SEX
EDUCATION IN INDIA
India – the Land of the Kamasutra. The second most populous nation in
the world. India – afraid to talk about sex. These three sentences are, in
essence, the issue. These three sentences are, in essence, hypocrisy. There are
people both ‘pro’ and ‘anti’ sex education in our country and I shall now move
onto their arguments.
According to me sex education is an important subject that must be
gradually introduced in order to reduce the stigma around talking about the
same. Many may question why we need to talk about it in the first place. The
reason is that to a young, perceptive mind with access to different kinds of
media and sources of information, not talking about this could lead to
misinformation. Such misinformation could lead to problems like STDs, teenage
pregnancy, and in extreme cases, death. Even for young children, it is
important to understand their body in order to take care of it. This cannot be
done in an environment where even the mention of sex or reproductive organs
fills guilt and shame into the person raising the topic. Especially with
teenagers who are going through multiple changes, emotionally and physically,
awareness of these bodily changes helps with dealing with those very problems
and reduces the stress and anxiety they face.
Those against sex education provide a variety of arguments. Some say
that such young children who are only in school, may not even be sexually
active and hence, do not need to be educated on the subject. Some even say that
due to sexual inactivity, education about reproductive organs and bodily
changes are useless and that such a subject could cause an increase in teenage
sexual activity.
Firstly, regardless of whether or not the children are sexually active,
this education must be provided. They must be made aware of how to practice
safe sex and the contraception options well in advance of actually engaging in
such activities. This knowledge is of no use to them after having learnt it the
hard way. Bodily changes, on the other hand, take place with or without
engaging n sexual intercourse. Educating youngsters about the problems they
are, or will be, facing along with their causes and possible solutions, cannot
be futile. It can only help them. I also believe that the introduction of this
subject will not increase teenage sexual activity, but only make it safer for
those who already choose to indulge in it. Even without participating in such
activities, problems like UTIs and other genital infections can occur. It is
impossible to get treated for these unless one understands them and is allowed
to talk about them.
Hence, I strongly believe that the subject of sex education has more
positive than negative arguments and must not only be introduced in schools and
colleges, but be made mandatory.
- Hayati Shah
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