Sex education
There is a lack of sex education being taught in China. Many elders, teachers, and parents wish never to discuss the topic. That in return leaves the incoming generations uniformed and clueless about sex. “Lack of sex education in China, has stirred up debate about the school system’s failure to keep peace with physical and social changes.” (Watts). Many people in China learn sex in all the wrong ways. A study by Jonathan Watts had picked 13 individuals from China with a high GPA and had asked them to discuss sex. They reported to him that their first experience was unprotected and unsatisfying. In every case each individual blamed a lack of education by teachers and their parents.
During the 12th century at the time of the Song Dynasty, sex and the attitudes regarding sex was severely suppressed, restricted, and secretive. “The government began to closely control people’s sexual lives and to restrict sexual expression; eventually, sexual conservatism became so pervasive that any communication about sexuality was considered taboo.”(Ying, Cottrell, Wagner, and Maosheng) However since then China has come a long way in becoming more open about sex and the information that needs to be taught to China’s youth. “In September, 2002, the government enacted the population and family planning law, which obliged schools to provide sex education.” (Watts). Although it was made mandatory that schools begin to teach the covered topic the implementation has been low. Sex education text books began to print in the same year but only 15% of students had reported that they received information regarding sex. That still leaves 85% of China’s population uninformed.
There are many downfalls of not providing sex education. Because the resources are limited majority of the youth learns in the wrong ways. In a study conducted by Yin Li, Cottrell, Wagner and Maosheng had found that the leading source to provide some kind of information regarding sex is reading material, followed by television, film, and radio. The problem with learning from television is TV shows only show what is ideal. There is no “what ifs” or the truth behind sex; if you do not protect yourself. Producers over play sex scenes because it’s what sells, and only show what is fantasized with sex in general. For the 85% of youth that know little or nothing about sex they are going to look at sex as easy, and uncomplicated. Below is the table from Needs and Preferences Regarding Sex Education Among Chinese College Students: A Preliminary Study.
During the 12th century at the time of the Song Dynasty, sex and the attitudes regarding sex was severely suppressed, restricted, and secretive. “The government began to closely control people’s sexual lives and to restrict sexual expression; eventually, sexual conservatism became so pervasive that any communication about sexuality was considered taboo.”(Ying, Cottrell, Wagner, and Maosheng) However since then China has come a long way in becoming more open about sex and the information that needs to be taught to China’s youth. “In September, 2002, the government enacted the population and family planning law, which obliged schools to provide sex education.” (Watts). Although it was made mandatory that schools begin to teach the covered topic the implementation has been low. Sex education text books began to print in the same year but only 15% of students had reported that they received information regarding sex. That still leaves 85% of China’s population uninformed.
There are many downfalls of not providing sex education. Because the resources are limited majority of the youth learns in the wrong ways. In a study conducted by Yin Li, Cottrell, Wagner and Maosheng had found that the leading source to provide some kind of information regarding sex is reading material, followed by television, film, and radio. The problem with learning from television is TV shows only show what is ideal. There is no “what ifs” or the truth behind sex; if you do not protect yourself. Producers over play sex scenes because it’s what sells, and only show what is fantasized with sex in general. For the 85% of youth that know little or nothing about sex they are going to look at sex as easy, and uncomplicated. Below is the table from Needs and Preferences Regarding Sex Education Among Chinese College Students: A Preliminary Study.
Disease is a rising concern in China due to the lack of sex education. In the World News newspaper there was an article published China Reports Rise in HIV/Aids. When this article was published (1996) it showed a 47% increase in sexually transmitted diseases in a 9 month span. The number of cases went from 4,305 to 6,359 however, “Many Chinese experts believe it to be around 10,000 cases in the western surroundings.” (Australian Nursing Journal). The numbers will continue to rise until sex education becomes more common in the schools and if their parents engage in communicating about sex with their children as well. China's attitude regarding sex education is slowly changing but how long can they retreat the movement of sex education before their numbers for sexually transmitted diseases skyrocket?
Above is a great current video discussing sex education in China. As discussed before China has been coming a long way on the teachings and the information they allow school children to know. We know China is a very conservative country but does that make it okay to ignore the issue at hand? In this video I learned the separation of girls and boys when discussing sex, and how psychologically some are not ready for the topic. There may be a few individuals who become stressed and or depressed when discussing such matters but that's because it is so common for the society as a whole to continue to suppress or hide that sex even exists. The study conducted by Yin Li and colleagues found that "Female students preferred private ways of receiving information such as reading, and listening to the radio, while males sought information through interactive means such as talking with friends and surfing the internet." (Yin, Cottrell, Wagner, and Maosheng). Do gender roles play into sex education as well, and is this why there is a separation of classrooms? The hope for China and the sex education program is to inform both genders equally and have 100% of the school population informed by their teachers and parents what sex is and the possible risks that play into that.
Sex education is not an easy topic for most cultures. It's a constant debate as to what is and what is not acceptable to tell the youth. At what age should they be informed? China is still to this day figuring out and smoothing all the kinks in their program. As older generations in college 5% to 20% or more "Who are sexually experienced -need more and better instruction to help them make informed and responsible decisions." (Yin,Cottrell, Wagner, and Maosheng). Since 2002 China has printed educational books to be used in schools, created an online sex education program, implemented services to aid individuals battling sexual diseases, and have been becoming more open in terms of discussion and acceptance. Although improvements have been made there is still much more work to be done to protect the society. Sex education is important and may be the key in solving many problems China is facing.
References obtained from YouTube and Academic Search Premier
Sex education is not an easy topic for most cultures. It's a constant debate as to what is and what is not acceptable to tell the youth. At what age should they be informed? China is still to this day figuring out and smoothing all the kinks in their program. As older generations in college 5% to 20% or more "Who are sexually experienced -need more and better instruction to help them make informed and responsible decisions." (Yin,Cottrell, Wagner, and Maosheng). Since 2002 China has printed educational books to be used in schools, created an online sex education program, implemented services to aid individuals battling sexual diseases, and have been becoming more open in terms of discussion and acceptance. Although improvements have been made there is still much more work to be done to protect the society. Sex education is important and may be the key in solving many problems China is facing.
References obtained from YouTube and Academic Search Premier
- China reports rise in HIV/AIDS. (1997). Australian Nursing Journal, 5(1), 26.
- Watts, J. (2004). China sex education lags behind sexual activity. Lancet, 363(9416), 1208.
- Ying, L., Cottrell, R. R., Wagner, D. I., & Maosheng, B. (2004). Needs and Preferences Regarding Sex Education Among Chinese College Students: A Preliminary Study. International Family Planning Perspectives, 30(3), 128-133.