Putting the “Comprehensive” in Comprehensive Sexuality Education: a Review Exploring Young Adult Literature as a School-based Intervention

Abstract

Introduction In this article, we review research on the impact of young adult literature (YAL) on young people's sexualityrelated beliefs. This research points to the potential of YAL as a tool through which schools can offer sex education that is truly "comprehensive" by providing young people an opportunity to grapple with questions about gender, sexuality, and healthy relationships in literature classes, and to complement CSE in health education classes. This broader approach addresses a potential limitation of school-based comprehensive sex education (CSE). CSE certainly promotes young people's health and well-being, but an emphasis on biological dimensions of sexual and reproductive health to the exclusion of social factors, or insufficient time to address social dimensions of sexual and reproductive health, can fail to amplify or even undermine CSE messages about healthy relationships and sexuality. Methods This scoping review examined research on YAL dealing with dating and relationships, gender role development, LGBTQ life, sexuality, sexual behaviors, and sexual health outcomes in Communications Abstracts, ERIC, MEDLINE, MLA International Bibliography, and PsycINFO databases. The search, run in December 2020, returned 265 articles, of which 18 were empirical studies of YAL and sexuality that met inclusion criteria for the review. Each included study was examined to identify the books' impacts and the methodological approach to assessing those impacts. Conclusions Existing research suggests that YAL in the classroom can affect discourses on masculinity, femininity, violence, sexual health, and LGBTQ life. Bringing YAL into different classroom settings has the potential to be a powerful force in integrated CSE. Policy Implications Using YAL in a variety of classroom settings, including but not limited to health and English Language Arts, will strengthen the comprehensive aspects of CSE.

Gender Performativity in Becky Albertalli’s Simon Vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

“…The life of a gay may first be perceived as a deviant issue, as it was in Simon's case, but with time, this viewpoint may alter and gay may instead be perceived as having a regular societal problem. The current study also confirms that the under-discussed novel is valuable as teaching material at schools and universities to introduce students to the idea of gender and performativity, which is in line with Kitchener (2017), Savitz (2021), andPalmer et al (2022) related to the exclusive remarks over young adult literature for educational purposes. This will lighten the idea that teaching children to learn about and recognize their identities is how reading gender works.…”

“…Teenagers may utilize this young adult literature created for youth between 12 and 20 to help them discover who they are. Young Adult Literature (YAL) can be used in the classrooms to teach complete intercourse education by providing opportunities for the students to learn about gender, sexuality, and healthy relationship in literary and fitness classes (Palmer et al, 2022). Teenagers no longer need to feel isolated if they struggle with identification only because their gender restricts their conduct.…”

“…Teenagers no longer need to feel isolated if they struggle with identification only because their gender restricts their conduct. Using adult literature by the students can help them explore their identity and develop a feeling of agency (Savitz, 2021;Palmer et al, 2022).…”

Empowering Futures: Intersecting Comprehensive Sexual Education for Children and Adolescents With Sustainable Development Goals

“…Comprehensive sexual education (CSE) for children and adolescents is a holistic, evidence-based educational approach that provides young people with the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values they need to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health and well-being [ 1 , 2 ]. CSE covers various topics, including human development, anatomy and physiology, puberty, reproduction, contraception, sexual orientation, gender identity, relationships, consent, emotional health, and sexual rights [ 2 - 4 ].…”

“…Comprehensive sexual education (CSE) for children and adolescents is a holistic, evidence-based educational approach that provides young people with the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values they need to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health and well-being [ 1 , 2 ]. CSE covers various topics, including human development, anatomy and physiology, puberty, reproduction, contraception, sexual orientation, gender identity, relationships, consent, emotional health, and sexual rights [ 2 - 4 ]. According to the latest technical guidelines released by UNESCO in 2018, the following definition is provided: "CSE is a curriculum-based process [that] aims to equip children and young people with…develop respectful social and sexual relationships; consider how their choices affect their well-being and that of others; and understand and ensure the protection of their rights throughout their lives" [ 5 ].…”