Skip to main content
Book cover

Global Perspectives and Key Debates in Sex and Relationships Education: Addressing Issues of Gender, Sexuality, Plurality and Power pp 13–29Cite as

School-Based Sex and Relationships Education: Current Knowledge and Emerging Themes

  • Chapter

Abstract

It is widely accepted that children and young people have the right to education for sexual health, with these rights being enshrined in the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). According to WHO (2010), knowledge and information provided through sexual health education is essential if people are to access their sexual rights and be sexually healthy. Education for sexual health — called variously sex education, sexuality education or sex and relationships education (hereafter, SRE) — involves the acquisition of information and the opportunity for young people to explore and develop their attitudes, beliefs and values as they relate to gender and sexuality, sexual and gender identity, relationships and intimacy. Sexual health education also aims to develop young people’s knowledge and skills to make informed choices regarding their behaviour, and in so doing, limit their risk and vulnerability to sexual ill-health through factors such as unwanted pregnancy, unwanted, abusive and exploitative sexual activity, unsafe abortion and STIs, including HIV.

Keywords

  • Young People
  • Sexual Health
  • Sexual Minority
  • Relationship Education
  • Sexual Health Education

These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • DOI: 10.1057/9781137500229_2
  • Chapter length: 17 pages
  • Instant PDF download
  • Readable on all devices
  • Own it forever
  • Exclusive offer for individuals only
  • Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout
eBook
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • ISBN: 978-1-137-50022-9
  • Instant PDF download
  • Readable on all devices
  • Own it forever
  • Exclusive offer for individuals only
  • Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout
Hardcover Book
USD   69.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Albury, K., Crawford, K., Byron, P. and Mathews, B. (2013) Young People and Sexting in Australia. ARC Centre for Creative Industries and Innovation/Journalism and Media Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Australia. ai]Allen, L., Rasmussen, M. L. and Quinlivan, K. (2014) ‘Introduction: putting pleasure under pressure’. In Allen, L., Rasmussen, M. L. and Quinlivan, K. (Eds) The Politics of Pleasure in Sexuality Education 1–11, Abingdon: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aggleton, P. (2010) ‘Introduction’. In Aggleton, P., Dennison, C. and Warwick, I. (Eds) Promoting Health and Wellbeing through Schools 1–7. Abingdon, Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bleakley, A., Hennessy, M., Fishbein, M. (2006) ‘Public opinion on sex education in US schools’. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine 160, 1151–1156.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brückner, H. and Bearman, P. (2005) ‘After the promise: the STD consequences of adolescent virginity pledges’. Journal of Adolescent Health 36, 271–278.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grunseit, A., Kippax, S., Aggleton, P., Baldo, M. and Slutkin, G. (1997)’ sexuality education and young people’s sexual behaviour: a review of studies’. Journal of Adolescent Research 12(4), 421–453.

    Google Scholar 

  • HIV Prevention Justice Alliance (2014) Open letter to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on 2013 MMWR report on HIV testing and risk of US gay, bisexual and other MSM. (https://wfc2.wiredforchange.com/o/8810/images/CDC%2MMWR%20 COMMENTS%20V2.pdf).

  • Ingham, R. and Hirst, J. (2010) ‘Promoting sexual health’. In Aggleton, P., Dennison, C. and Warwick, I. (Eds) Promoting Health and Wellbeing through Schools 99–118, Abingdon: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Institute of Medicine (2008) Statement of Harvey V. Fineburg, M.D., Ph.D. President, Institute of Medicine of The National Academies before the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform U.S. House of Representatives, 23 April 2008. (http://www7.nationalacademies.org/ocga/testimony/Abstinence_Only_Sex_Ed_ Programs_and_HIV_Infection.asp)

