Educating Young Adults about Sex - Essay Example

Educating Young Adults about Sex Educating young adults about sex entails passing of information, forming mind-sets and beliefs about sex, relationship, sexual identity and intimacy. According to Moira (pg15) young adults are people in the age bracket of 12years and 19 years. Dirby (pg 421) says that this is the stage at which human beings are more susceptible to the unwanted teen age pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. In order to avoid these sexual challenges according to Dirby (pg 34), sexual education is very necessary. Sexual education entails studying the psychology and the anatomy of the reproductive system in human beings with a lot of emphasis on contraception, conception sexual differences according to Fielder (pg2). The learning stresses on both the vices and virtues of sex. It gives a background alongside which one develops into responsible and health grown-up capable of utilizing the inborn sex nature to the fullest capability, without getting obsessed by it. It allows one to recognize and become comfortable with individual’s sexuality. The rise in number of young adults infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus according the World Health Organization is attributed to the lack of sexual understanding by the young adults. This understanding can only be fully achieved through introduction of sexual education in the society. Successful sex Education plans for the young adults have common elements necessary for a health living in the modern world. Wielant and Jeune (pg78) the current world was formed by traditional people. Such people considered sexuality and sex as an offensive topic of discussion for people who are not married. On contrary Kirdy and Moira (pg 90) asserts that there is great need to have sexual education offered to the young adults. Young adults do engage in sexual practices and therefore sexual education should not be meant for the married only. Initially there was little importance attach to sex education for the young adults. Klein and Measor (pg 47) asserts that it was until early 20th century that the world and the society started giving attention to the females. They started receiving more appreciations from their male counterparts. As a result, they started receiving same education in school with the male students. The traditional role they played in the society was further uncalculated by introducing some added curriculum for the female students.According to Fielder (pg 44) the average marriage age has been delayed due to the carrier –oriented advance in life. Also the improvement in health care and nutrition, puppetry significantly tents to set early and life span on an average has become longer. Thus the average prospective sex career of an entity has extended. Today, social environment give constant sexual stimulation. Adair (pg88) asserts that he conflict arising between the social norms and sexual drive create amount of anxiety leading to sexual frustrations. These finds expressions in form of increased careless sex relationships, promiscuity, increase in criminal cases related to sex, teenage pregnancies and diseases that are sexually transmitted. This situation is complicated further by misconceptions and rampant myths. This is a social problem that can only be solved through undertaking an all-inclusive sex education. This education should be formally undertaken so as to incorporate programs touching on health matters as well.Contrary to Klein (pg 47), Moira (pg207) asserts that there is no wrong or right time for anyone to start taking sexual education. With no intention to, parents are educating their children on sexual matters right from the time they are born. Parents play a key role in educating the young adults about sex. Sex education starts from an early age. Alison ( pg 91) just like Moria (pg210) argues that the manner in which parents touch and hold a child at his or her infancy and how both parents interact with each other and with the child makes the foundation for his or her prospect sexual learning. Shaping the child’s future attitude towards sexuality and sex is significantly influence by whether the child is made by the parents to feel lovable or loved. On the same basis Banyard and Plante (pg 33) asserts that Parents’ interactions, their relationship with one another and the general life in the family on a day to day basis is of great influence to individual’s body image, self-esteem family roles, gender role as well as the capacity for intimacy, love and sharing.The world population statistics shows that 19 percent of its population was composed of people aged between 10 years and 19 years by the end of the 20th century. The proportion of sexual intercourse by the young adults at this time was increasing proportionately to the cases of teenage pregnancies. This was an indication that the academic institutions failed to effectively offer sexual education in some earlier part of the century. Educating young adults about sex gives them accurate information on matters of sexuality and the dangers associated with teenage sex. Kerry and Moira (pg 345) found out that young adults are generally curios about all things sex included. Therefore, it is only easy to get a suitable opportunity to make their children understand that sex is not a forbidden area if there are comfortable with issues of sex. This more applicable in explain the curiosity that children develop when they encounter cases of wet dreams and other similar instances. The parents and teachers should be at ease to let the child that the experience is normal. Emma (pg 44) explains the need for parents and teachers to strive towards having a high-quality relationship with one another and with their children in order for them to be approachable parents. Parents with poor relationship with their children are not approachable and thus not in a position to identify and respond to the curiosities developed by their children. Ann and Ida (pg1012) on what is important for parents and teachers when young adults ask questions asserts that such questions should be carefully