The MsUnderstood Programme aims to improve local and national responses to young people’s experiences of gender inequality. Check out our website.
The MsUnderstood Programme aims to improve local and national responses to young people’s experiences of gender inequality. Check out our website.
“Are you all comfortable when I say the words oral sex?” Drawing the words out with an almost sadistic smile on his face, this was how a former teacher of mine once addressed our year 9 class. His question was followed by nervous giggles and embarrassed coughing and left us squirming in our seats as we tried to look anywhere but at his incredibly tight trousers. Needless to say, we were not exactly thrilled by the idea of discussing the topic with our RE teacher. This, and a cartoon video of a sperm meeting an egg, was the extent of my sex and relationships education at school. A handful of other classes were at least treated to a condom demonstration, but sexual consent, pornography, LGBTQ relationships, violence against women and girls, what constitutes a healthy relationship and online safety? Not a mention. Sadly this is not unusual, as the government deem only some aspects of Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) important enough to be compulsory in comprehensive schools; namely those that are part of the national curriculum for science and therefore do not explore healthy relationships or issues related to gender inequality. And in private schools and academies SRE can be missed out altogether.
So why is it so important that schools, in partnership with experts in the field, provide comprehensive and appropriate SRE for all their pupils?
For many years, abstinence has been traditionally taught to young girls as a method of protection and self-discipline. However, some say that this method is worn out and unpractical in this day and age. As teenagers’ hormones increase and puberty kicks in, the average age that girls are beginning to have sex is decreasing. In 2012, a total of 5,131 girls under 16 (aged 13-15) got pregnant in England and out of those, 59.8% had abortions. This is proof of why contraception should be taught to young girls in schools, to firstly, prevent any unwanted babies being killed and also to give young girl’s the power to make the right decisions for their bodies.