We've compiled a number of references from diverse expert sources on comprehensive sexuality education for you to read and share.
Action Canada Resources
- “Myths about Sex-Ed”
Challenges common myths about sex-ed, including ‘sex-ed encourages kids to have sex earlier and more risky sex’, ‘sex-ed is just about sex’, ‘sex-ed is not compatible with faith’, and ‘sex-ed that is LGBTQI2S+ inclusive is only good for certain kids’. Explains the values of CSE beyond sexual health, such as for promoting healthy relationships and creating safer school environments for LGBTQI2S youth. Also details how sex-ed gives young folk the information they need to live their own religious, spiritual, and familial values.
Link: https://www.actioncanadashr.org/sex-ed-myths
- “What is CSE?”
Addresses how experts worldwide are moving away from sex-ed which solely focuses on how to avoid negative sexual-health outcomes and include information of a broader scope regarding sexuality and sexual health. Includes UN definition of CSE, and the 2018 UNESCO Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education.
- “Not a Matter of Opinion: Why LGBTQ+ inclusive sex-ed is crucial for all children”
Describes the organized push-back by politicians against teaching about gender identity, sexuality, and diverse families in sex-ed, as well as their methods of spreading misinformation through the media.
- “What does ‘protecting children’ actually look like?”
Addresses how protection through a safe and inclusive learning environment can be a matter of life and death for LGBTQ+ youth. Explains that comprehensive sex-ed curricula, diverse resources, LGBTQ+ inclusive school policies, and capacity development opportunities can support safe spaces for all students and ensure respect and openness to sexual diversity and gender identity and expression. Includes numerous links to research regarding LGBTQ+ children/youth’s needs for CSE in schools and the positive impacts of inclusive education.
- “Why Does Sex-Ed Matter? Because science says so!”
Details the scientific evidence highlighting the positive impacts of CSE, including both health-related and non-health related outcomes. Includes links to multiple success stories after CSE was implemented in the Netherlands.
- “Do Parents Support Sex-ed?”
Highlights how the grand majority of parents support sex-ed in schools, despite a few vocal politicians in the media making it look otherwise. Includes link to a 2015 SIECCAN report on sexual health education in schools.
Link: https://www.actioncanadashr.org/resources/sexual-health-info/sex-ed/do-parents-support-sex-ed
- “Sex-ed: Preventing violence and increasing safety”
Explains the importance of CSE for preventing childhood sexual abuse, intimate partner violence, and sexual violence. Details other positive impacts of CSE such as developing a healthy body image and challenging feelings of shame around genitals, desire, sexual pleasure, and sexuality in general. Also addresses the causes of gender-based violence, including research indicating this violence is prominent among young people and most parents are failing to speak about it with their children.
- “What Young People Want and Need for their Sex-Ed”
Covers the numerous needs of students for CSE backed by multiple studies and encourages governments and lawmakers to include youth in the design of programs and policies directly impacting them. These needs addressed included: healthy relationships, LGBTQ+ specific content, fun and play-based interventions that break the ice and answer their questions about sex, the positive parts of sexuality and relationships, up-to-date information, and teachers who are both thoughtful about accessibility, and confident/comfortable while teaching.
- “Is Sex-Ed a Human Right?”
Explains which international institutions protect the right to CSE and includes multiple documents of UN human rights mechanisms. Details specific actions the Government of Canada needs to take to ensure CSE is delivered across the entire nation.
Link: https://www.actioncanadashr.org/resources/sexual-health-info/sex-ed/sex-ed-human-right
Academic Resources
- “Sexuality education: emerging trends in evidence and practice”
Abstract: “… this article summarizes the elements, effectiveness, quality, and country-level coverage of CSE. Throughout, it highlights the matter of a gender and rights perspective in CSE. It presents the policy and evidence-based rationales for emphasizing gender, power, and rights within programs--including citing an analysis finding that such an approach has a greater likelihood of reducing rates of sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancy--and notes a recent shift toward this approach. It discusses the logic of an "empowerment approach to CSE" that seeks to empower young people--especially girls and other marginalized young people--to see themselves and others as equal members in their relationships, able to protect their own health, and as individuals capable of engaging as active participants in society.”
Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25528976
- “Short-term effects of a rights-based sexuality education curriculum for high-school students: a cluster-randomized trial.”
Abstract: “An emerging model for sexuality education is the rights-based approach, which unifies discussions of sexuality, gender norms, and sexual rights to promote the healthy sexual development of adolescents… This paper evaluates the immediate effects of the Sexuality Education Initiative (SEI) on hypothesized psychosocial determinants of sexual behavior… Participation in the rights-based classroom curriculum resulted in positive, statistically significant effects on seven of nine psychosocial outcomes, relative to a basic sex education curriculum.”
Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25886554
- “Comprehensive Sexuality Education as a Longitudinal Predictor of LGBTQ Name-Calling and Perceived Willingness to Intervene in School”
Abstract: “Despite the obligation for Dutch schools to cover sexuality education in their curricula, including the topic of sexual diversity, the content that is covered varies widely across schools. With the current study, we present an overview of the content of sexuality education as reported by a sample of 601 Dutch adolescents (58.4% female youth) from six different high schools (e.g., public, Roman Catholic, protestant, anthroposophical; grades 10–12). Further, we examine whether the content or extensiveness of sexuality education at the beginning of the school year is related to a decrease in LGBTQ name-calling and an increase in the willingness to intervene when witnessing LGBTQ name-calling at the end of the school year.”
Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5388727/
- “Addressing Intimate Partner Violence and Sexual Violence Among Adolescents: Emerging Evidence of Effectiveness”
Abstract: “The aim of this review was to identify effective approaches to prevent adolescent IPV and SV and to identify critical knowledge gaps. The interventions reviewed in this article reflect the global focus on interventions addressing violence perpetrated by men against women in the context of heterosexual relationships… Results suggest that programs with longer term investments and repeated exposure to ideas delivered in different settings over time have better results than single awareness-raising or discussion sessions.”
- “Sexual health education outcomes within Canada’s elementary health education curricula: A summary and analysis”
Abstract: “There continues to be much concern about Canadian students’ access to sexual health education within their schools’ health education programs. This concern continues in a largely unique national context—one in which health education curricula vary across all territories and provinces. At the same time, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO, 2018) has recently published its updated International Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education. These UNESCO guidelines provide key concepts, topics, and technical guidance about sexual health-related topics that are advisable for students in all grades, including for those students in Kindergarten/Primary (K/P) through Grade 6. In this article, we provide a summary and critical analysis of sexual health education outcomes within all of Canada’s elementary health education curricula.”
Link: https://www.utpjournals.press/doi/full/10.3138/cjhs.2018-0036
- “What do young people think about their school-based sex and relationship education? A qualitative synthesis of young people's views and experiences”
Abstract: “Although sex and relationship education (SRE) represents a key strand in policies to safeguard young people and improve their sexual health, it currently lacks statutory status, government guidance is outdated and a third of UK schools has poor-quality SRE. We aimed to investigate whether current provision meets young people's needs… SRE should be ‘sex-positive’ and delivered by experts who maintain clear boundaries with students. Schools should acknowledge that sex is a special subject with unique challenges, as well as the fact and range of young people's sexual activity, otherwise young people will continue to disengage from SRE and opportunities for safeguarding and improving their sexual health will be reduced.”
Link: https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/6/9/e011329#ref-67
- “Emerging Answers 2007: New Research Findings on Programs to Reduce Teen Pregnancy—Full Report”
Abstract: “Emerging Answers provides a comprehensive list of risk and protective factors associated with teen pregnancy, and discusses what can be done about them.”
- “Sex and HIV education programs: their impact on sexual behaviors of young people throughout the world.”
Abstract: “This paper reviews 83 studies that measure the impact of curriculum-based sex and HIV education programs on sexual behavior and mediating factors among youth under 25 years anywhere in the world. Two thirds of the programs significantly improved one or more sexual behaviors. The evidence is strong that programs do not hasten or increase sexual behavior but, instead, some programs delay or decrease sexual behaviors or increase condom or contraceptive use.”
Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17321420
- “Are We Blinded by Desire? Relationship Motivation and Sexual Risk-Taking Intentions during Condom Negotiation”
Abstract: “Effective condom negotiation skills support better sexual health for both men and women. The current study explored relationship motivation (motivation to establish and maintain long-term romantic relationships), gender, and sexual orientation as factors influencing the condom negotiation process… The findings suggest that there are a number of conditions that make it more difficult to recognize risk during a sexual encounter and demonstrate how the process of condom negotiation can be impacted by gender, sexual orientation, and relationship motivation.”
Link: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00224499.2019.1579888
- “Factors affecting Canadian teachers' willingness to teach sexual health education”
Abstract: “Non-specialist teachers in Canada are increasingly required to teach sexual health topics. However, research suggests that they do not always do so willingly. This study examined the associations between the characteristics of non-specialist elementary and middle school teachers in Canadian schools and their willingness to provide sexual health education (SHE) and their perceptions of factors affecting their willingness to provide SHE… The results are discussed in terms of their implications for training designed to increase teachers' willingness to teach sexual health.”
Link: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14681811.2011.615606
- “Population-Specific Status Report: HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted and blood borne infections among youth in Canada.”
“The purpose of this report is to provide research evidence and information that supports communities, governments, researchers, public health practitioners, non-governmental organizations and others in helping all youth to maintain their health and transition to adulthood in healthy ways. It outlines existing policies, programs and initiatives that can be built upon and learned from in future responses to HIV and other STBBIs among this population.”
Link: https://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/aids-sida/publication/ps-pd/youth-jeunes/assets/pdf/youth-jeunes-eng.pdf
- “Promiscuity Propaganda: Access to Information and Services Does Not Lead to Increases in Sexual Activity”
- Promouvoir des programmes d’éducation à la sexualité positive, inclusive et émancipatrice
Link: http://www.fqpn.qc.ca/main/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Rapport-de-recherche-v7LR_revise.pdf
Other Resources
- “Report: Sexual health of youth in BC”
“The BC Adolescent Health Survey asked youth about specific behaviours and experiences related to sexual health such as condom and contraceptive use. Youth were also asked about potential risk behaviours such as having sex at an early age, mixing sex with alcohol or other substances, and having multiple sexual partners. The results show us whether youth are engaging in safer sexual practices, and also identify groups of young people who may be experiencing sexual health risks or inequities. Findings suggest areas where young people may need more support and the protective factors that might contribute to healthy sexual development.” (pg.5)
Link: https://www.sexedisourright.ca/report_sexual_health_of_youth_in_bc
- “LGBTQ2+ Youth Priorities for Addressing Gender Based Violence”
“On behalf of the Public Health Agency of Canada, Wisdom2Action engaged with approximately 500 youth, LGBTQ2+ youth in particular, across Canada to identify the particular ways LGBTQ2+ youth are impacted by Gender-Based Violence (GBV), from January to March 2019. The objectives of this engagement including allowing LGBTQ2+ youth to share the impact of GBV on their lives and identify their priorities related to addressing and preventing GBV.” (pg.4)
Link: https://www.wisdom2action.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/GBV-Final-Report.pdf
- “Sexpress: The Toronto Teen Survey Report”
Link: https://www.deslibris.ca/IDFR/218305
- Manitoba Curricula
“Manitoba Education and Training developed the guidelines in this support document to ensure that transgender and gender diverse students have equitable access to all aspects of school life (academic, extracurricular, and social) in ways that preserve and protect their dignity.” (pg.11)
Link: https://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/docs/support/transgender/full_doc.pdf
- Nova Scotia Curricula
Provides numerous links for resources pertaining to sexual health from birth to age 12, along with as resources for parents as well.
Link: https://novascotia.ca/dhw/healthy-development/sexual-health.asp
- The Health of LGBTQIA2 Communities in Canada: Report of the Standing Committee on Health
Link: https://www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Committee/421/HESA/Reports/RP10574595/hesarp28/hesarp28-e.pdf
- SIECCAN “Guidelines for Sexual Health Education”
Link: http://sieccan.org/sexual-health-education/
- UNESCO “International technical guidance on sexuality education: an evidence-informed approach”
“The International technical guidance on sexuality education (the Guidance) was developed to assist education, health and other relevant authorities in the development and implementation of school-based and out-of-school comprehensive sexuality education programmes and materials.” (pg.12)