considered as positive curiosity. This way they will be a position to answer the questions truthfully at the level that is appropriate to the child’s age. It is possible for parents to find no answers to some questions from their children. In other situations answers to such questions may lack due to their own values or unable to reply at that particular moment. Heather (90) advices parents to admit that the question is good but do not know what the answer is. Young adults should be made informed of the hormonal reactions that take place within their bodies. Through sex education, the young adults are able to respond appropriately to the sexual desire that occurs as a result of these hormonal reactions.Wazzak (pg 510) says that young adults are very interested in sex because of the hormonal response in their bodies. Young adults talk about sex and ask questions about it. According to Wazzak (pg 700) ways of giving youth the correct information so as to enable to make informed and better decisions on their sexual behaviors are necessary. Kirby, Harvey, Novar and Clausenious et al. (p544) teaching on reproductive wellbeing is part of the entire process of preparing a young adult to adulthood. This allows young adults to develop self –esteem, respect for others, having goals and hopes for the future. The aspects of sexuality education are incorporated into different types of program s such as the family education on life and school education curriculum. In accordance with the statement from the Centre for Disease Control and the World Health Organization, both married and unmarried need sexual education especially in countries such as India where married woman under the age of 18 years are amounting to 60 percent. Sex should not be considered as a sensitive to discuss to the young adults. Sexual issues should be explained clearly so as to address the consequences of unprotected sex and make the young adults develop a positive understanding of the need to avoid sexual intercourse. Parents are the best teachers who can educate the young adults on sex. According to Payne (pg 77) parents should take responsibility of educating their children on sexual matters and the dangers associated with unprotected sexual intercourse. Sexual topics should be taught in schools. The teaching should follow the international proposal provided. This proposal gives guidance to the teachers on how to handle sexual topics. According to the studies by the United Nations (UN) sexual education will be of great help in reducing incidences of young adults contracting sexually transmitted infections and diseases as well as preventing illegal abortion. The Planned Parenthood organization asserts steps towards young adult education on sex and other matters related to sex are being undertaken worldwide. Information related to the topic is being provided. This information is aimed at educating and enlightens females on the rights and providing them with information regarding to their bodies. The topics also educate on birth control and therefore useful to males as well as they can some understand before having a sexual intercourse. According to the Parenthood, unmarried couples should be using protective devices while sex in cases where they cannot avoid sexual intercourse. They should also remain loyal partners to one another so as to minimize chances of disease infection. Zuckerman, Tushup and Finner (pg 43) says that loyalty that partners to one another considerably minimizes cases of young adults being affected by sexually transmitted infections. This also reduces incidences of unwanted pregnancies amongst the teenagers. There is need to stop teenage pregnancies as this result in increased cases of illegal abortions worldwide. Education programs enhancing the understanding of societal and individual meaning of sexuality should be introduced in all the nations across the globe (planned parenthood.org). Educating the young adults about sex helps in minimizing cases of unnecessary sexual intercourse before marriage. According to Zuckerman and Finner (pg142), a large percentage of the young adults engage in sexual intercourse before getting married. This therefore calls for the need to consider sex as being one of the most important subjects to be taught in school. Sex education should aim at teaching the young adults how they should react when faced with moments of decision making regarding to whether they should engage in the intercourse or not. Sexual education should as much as possible teaching the young adults how sex is performed. It should further teach the young adults the results of engaging in act meant for the married only. This teaching should be done persistently so as to ensure that the young adults understand the dangers of unmarried sex fully. According to Moira ( pg105), there is need to teach young people need to be taught on how to abstain from sex so as to remain virgin until marriage. This can best be done by parents. No one should view the subject as being offensive and should be avoided. This is a very useful subject in changing the young adults’ lives. The subject makes those who are less informed on sex more informed and allow them to develop confidence. Works cited Kerry and Moria. Rducing the risk: a new curriculum to prevent sexual risk taking. Family planning perspective (23) 20-363. Kirby, Daniel. Sexuality education: a more realistic view of its effects, Journal of School Health 1985; 55:421-4. Moira.Sexual behavior in Britain:early heterosexual Experience. Lancet 358(9295) 100-1850. Payne. Determinants of consistent condom use by adolescents: the impact of experience of sexual intercourse. Health education research, theory and practice 8pp 20-260. Wazzack. A comparison of student evaluations of a peer-delivered sex education program and teacher led program. Sex education, 2(3) 1-2000. Zuckerman and Finner. School based programs to decrease sexual risk behaviors: a review of effectiveness. public health report (109) 120-200. Zuckerman,Tushup and Finner. New research findings on program to reduce Teen pregnancies, National complain to prevent teen pregnancies.2005, 1-500. Read More