Wikipedia defines sex education as “the instruction of issues relating to human sexuality, including emotional relations and responsibilities, human sexual anatomy, sexual activity, sexual reproduction, age of consent, reproductive health, reproductive rights, safe sex, birth control, and sexual abstinence.”
Sex education has always been a touchy subject in Nigeria because sex as a subject is one of those things people refrain from. Some students went through school without being educated about sex. And the ones that did get educated regarding sex, were educated extremely.
From the Wikipedia definition above, sex education covers a whole spectrum of sex and sexual-related activities. But most sex educators tend to focus on abstinence—the avoiding of sex—and safe sex—the use of protection and contraceptives. While these are good, they’re incomplete.
So many young people grow up knowing very little about the entities of sex beyond the act itself. We’ve compiled 10 things that should have been taught in sex education to enable us to understand more about sex and its relations.
Consent is Key
Sex, when done right, is enjoyable. And it should be enjoyable for the people involved. When one person is forced, coerced, or manipulated into a sexual act, it becomes rape. Rape brings with it physical and emotional scars. Rape victims have stories about spending years carrying the trauma of that act.
Consent should be taught to people. You have the power to allow or deny sex. And when someone says no, then let them be.
Statutory Rape
This is when someone over the age of 18 has sex with someone underage. This supersedes the theory of consent. When someone is underage, it doesn’t matter if they consented to have sex with a legal adult.
So, a person over the age of 18 who is having sexual relations with someone under 18, and consent, is committing statutory rape. People under 18 are not legally recognizable to make decisions including vote, sign, or consent to sex.
Sex is not Abominable
This might be a bit controversial to teach at a sex education class, but education should include everything and not just the things it wants people to, like abstinence and the use of protection. Sex is taught as an abominable act, and for religious people, sex outside marriage is. This doesn’t stop people from having sex.
The theory is, if sex is not taught as this abominable act, people would learn more about it and explore it safely.
The Truth About Hymen
The hymen is posed as this thick frame that can only be gotten rid of when one has sex. A documentary of sports has shown that some gymnasts, cyclists, horseback riders, etc., break their hymen due to their rigorous routines.
The hymen is not viable proof of virginity.
Get Frequent Tests If Sexually Active
Due to the focus on abstinence and protection, a lot of people who are already having sex, don’t get to learn anything. One of the things to know is to test yourself and, if you have one sexual partner, have them get tested regularly, too.
It doesn’t matter if one is using protection, testing is a scientific way to know that one is free from STDs.
Orgasms
An orgasm is a sexual climax. Unlike men, women find it harder to climax during sex. Orgasm happens from ultimate pleasure.
Educators should teach about orgasms and knowing one’s body.
Real Life and Porn
Porn actors are performers. There is a set, with a script, and a director. Porn actors exaggerate scenes to entertain. This is how porn differs from reality. Be careful of copying sex scenes, they’re not real.
Pulling Out is Useless
Protection should be used at all times. Pulling out will never be a viable way to protect against pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases.
Protection is a more assured way to be safe.
Know The Body
People should learn about their bodies and the bodies of the opposite sex. This will save a lot of problems including a lack of orgasms.
Understanding the human body will aid sexual satisfaction. Perhaps, learning about the functions will enable you to understand what you want out of sex.
Sex Goes Beyond Penetration
Sex education teaches sex as penetration. This proves where a lot of its theories come from. Sex goes beyond penetration. Some people have healthy sex lives without penetration. There are a lot of ways to feel pleasure and initiate intimacy.
