Sexual Health Education: Silenced by Diplomacy and Political Correctness

• Main Author: Melody E. Morton Ninomiya
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Newfoundland
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.606.9839; http://www.mun.ca/educ/faculty/mwatch/Melody Morning Watch June 14.pdf

My exploratory Master’s thesis research examines how teachers of ‘sex ed. ’ in Newfoundland and Labrador perpetuate problematic assumptions as they relate to sexual health. Sexual health education remains rooted in the simplistic idea that it exists primarily to regulate teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Educators ’ diplomatic thinking and pedagogies expose how fear and discomfort have served to silence topics such as pleasure, desire, homophobia and gender identity. This article challenges educators (and those who support them) to cross over the border of political correctness and diplomatic relations by first examining their own notions of gender, sexuality, curricular/pedagogical objectivity and privilege. Transforming the conversation of sexual health in the classroom offers possibilities for challenging dominant culture and assumptions. For example, educators can re-define safe sex as the practice of fostering a culture of safety for all sexual and gender identities. Considerations related to the complexity of