  • Iyer, P. and Aggleton, P. (2013) ‘“Sex education should be taught, fine…but we make sure they control themselves”: teachers’ beliefs and attitudes towards young people’s sexual and reproductive health in a Ugandan secondary school’. Sex Education 13(1), 40–53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirby, D. (2006) ‘Comprehensive sex education: strong public support and persuasive evidence of impact, but little funding’. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine 160, 1182–1184.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirby, D. (2007) Emerging Answers 2007: Research Findings on Programs to Reduce Teen Pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Diseases. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. (http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/ea2007/). ai]Kirby, D. (2008) ‘The impact of abstinence and comprehensive sex and STD/HIV education programs on adolescent sexual behaviour’. Sexuality Research and Social Policy 5(3), 18–27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirby, D., Obasi, A. and Laris, B.A. (2006a) ‘The eectiveness of sex education and HIV education interventions in schools in developing countries’. In Ross, D., Dick, B. and Ferguson, J. (Eds) Preventing HIV/AIDS in Young People: A Systematic Review of the Evidence from Developing Countries. Geneva, WHO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirby, D., Laris, B.A. and Rolleri, L. (2006b) The Impact of Sex and HIV Education Programs in Schools and Communities on Sexual Behaviors among Young Adults. Washington, DC, Family Health International.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirby, D., Laris, B.A., and Rolleri, L. (2006c) Sex and HIV Education Programs for Youth: Their Impact and Important Characteristics. Washington, DC, Healthy Teen Network.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirby, D., Rolleri, L. and Wilson, M.M. (2007) Tool to Assess the Characteristics of Effective Sex and STD/HIV Education Programs. Washington, DC, Healthy Teen Network.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell, A., Patrick, K., Heywood, W., Blackman, P. and Pitts, M. (2014) National Survey of Australian Secondary Students and Sexual Health 2013. Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University, Melbourn

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell, A., Smith, A., Carman, M., Schlichthorst, M., Walsh, J. and Pitts, M. (2011) Sexuality Education in Australia in 2011 La Trobe University, Melbourne.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ringrose, J., Gill, R., Livingstone, S. and Harvey, L. (2012) A Qualitative Study of Children, Young People and’ sexting’. NSPCC: London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schaafsma, D., Kok, G., Stoelen, J.M.T. and Curfs, L.M.G. (2014) ‘Identifying eective methods for teaching sex education to individuals with intellectual disabilities: a systematic review’. The Journal of Sex Research 27(4), 362.

    Google Scholar 

  • Silva, M. (2002) ‘The eectiveness of school-based sex education programs on the promotion of abstinent behaviour: a meta-analysis’. Health Education Research 17(4), 471–481.

    Google Scholar 

  • Society for Adolescent Medicine (2006) Abstinence-only education policies and programs: a position paper of the Society for Adolescent Medicine’. Journal of Adolescent Health 38, 83–87.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stone, N. and Ingham, R. (2006) ‘Young people and sex and relationships education’. In, Ingham, R. and Aggleton, P. (Eds.) Promoting Young People’s Sexual Health: International Perspectives 192–209. Oxford, Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Strasburger, V. C. and Brown, S. S. (2014). ’sex education in the 21st century’. JAMA 312(2): 125–126.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trenholm, C., Devaney, B., Fortson, K., Quay, L., Wheeler, J. and Clark, M. (2007) Impacts of Four Title V, Section 510 Abstinence Education Programs. Princeton, Mathematic Policy Research Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Underhill, K., Montgomery, P. and Operario, D. (2007a) ’sexual abstinence only programmes to prevent HIV infection in high income countries: systematic review’. British Medical Journal 335, 248.

    Google Scholar 

  • UNESCO (2009a) International Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education: An Evidence Informed Approach for Schools, Teachers and Health Educators, Volume I, The Rationale for Sexuality Education. Paris: UNESCO.

    Google Scholar 

  • UNESCO (2009b) International Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education: An Evidence Informed Approach for Schools, Teachers and Health Educators, Volume II, Topics and Learning Objectives. Paris: UNESCO.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations (2003) United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). General Comment No. 3. HIV/AIDS and the Rights of the Child, para 16. CRC/GC/2003/3. New York, United Nations.

    Google Scholar 

  • University of South Australia (2014) Engaging Young People in Sexuality Education Research Project. (http://eypse.tmp-s.com

  • WHO (2002) Defining Sexual Health: Report of a Technical Consultation on Sexual Health 28–31 January 2002, Geneva.

    Google Scholar 

  • WHO (2010) Developing Sexual Health Programmes: A Framework for Action. (http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/2010/WHO_RHR_HRP_10.22_ eng.pdf).

Download references

Authors
  1. Felicity Thomas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Peter Aggleton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of York, UK

    Vanita Sundaram (Senior Lecturer) (Senior Lecturer)

  2. York St John University, UK

    Helen Sauntson (Associate Professor) (Associate Professor)

Copyright information

© 2016 Felicity Thomas and Peter Aggleton

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Thomas, F., Aggleton, P. (2016). School-Based Sex and Relationships Education: Current Knowledge and Emerging Themes. In: Sundaram, V., Sauntson, H. (eds) Global Perspectives and Key Debates in Sex and Relationships Education: Addressing Issues of Gender, Sexuality, Plurality and Power. Palgrave Pivot, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137500229_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137500229_2

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Pivot, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-349-69878-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-137-50022-9

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)