“Why don't you just start a labor room in school?” “I wish I could attend the practical class rather than theory class” “will female teachers take the class, then I want detailed classes”
These were the very recent social media viral comments on an official statement suggesting the addition of sex education in the school syllabus. In Kerala, there was a very recent hurricane on social media platforms. There were debates, bashes for 48 hours straight, and then another story stole the limelight as usual. But this single statement could divide all Kerala into three;
The first group was some people who really stood against and who made their keyboards to weapons, mostly who were highly concerned about Kerala's rich cultural values, you know...The warriors of Samskaram!
The second was the people who thought it was a really necessary and progressive movement, they were the “Naadinte vilayariyaatha parishkaarikal” in the warrior's opinion!
And the third, the majority who just ignored this as a usual unnecessary bash “ithonnum nammale bhadhikkilla chetttaaa”, it's never their business unless the smoke arises from their kitchen.
Before getting to know these three groups first, let's discuss what Sex-ED means;
Sex education, also known as #sexualeducation, sexuality education or sex ed, is the instruction of issues relating to human sexuality, including emotional relations and responsibilities, human sexual anatomy, sexual activity, sexual reproduction, age of consent, reproductive health, reproductive rights, sexual health, safe sex, and birth control. Sex education which includes all of these issues is known as comprehensive sex education. I know most of these terms are unfamiliar to you, that is why the second group supported sex education!
Sex education may be provided by parents or caregivers, or as part of school programs and public health campaigns. You previously googled the terms and it is evident that most of us didn't get this at any stage of our education.
'The warriors of Samskaram' literally hate this movement due to several reasons,
One of the main reasons is that it will bring the early sexual activity behavior like the western culture. But as we can see, any aspect of the definition does not promote early sexual activities if that's what our #samskaram is so afraid of. Also, it will make the adolescent who might have high curiosity over sexual behavior aware about how it works, it helps to have a clear picture rather than digging the hole. Even though sex education has a proper syllabus and it is not just about sexual activities, there is a fact that it teaches you the proper ways and the right ways of sex also! Isn't it a red flag now? One progressive warrior asked, so let's go through the concerns of the warriors…
It's too early to know about Sssssssssex?
Many people think children shouldn't know about sex, that's why 'God put it to mom’s belly' or 'We bought it from the hospital' stories are still inheriting to generation after generation, still the whispering word is in every corner. But in India, rape doesn't only happen to adults. One in fourth of the rape cases is against minors in India according to NCRB 2020 data where most of the cases go unreported. But the brutality is that a majority of kids feel the guilt of something bad happening or they did something wrong rather than understanding what actually happened. "Our children have the right to know where He or She shouldn't be touched or what actually is a bad touch and when it can be a good touch"
It shouldn't be taught, they will understand by the time? As in this 21st century, we can't rely on the supernatural powers to let somebody gain some knowledge in an instant when their body just hit puberty, booom, now you know everything about sex, Like seriously!! isn't too rubbish when our scientists so well studied spaceships crash in seconds, you really think a kid understands reproduction without any sort of external education!
So it isn't something which they magically get to know. But they get curious and they try to understand it by their own medium, usually ending up in erotic pornography which leads to rape behaviors as the increase in numbers of adolescent rapists clearly shows, they only know violent pleasure. If sex education has done properly, we will be able to reduce the rape culture and then be proud of our culture, So what are we waiting for, till our mother or sisters get raped or your son you becoming a rapist?
“They will eventually get to know after marriage, no need to teach”
One of the major complaints a family therapist gets to hear is sexual problems. How can we imagine having a healthy sexual relationship after getting married when the individual has zero knowledge about their own body parts. Also, we cannot avoid the increasing cases of marital rape. Clearly, the scenario does not help to maintain healthy marital relationships or marriage is not that magic course to know about all of these.
Let's list out why the Sex-ED is important and why we should support it;
Primarily sex ed means to teach about the intimate reproductive parts and about their sexual behaviors, let the people know how menstruation occurs, and where is their vagina, and why they feel attracted to the opposite sex or same-sex.
Since we believe that it will lessen the chance of sexual abuse since the individual can clearly distinguish the pleasure and abuse.
Because we hope that it will help the chance of having a healthy picture of sexual activities and about pleasure.
Because we are afraid of the shame of discussing the hygienic measure for the private parts
We don't want any violent porn movie to teach us about sex, also don't want to be a toy to anyone who doesn't know what “healthy sex” means
Because We are tired of saying “NO means NO”, it has to be loud and clear to everyone even before our t-shirt slogan says so
Because we don't want to question ourselves when a friend hugs and a Pervert “accidentally'' keeps on groping in a public place. Gotta know good touch and bad touch, it's already running a century late.
Most importantly we don't want to tell our kids that they will learn it eventually, we want to educate them rather than leaving them to divine magical knowledge of nature only attainable after hitting puberty.
It's amazing to have the privilege to know than being in the shadows, it's not something to abolish our deep-rooted cultural values, it is to abolish the problems. Sex education is highly important to build a strong today, better tomorrow.
Addressing sensitive topics like sex education can bring up many questions and emotions. If you or someone you know is struggling with these feelings, don’t hesitate to seek support. At Koott, our Malayali psychologists offer online counseling to help you navigate any concerns or difficulties. You deserve a safe space to talk—reach out today for the guidance you need.
Well said
Just wow...almost said whole thing..🙌
An informative read for our society, presented in a brief and simple manner. Nicely done.