objectives of sex education vary with the age of children and the environment. They need appropriate and continuous counselling and guidance. Parents are the core people who accompany their children as they grow up, so, parents are also the most appropriate person to give their children sex education. The earlier sex education is given at home, the earlier the children are able to establish correct concepts on sex, and the easier the parents can handle the situation. A lot of people consider mother as the most ideal person to give sex education; but in fact, father’s participation is equally important. A son can learn from his father the suitable role as a man, while a daughter can learn from her father the responsibilities of a man in his family and the society. She will also understand the expectations others have upon a woman. Children will greatly benefit from all these, and when they grow up, they will know how to interact with other people.
Sexuality education takes a positive view of sexual development as a natural part of growing up. In this young people learn about themselves and develop knowledge and skills that will help them to interact in positive, respectful, and supportive ways with others. Through learning about sexuality, students also come to understand about the social and cultural influences that shape the way society views gender and sexuality. This has positive effects, including increasing young people’s knowledge and improving their attitudes related to sexual and reproductive health and behaviors. It does not increase sexual activity, sexual risk-taking behavior in or out at school rather than it will decrease the abuses and the rape cases in the society.
Teach children to establish and accept the role and responsibility of their own gender by acquiring the knowledge of sex. Understanding the differences and similarities between two genders in terms of body and mind will set up a foundation for the future development in their acquaintance with friends and lovers and their interpersonal relationship. Sex education is a kind of holistic education. It teaches an individual about self-acceptance and the attitude and skills of interpersonal relationship. It also helps an individual to cultivate a sense of responsibility towards others as well as oneself.
Sex education is the provision of information about bodily development, sex, sexuality, and relationships, along with skills-building to help young people communicate about and make informed decisions regarding sex and their sexual health. It should occur throughout a student’s grade levels, with information appropriate to students’ development and cultural background. It should include information about puberty and reproduction, abstinence, contraception and condoms, relationships, sexual violence prevention, body image, gender identity and sexual orientation. It should be taught by trained teachers. It should be informed by evidence of what works best to prevent unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, but it should also respect young people’s right to complete and honest information. It should treat sexual development as a normal, natural part of human development. This is teaching about the cognitive, emotional, social, inter-active and physical aspects of sexuality. It does not encourage children and young people to have sex. It lays the foundation for a safe and fulfilling passage to adulthood, e.g. by encouraging understanding of emotions, and feelings, teaching the principles of human re-production, exploring family and interpersonal relationships, learning about safety, and developing confidence and communication skills.
Sex education in Sri Lanka
On 2018 Gunasekara said sex education in Sri Lanka is in crisis, calling the widespread lack of information a ‘sexual emergency’. And in a country with rampant gender-based violence and sexual harassment, not knowing the workings of the body and one’s right to consent renders women and children particularly vulnerable. “Sex education is a subject that must be administered properly to children. It just carried out a Google search and found out that Sri Lanka has been ranked number one using the search term ‘sex’ and this is because sex education is severely lacking in our schools’’
The situation in Sri Lanka should be immediately changed. Despite any international covenant demands it, or any government body says otherwise, CSE is but a drained pipe in most part of the countries. Sexual assault is a growing crisis in all parts of the country. People are being led, particularly influenced by male supremacy, to consider it to be something talked behind closed doors. Sexually assaulting a woman is easily justified through how her body looked, or how she wore clothes at the time she was assaulted. No one speaks of the supreme power a man was given to express his sexual arousal in public just because he sees a woman. A rapist is not born – he is made. There should be an open discussion in Sri Lanka to address the issue, without having so called culture being hindrance to the topic. A good culture never promotes violence, or assault by sexual means. Sri Lanka was conditioned by those who tend to keep a group of people controlled under their power, by political, or socio-economic means so that diversity shall not rise with liberalism that follows. CSE should be a mandatory segment in all educational bodies in Sri Lanka.
The statistics of the National STD/AIDS Control Program in Sri Lanka Show that the cumulative HIV cases of children, reported in the country by end 2016, is 80% of which 60% of children go to school without any issues. The total number infected in Sri Lanka by the end of 2016 is 2,557. It is a pathetic situation that 4-5 new patients are added to the prevailing population living with HIV (PLHIV), per week. The HIV case rate in the country is 1.2 per 100,000 populations, per year. According to Dr. Karawita, the reasons of new infections in the youth are mainly due to unprotected sexual behavior, especially, increasing engagement in male-to-male sex. “This is tightly controlled by society and therefore, it is a hidden behavior, not a talking subject in many print or electronic media. Therefore, the epidemic is hidden and the disease spread underneath. Youth are hardly exposed to any education or edutainment on these subjects through the media,” he said. “The other reason is the lack of education on reproductive health and sexually transmitted infections and their prevention is important. The awareness about the sex education is not enough, just knowing things will not change behavior.’’
Importance of Sex Education in Schools, Students come to know that How to bully, abuse exploitation can negatively influence relationships. Teaching this in schools at the early age to the students gives the knowledge of contraception and this helps to reduce the problem of pregnancies and abortions in teenage. Only 34 % of young people around the world can demonstrate accurate knowledge of HIV prevention and transmission? And that two out of three girls in some countries have no idea of what is happening to them when they begin menstruating? These are some of the reasons why there is an urgent need for quality comprehensive sexuality education.
UNESCO published a fully updated International Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education which advocates for quality CSE to promote health and well-being, respect for human rights and gender equality, and empowers children and young people to lead healthy, safe and productive lives.This estimate that the developing world constitutes 1.8 billion young people between ages 10-24 years. In least developed countries some 60 percent of the population is under 25 years of age. Without access to sexuality education and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, adolescents and youth face daunting reproductive and sexual health problems.
These include:
- Unintended pregnancy
- Unsafe abortion
- Maternal mortality and morbidity
- Violence
- Sexually transmitted diseases including HIV
- Exploitation such as exchanging sex for food and money
- Discrimination on the basis of gender or sexual orientation
Evidence shows that sexuality education programs have positive effects on the initiation of sex, frequency of sex, number of sexual partners, condom use and other sexual behaviors that can prevent negative reproductive and sexual health problems.
Sexuality education provides a framework in which this can happen. This, as a part of health education, is vital for young people’s development, learning, and overall well-being. Learning in this area also contributes to academic success and positive mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health. Learn to love and accept our bodies, our right to avoid or resist unwanted touch and the right to protect ourselves is the key to personal safety. It becomes even more important for children who face additional vulnerabilities such as – being a girl or a transgender child, having disabilities or belonging to a Dalit or backward caste or being from a religious minority family.
Comprehensive sexuality education enables young people to protect their health, well-being and dignity. And because these programs are based on human rights principles, they advance gender equality and the rights and empowerment of young people. So Sex and Sex education is not a concealed issue, it must be known by each and everyone in the world. Let’s think which should be concealed and which must be opened up.
References: –
https://www.dailynews.lk/2018/10/25/features/160747/sex-education-still-taboo
http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2017/03/26/features/age-appropriate-sex-education-must-schools
https://en.unesco.org/news/why-comprehensive-sexuality-education-important
https://www.studenthealth.gov.hk/english/resources/resources_bl/files/lf_se_fse.pdf
The one who is interested in helping people by themselves, who are in need.
[…] about building an emotional connection, which can create anticipation like you felt when you were younger. Many times this alone can reignite a man’s sexual […]