Responsibilities, tensions and ways forward: parents’ perspectives on children’s sexuality education

Abstract

Children's sexuality education continues to be plagued with tensions and controversies. In consequence, children's access to sexuality education is severely compromised, especially in terms of the time dedicated to this topic, the content addressed, how it is taught and by whom. Based on a study of 342 Australian parents of primary school aged children we explore: (i) parents' perceptions of the relevance and importance of sexuality education to their primary school aged children and the discourses that inform their perspectives; (ii) parents' views on who should be responsible for the sexuality education of young children; (iii) whether there are certain aspects of sexuality education considered more appropriate for the family to address with children; and (iv) what the implications of these findings are for sexuality education policy and practice in Australian primary schooling. Despite the controversial nature of the topic, the majority of parents in this study believed sexuality education was relevant and important to primary school children and that it should be a collaborative approach between families and schools. However, some parents/carers acknowledged that while that they believed that some topics should only be addressed at home they also indicated that this often does not happen.

Sexual Knowledge, Sexual Attitudes, and Perceptions and Actualities of Sex Education among Elementary School Parents

“…Parents seem like ideal sex educators because they can offer sex education sequentially and provide time-sensitive information as they receive questions from their children [21]. In an Australian study, parents of primary school children answered that sex education was necessary when children are young because they need to know about their bodies and to develop their own sexuality [22]. In particular, girls were considered to need sex education at a young age because their bodies develop more quickly and they could soon become vulnerable to teenage pregnancy and sexual violence [22].…”

“…This finding also aligns with a literature review in the United States, which indicated that several factors affect sexrelated communication between parents and children, including insufficient knowledge about sex, their commitment to become more responsible sex educators for their children, the misinterpretation of discussions regarding sex as permission for the children to have sex, and the perception that their children were not old enough to discuss sex [18]. In two other studies conducted in the United States and Australia, parents thought that their children were too young to discuss sex-related issues regardless of their actual age [22,23]. If children were to learn certain information about sex before reaching sexual maturity, many parents felt that early awareness might provoke risky behaviors due to the immaturity of children's physical and mental development [22].…”

“…In two other studies conducted in the United States and Australia, parents thought that their children were too young to discuss sex-related issues regardless of their actual age [22,23]. If children were to learn certain information about sex before reaching sexual maturity, many parents felt that early awareness might provoke risky behaviors due to the immaturity of children's physical and mental development [22].…”

“…There was also profound fear from parents about their children's potential "loss of innocence" as a result of sex education [22]. Based on these results, there are conflicting and controversial opinions about the provision of sex education to children in elementary school.…”

Empowerment through sex education? Rethinking paradoxical policies

“…This emphasis on parents and schools is consistent with international tendencies (e.g. Robinson, Smith, and Davies 2017).…”