Monday 21 July 2014

Need for Sex Education Survey- by Podar Institute



HOW DO YOUNG GIRLS LEARN ABOUT SEX EDUCATION- INTERVIEW SURVEY CONDUCTED BY PODAR INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION- COPYRIGHT @ SWATIPOPATVATS
THIS REPORT IS COPYRIGHT AND REGISTERED PROPERTY OF PODAR INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION ANYONE WISHING TO QUOTE, USE, OR REFER TO IT SHOULD DO SO ONLY AFTER SEEKING PERMISSION IN WRITING FROM MS SWATI POPAT VATS (DIRECTOR) ON swatipopat@podar.net
Podar Institute of Education runs a one year diploma course in Early Childhood Education, Care and Administration. As part of the course the students have to learn about conception, birth and breast feeding. Over the years we have found that young female students are more uncomfortable about talking about these things in a scientific manner. So recently we had a survey with them about how comfortable they are about talking about sex, pregnancy, condoms, sanitary napkins, child birth etc. this survey report is a result of the same.  We interviewed 8000 women in the age group of 18 years to 43 years over a period of 6 months. The survey was conducted in Pune, Nashik, Bangalore, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and Ahemdabad. I was interested in doing this survey because I am a sociologist (M.A Sociology) and am concerned about the cultural disconnect between our present modernization and education.
·         18 years to 25 years- 56%
·         Graduates- 52% undergraduates- 44% 12th pass- 4%
·         26 to 35 years – 25%
·         Graduates- 67% undergraduates- 20% 12th pass- 13%
·         36 to 43years- 19%
·         Graduates- 23% undergraduates- 20% 12th pass- 57%
Q .1. Do you think sex education should be part of our education system?
Sr. No.
Yes
No
No Response
Total




 8000
%
   66%
  20%
  14 %


Q. At what age should sex education be introduced?
Sr. No.
12 years to 16 years
18 years to 25 years
After marriage
Total




 8000
%
  23 %
 39 %
   38%


Q. What do you feel when you watch condom or sanitary napkin ads on television?
Sr. No.
Embarrassed
Ashamed
Comfortable
Total




 8000
%
   64%
  21%
  15 %


Q. Are you comfortable watching kissing or sex scenes on TV or movies?
Sr. No.
Yes
No
No Response
Total




 8000
%
  23 %
 58 %
  19 %


Q. How did you learn about sex?
Sr. No.
My mother spoke to me
Mills and boon and other books
Watched porn videos with friends
Total




 8000
%
   7%
  44%
  49 %


Q .Did your parents talk you about the ‘first night’?
Sr. No.
Yes
No
No Response
Total




 8000
%
  7 %
  76%
  17 %


Q .Why do you think women are getting raped in this country?
Sr. No.
They are weaker
Men are pervert
No strong laws
Total




 8000
%
   2%
  40%
  58 %


Q. When you were pregnant did you know all the facts about how a child is born?
Sr. No.
Yes
No
No Response
Total




 8000
%
  52 %
 43 %
   5%


Q .Do you feel embarrassed when someone breastfeeds their child in front of you?
Sr. No.
Yes
No
No Response
Total




 8000
%
  41 %
  40%
   19%


Q. At what age did you know about sex and how babies are made?
Sr. No.
12 years to 16 years
18 years to 25 years
After marriage
Total




 8000
%
   19%
  49%
  32 %


Q .Who talked to you and guided you about menstruation?
Sr. No.
School- sanitary products company
Mother
Friends/ads
Total




