By Kassandra Garcia |Staff Writer|
Ontario, Canada created an up stir on social media announcing that a comprehensive sex education initiative is to be implemented in September 2015.
This act is designed to properly educate the youth on contraceptives, sexual consent, gender identity, sexual orientation and other sex-related issues.
In my opinion, comprehensive sex education is crucial because sex education in the U.S. is far from educational.
“Honestly all I remember about sex ed was putting the condom on the banana and the emphasis on male genitalia,” said student Hayley Rodriguez.
According to an analysis done by Guttmacher Institute, the U.S. shows that 28 states do not require sex education. While in 20 states sex education, if provided, includes information on abstinence but not on contraception.
The analysis also showed that teachers can provide sex education through a biased perspective and promote specific religious agendas.
This type of biased and inaccurate educational system encourages sex ignorance and leaves individuals confused.
This is why comprehensive sex education is important and should be considered in the U.S.
This initiative will raise awareness which is crucial because trial-and-error is no way to learn about subjects as intimate as sex.
Sex education should not be limited to one sexual orientation and/or people should not feel they have to abstain from any sexual activity until marriage.
That is why when I hear people argue that abstinence-only programs are a proper way to go, I cannot help but internally yell.
According to Advocates for Youth, abstinence-only programs have actually been proven ineffective and harmful.
These programs try to keep individuals in the dark by enforcing rules to abstain from sex.
Knowledge and control of our own body should be a fundamental human right that should not have to be pushed behind closed doors.
Not only will this raise awareness about contraceptives, but it offers validation for youths in the LGBTQ community as well as young girls, whose anatomy isn’t as openly discussed.
“I just found out that women do not pee from their vaginas,” said student Robert Reyes.
It’s things like this that make me realize that sex education in America is truly a joke.
“They never really focused on female anatomy, I think that’s why a lot of women aren’t fully aware of what goes on down there,” said student Amy Torres.
Proper representation will allow individuals to be comfortable in their own skin.
This initiative also focuses on creating a consent culture.
In this day and age sexual assault can be viewed as an epidemic now whether or not that has to do with a lack of proper sex education remains to be seen.
I do believe that exposing youth to consent culture and turning it into a societal norm can help improve today’s society.
I strongly support comprehensive sex education because the youth deserves the right to accurate, non-stigmatizing information about their health and well-being.
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