A few years ago, it was 2 o’clock in the night and I got a call from my friend’s little sister. I was shocked for some time that why did she call come in the deep midnight. I picked the call, Ananya started crying & said I have been stuck in big trouble. I need your help.
Ananya: I have stuck in a big serious problem (she whispered while crying)
Me: Why what happened? You just relax first & take a deep breath. Tell me what happened, I am here for you.
Ananya: Do you know xyzzy guy?
Me: Yes, you have told me about him before. He is your boyfriend.
Ananya: Right! ….I am pregnant now because of him & I got to know about my pregnancy after a month now. And now abortion is the only solution. If my parents found about it we are going into deep trouble.
Me: Oh god! You should have been careful dear. Have you told him everything about it?
Ananya: Yes. And he remembered his mistake that he didn’t use a condom that day. And even I didn’t use a female condom.
Me: Your one little mistake of not using a condom can put your life in danger at such young age.
Ananya: (Started crying again). What can I do now? Please help me.
I assured her that I will come back to her with a solution and kept the phone.
Later I talked with a couple of my seniors & we somehow helped her to solve this situation. For a few minutes of pleasure, many of us put our lives into such a big problem.
Just as we use health insurance & term insurance as a safety tool for our future, it is also important to use condoms while getting intimate so that we don’t face any problems in the future. And most important thing is to provide sex education to teenagers to avoid unintended pregnancy & other related problems. Nowadays, many web series & other short films promote sexual activities in youngsters but do not provide proper sex education, which is dangerous for the young generation.
Many people consider that providing sex education to teenagers means teaching the sexual intercourse process and so they avoid talking about such subjects. However, sex education is all about providing education about human sexual anatomy, reproduction & human sexual behavior.
This article describes the complete information about Sex Education for teens
What is Sex Education?
Sex Education is the activity of offering knowledge about sex & sexuality. It helps to gain the information to make healthy decisions about sex & sexuality. It also includes teaching & learning about the new things related to sex. Sex Education also helps to manage our sexual health. Sex education must be given under the guidance of trained educators. And it should cover topics like what, when, how about relationships, sexual identity, body language, decision making, contraceptive methods, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
But still, at this age, the topic is so sensitive. In many conservative communities, the topic is discussed in a hesitant way & one can’t discuss it openly with their parents or educators.
Why the sex education for teens is important?
Because of religious boundaries, many communities can’t give sex ed to teens.
Providing Sex Education to adolescents is as important as teaching the other topic. It helps to navigate the relationship in teenagers. Because of inconsistent laws & policies too many youngsters are not getting precise sex education. However, sex education helps teenagers to know their bodies biologically.
- It helps to increase abstinence until they get older.
Abstinence means not having sex for a long time until the marriage. Sex education motivates teenagers not to have sex at an early age. Early age sex can make many complications.
- It also helps to build their boundaries against sexual activities.
Providing Sex education to teenagers helps to recognize the difference between right or wrong.
- Using condoms & contraception while having sex.
It also includes complete knowledge about the use of contraception while having sex. It promotes which contraception is best to use for teenagers.
- It also keeps youngsters safe from sexual abuse or sexual violence.
Sex Education gives enough knowledge about sexual behavior to keep teens away from sexual abuse or sexual violence.
- It also reduces the number of sexual partners & to understand consent
The education motivates teens to take good & desired decisions about their sexual partners & also helps to understand all about consent.
- Reducing the young age pregnancy rates & transfer of STIs.
Nowadays, the young age pregnancy rates have been increasing. If we impart sex education in teen’s curriculum it will reduce the young age pregnancy rates. Sex ed encourages the use of condoms before having sex that helps to avoid unintended pregnancies & the transfer of STIs.
Why sex ed is not promoted in India?
Everyone deserves quality sex education but only a few teenagers get the same. Because of socio-cultural diversity & other political issues in India, it’s very much difficult to impart sex education in our education system. If someone tries to teach about it, people take it in an undesirable way because of diversities in culture & thoughts. But soon the things will change and there will be some way to teach such things healthily.
However, in Telangana India, the two ladies started SEYA (Sex Education for young adults) which covers the biological aspects of sex and doesn’t cover topics related to sexuality and other social aspects related to sex. The purpose of SEYA is to introduce Sex Ed in young adults. There are many existing methods to introduce sex education in schools but there’s none for young adults. It is also important for young adults to understand the deep knowledge of relationships i.e. to understand consent, to understand gender and sexual identities, and to be aware of sexual abuse.
Things to add in Sex Education
There’s an extensive uncertainty & stigma about sex education. Many people think that schools are providing enough sex education to teens; however, too many teens are not getting any helpful sex education. Awareness of sex ed in teenagers affects physical, mental, social & emotional health. When the right comprehensive sex education is offered then it will improve people’s views & beliefs about sex. When teens get quality sex education from trained educators, then they will be able to manage their sexual health. The comprehensive sex ed covers much wide range of topics such as decision making about relationships, condom usage, gender identity, birth control, & sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Nowadays, California is also mandating comprehensive sex education in the curriculum of the teen’s education. It covers all the sexual health issues. As the Healthy Youth Act is passed by the Legislature in 2015. There is a provision in the law that allows parents to provide their children with quality sex education.
- One thing that should be added to the curriculum is that one should avoid shooting intimate moments in cameras.
- The government also should include gender equality in sex education.
- It must include which contraception is good for teens. Eg: Condom is always good contraception among all other contraception as it doesn’t have any hormonal side effects and is easily available and handy to use.
- One thing also should be added i.e. Masturbation. It is the process of touching himself in the genitals. There are many benefits and side effects of masturbation. But doing it in moderation is ok while doing it excessively is always harmful to the body.
- Masturbation keeps you healthy by relieving you of stress. It helps to sleep better.
- It also has many side effects when done excessively. When done excessively it affects you both physically and mentally.
Ways to give knowledge about sex education to your children
Talking to your school-age children about sex is pretty much uncomfortable. But some things should be discussed openly with them that will helps them to clear their unspoken doubts.
- Start to discuss with your child about everyday activities such as menstruations & pregnancies. Like, if there is a family member who is pregnant tell them how a baby develops inside the woman’s body.
- You can also allow your child to watch a TV show about relationships & love for some time.
- Parents should give their preteens children knowledge about internet safety, sexting & sexual abusing. They should know the consequences of sharing nude photos.
- Teenagers should have enough knowledge about drugs & alcohol’s impact.