 8000
%
   62%
 23 %
   15%


The startling facts that have come out in this survey is that most girls are still learning about sex and child birth from avenues other than a trusted adult (parent, sibling). This is worrying because sexual education should come from known person and should be related to ease, comfort and a healthy attitude about sex. Instead they are learning about it from porn movies or soft porn novels which gives a very beautiful aspect of their physical development and bodily needs a very crass and crude impact. Boys too are learning about sex from porn videos which in turn makes them relate to it as lust and a crude act. This is even more disappointing that as a culture we are uncomfortable about sex, so much so that we are ok that our youth are learning about it from unhealthy quarters. This is a dangerous ‘ostrich attitude’. India teaches the world about ‘kamasutra’, the khajurao caves are a living example of how comfortable we Indians were with our sexuality and thus there was no perversion. Even the sun temple of konark (Bhubaneswar) is a good example of how sex education was imparted casually through stone carvings on the temple. Another great example of sensitivity to age appropriateness is also present at the konark sun temple. The carvings from the ground up to 4 feet are about animals etc so that small children will enjoy watching them, then those in the middle above 4 feet are about life, marriage, child birth so that the youth learn from them and those above them are about gods etc for the elderly. What a sensitive approach to life, what has happened to us as a civilization?
It was shocking that most of the girls were planning for their wedding and were given absolutely no training, support, education about their marriage. So they were aware about hair experts, mendhi experts, jewellery experts, wedding dress, gown, sarree experts but were not giving importance to sexual education by consulting an expert or a parent. They were clueless about any kind of education about life after marriage. If sex education is gained by watching porn then naturally the relationship between man and wife is more animal and unnatural.
Most of them were not even prepared or spoken to about menstruation by their mothers, they were educated by strangers and many admitted to having emotional trauma related to their first menses and their first night after marriage because of their unpreparedness.
It was further shocking to note that many of the women did not know the full extent of child birth and were thoroughly shocked and emotionally traumatized with the actual experience. Many battled with post maternity depression and stress and it went undetected which lead to later depression and anxiety disorders.
We need to ensure that we include education about sex, marriage, child birth as part of the education process. Maybe if we call it with a different name like body and relationship education, it will be more acceptable to different cultures. This report also identified the need to educate parents about how to handle such topics with their growing kids so that their kids don’t learn about it from incorrect sources. The New Zealand and Belgium government have a good youth education program, maybe it’s time we formulated one too. Till then teacher training colleges, women’s institutions must educate their students informally so that our young girls grow up healthy, happy and respected and confident about making the right choices and decisions about their bodies.
For more details feel free to call me on 09819121384.

7 comments:

jayshree shah said...

Your topic of selection for survey is excellent.Sex topic is not talked about , most of the people try to avoid question based on sex . Your survey report also shows under each heading that still many people are not comfortable.
Sexual education should come from known person is very important.The other suggestion in your article is very important like The
NewZealand and Belgium government have a good youth education program, maybe it’s time we formulated one too.I am sure this article will bring awareness amongst educated persons also to think about the changes that is required in our systems & mind.
Thanks for guiding us always in a correct manner better be late than never.

Unknown said...

The above research shows that many parents are unsure of where to start on educating their children about sex education or may feel uncomfortable about having these conversations whereas young children want to talk with their parents about sexual health. Parents need to understand that avoiding the subject will not stop their children from exploring the topic or keep them safe.
By being honest to the child will help parent on giving accurate information and answers to their questions which will reduce their risk of being in an unhealthy relationship.

The survey clearly gives information on the amount of young children being exposed to images and stories about sex through the media that can be confusing. They may also talk with their friends or look online for answers to their questions, but the information they take away will not always be accurate or positive.
This survey is an eye opener for all schools and for parents to work on ensuring that we educate our young children on sex, marriage, child birth as part of the education process. And yes, the idea of naming it differently as ‘Body and Relationship Education’ will help different cultures accept it positively.

namrata singh said...

The survey is an eyeopener for parent's as well as young girls.Mostly girls avoid question related to sex.This report also identifies the need to educate todays parent's as well as upcoming generation to handle such topics with their growing kids.Thank you for guiding us always.

Uma Nagdeo said...

It is very shocking to see the results of the survey such an important aspect is given no proper importance that is the reason where molestation and such crude acts have increased, it’s high time now where proper sex education should be imparted to children and community too.

Anonymous said...

Sex education is one of the most controversial issues in education that has been discussed for many years. It is probably the most debated topic that will always have different opinions. I believe that when you have a child its for the whole community meaning that its not a bad idea to have sex education in schools and children need to be taught at an ealy age with the help from the community. Some parents have difficult in teaching their children so the school can help and guideline is required to be developmentally and age appropriate, medically accurate, evidence-based and complete . Government need to support this in schools .

pjkparbhani said...

One approach to sex education is to view it as necessary to reduce the risk of certain sexual behaviors and equip individuals to make informed decisions about their personal sexual activity.

Another viewpoint on sex education, historically inspired by sexologists like Wilhelm Reich and psychologists like Sigmund Freud and James W. Prescott, holds that what is at stake in sex education is control over the body and liberation from social control. Proponents of this view tend to see the political question as whether society or the individual should teach sexual mores. Sexual education may thus be seen as providing individuals with the knowledge necessary to liberate themselves from socially organized sexual oppression and to make up their own minds. In addition, sexual oppression may be viewed as socially harmful. Sex and relationship experts like Reid Mihalko of Reid About Sex suggests that open dialogue about physical intimacy and health education can generate more self-esteem, self-confidence, humor, and general health.

Unknown said...

I would like to thank Ms. Vats for sharing this article at a very right time as its school reopening and parents need reminder to communicate with their children. It feels sad in this 21st century still we have same issue with our parents of lack of communication and specially on this topic of sexual abuse .This article will give parents opportunity to communicate with children and tips for them to start a conversation on such a sensitive issue in this insensitive environment. Thank you once again