What is CSE?
In the past sex education focused on puberty and reproduction. Today it is generally referred to as “sexuality education”. ‘Sexuality’ education focuses on sexual attitudes, activities/practices, orientations, and the capacity for sexual feelings – not on physiology or anatomy. [1]
There are many different descriptions offered for CSE. The following definition is the clearest that I have found.[2][3] (please note the highlighted words that are defined below):
Highlighted words defined:
Sexuality: understanding of sexual orientations, sexual activities, and capacity for sexual feelings[4]
Rights-Based: World Health Organization International Standards for Human Sexuality state that students need to be informed of their sexual rights as determined by Planned Parenthood International.
Skills – investigating sexual preferences through self-investigation (masturbation), use of consent – discussion of sexual preferences with someone who is more than just a friend, use of contraceptives, etc
Values – acceptance of all consensual sexual choices and activities, engaged in respectfully and mutually satisfying.
Determine their sexuality – encourage and support children and youth to determine their gender and sexual orientation, sexual activity preferences, and their capacity for sexual feelings
Relationship – not limited to heterosexual or one partner as this would be discriminatory.
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Goal of CSE/SRR
The overall goal of CSE is to change the gender and sexual norms of society and to establish rights for children as sexually autonomous beings. This 2 minute video at the following link demonstrates what this change will look like in our youth.
https://www.facebook.com/358501781004633/videos/367922277443204/
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Rationale – The rationale for CSE can be organized into 3 categories.
Practical Medical Rationale | Social Values Rationale | Satisfying Sexual Relationships |
CSE advocates rationalize that some children/youth will be sexually engaged. Because sexual activity can result in pregnancy and/or sexually transmitted infections, all children should be provided with information on ways to reduce the risks including:
· be instructed in the use of condoms and other contraceptives · non-reproductive methods of sexual expression (anal, oral, self and mutual masturbation, etc.) · seeking testing and medication to monitor their sexual health and control symptoms
Public Health Prevention Model: CSE is consistent with the Secondary and Tertiary levels of Public Health model. |
Be Inclusive and reduce discrimination by · accepting and affirming all methods of sexual expression and sexual orientations that are entered into consensually · affirming and instructing on sexual orientations & gender identity so that children and youth may consider how this applies to them · present sexuality positively, emphasizing values such as respect, inclusion, non-discrimination, equality, empathy, responsibility and reciprocity.[5]
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Youth surveys indicate some youth want to know about relational and emotional aspects of sexuality
· healthy sexual relationships & orientations; · communication and negotiation regarding sexual activity, · sexual pleasure, · how to end a relationship[6]
Hence content on pleasure, sexual activity, communicating consent, etc., is included. [7]
Consent for sexual activity is seen as a primary strategy toward healthy sexual relationships and the concept of communicating consent begins to be taught in primary grades. |
Next we will look at the concerns with Comprehensive Sex Education.
[1] https://courses.lumenlearning.com/sociology/chapter/sex-and-sexuality/
[2] http://www.ippf.org/resource/ippf-framework-comprehensive-sexuality-education/
[3] https://www.guttmacher.org/sites/default/files/report_downloads/demystifying-data-handouts_0. (Planned Parenthood, World Health Organization, United Nations)
[4] https://www.yourdictionary.com/sexuality
[5] https://en.unesco.org/news/why-comprehensive-sexuality-education-important
[6] 2017, The Ontario Sexual Health Education Update: Perspectives from the Toronto Teen Survey (TTS) Youth
[7] Larkin, Flicker; The Ontario Sexual Health Education Update: Perspectives from the Toronto Teen Survey (TTS) Youth); P. 10; ©2017 Canadian Society for the Study of Education/