The information being conveyed should rely on the latest scientific knowledge about sexuality and sexual health. Information should not be conveyed based solely on values, moral, or political positions. There is room to discuss these things, but the concrete information about how our bodies work, and the social and psychological aspects of sexuality must be based on scientific research.
The World Health Organization refers to sexuality as an intrinsic part of human experience. Good sex education approaches sexuality in context. It may not “cover everything” but it doesn’t segregate sex and treat it as a completely separate phenomenon from the rest of our experience.
Sex education isn’t just for adolescents or teenagers, we all need sex education throughout our lives. Good sex education takes our age and experience into account. While it is a good idea for an adult interested in exploring fantasy role play to seek out some sex education about it, including “how to dress up like Tarzan” in a class for adolescents doesn’t make a lot of sense. Good sex education starts with the question “who are we trying to educate” and everything follows from there. Read more about talking with your pre-school age child , your school age child , and your teenage child , about sex.
Sexuality is subjective, and good sex education has to not only acknowledge diversity, it actively tries to address it. Good sex education takes into account that we don’t all learn the same way. Good sex education also acknowledges that depending on our culture and religious backgrounds we hold different beliefs about sexuality and gender. It will also affirm that gender identity, sexual identity, and sexual orientation may not meet social norms, and may in fact be fluid and not a single easy to describe experience.
While good sex education will celebrate diversity, it protects individuals’ rights to be free from discrimination by having an anti-racist and anti-discriminatory approach. This does not mean that good sex education forces you to change your fundamental beliefs, but it will require you to think beyond your own beliefs and learn to communicate with others in a respectful way about sexual matters.
Sex education is a lifelong process, and good sex education doesn’t try to push people forward where they aren’t ready to go, or force people to slow down when they’re itching to learn more. Good sex education matches the needs of the person or group that it’s designed for, and it respects where you’re at in terms of using language or disclosing personal information. If you’re feeling like someone is putting you in a box to suit their needs, you’re not getting good sex education.
The best sex education draws from the people it is geared to. It pulls you in and makes you part of the lesson. Good sex education should feel like a group of people working together, not one person preaching a gospel. Also, good sex education won’t make sex so clinical as to be boring. It will acknowledge that sexuality can be joyful and learning about it can be fun.
Even when you are paying for sex education, good sex education will not be tied to selling a particular product. Good sex education puts people first and if it is being supported by commercial interests (whether it’s a huge pharmaceutical company or an independent sex shop) good sex educators will point out any conflict of interest or bias up front. Sex information that is given to get you to buy a book, video, or sex toy is always part sales pitch, and good sex education is transparent about the intentions of the people who provide it.
