Research indicates that comprehensive, developmentally-appropriate sex education reduces unintended pregnancies and improves the general health of young people, yet many young people today do not receive the sex education they require. A research that was published in the Journal of Adolescent Health states that sex education does not reach national standards for nearly half of American teens.
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States in the United States have different requirements for sex education, with some not mandating it in schools at all. According to data from the Guttmacher Institute, as of June 2022, it was required in 28 states and Washington, D.C. Of those states, only seventeen demand that the material be “medically accurate,” and less than half of high schools cover all twenty of the CDC’s recommended core subjects. This covers everything from fundamental knowledge about STDs to essential communication and decision-making abilities.
Moreover, the only three states in the US requiring age-appropriate, comprehensive sex education in schools are Washington, California, and Oregon. It addresses relational skills, media literacy, sexuality, human development, gender and sexual orientation, physical autonomy, and consent.
The UK’s 2020 implementation of mandatory sex education, which covers topics like pornography and “sexual material,” has resulted in a notable surge in the number of businesses creating and supplying sex education curriculum packages for educational institutions.
Parents, caregivers, professionals, lawmakers, and grassroots organizations in the UK have expressed concern about the resources’ generally positive or neutral stance toward the topic of pornography, which fails to provide young people with the necessary tools to comprehend the implications of the material for themselves, their relationships, and society as a whole.
Without sex education, youth would learn from the materials at their disposal, particularly pornography, which is a source that does not offer reliable or beneficial knowledge. Dr. Amanda Sanchez, the program coordinator for Culture Reframed, stated that “young people have a natural curiosity about relationships and sex, and they deserve the opportunity to explore a range of ideas, think critically, and access accurate information that is key to their healthy development.” “Qualified, trustworthy, and safe professionals are required to teach comprehensive sex education.”
Culture Reframed worked with experts to create a porn-critical sex education curriculum in response to this demand and the dearth of thorough, developmentally appropriate sex education offered in American schools. “Teaching porn-critical sex and relationship education is the only way to teach sex education today, given the prevalence of porn in young people’s lives,” stated Dr. Gail Dines, founder and president of Culture Reframed.
Critical Education on Pornography
The curriculum of Culture Reframed is intended for educators, youth workers, facilitators, and other professionals who work with young people, particularly those 13 years of age and older, and who are in a position to integrate sex education into their work. In order to guarantee age and developmental appropriateness, instructors are encouraged to modify the lessons, sessions, and materials in the curriculum, which is entirely customisable and available for free. It is easy to use, has downloadable lesson plans and PowerPoint presentations, and is packed with information, connections, and examples from the media to help both teachers and students.
The porn-critical nature of Culture Reframed’s sex education curriculum distinguishes it from other programs on the subject. According to Dr. Sanchez, “it challenges what porn teaches young people about the body and sexual behavior.” “Instead of normalizing or downplaying the known harms, it addresses the impact pornography has on children’s social, emotional, cognitive, and sexual development in an open and straightforward manner.”
Adequate sex education is crucial for young people’s personal achievement. “This curriculum’s ultimate goal is to foster a society free from exploitation—one that supports healthy body confidence, self-esteem, and safe, loving relationships between people who recognize the worth of every individual,” Dr. Sanchez stated.
The curriculum provides training modules with materials and ideas from diverse critical perspectives to aid instructors in understanding pornography and its impacts. The truth that most young people are exposed to pornography and that the messages in porn influence their attitudes and actions is largely disregarded in today’s sex education. “Resources for sex education are scarce, and the shortage is even more pronounced when it comes to materials that specifically address the negative effects of pornography,” Dr. Dines stated. “We acknowledge that young people’s lives are being significantly impacted by pornography.”
Research indicates that early exposure to pornography (initial exposure often occurs between the ages of 9 and 11) affects children’s conceptions of sex and relationships, including behaviors that are polite and consenting, equality, and their comprehension of the body and its functions. “We hope to give young people a counter-narrative to porn by contextualizing it through the theme of exploitation and offering comprehensive sex and relationship education through a porn-critical lens,” Dr. Dines stated.
The Curriculum of Culture Reframed
Lessons on Digital Literacy, Pornography, Sex and Relationship Education, and Anti-Exploitation Education are all included in the free program. According to Dr. Sanchez, “It is crucial to start by placing the topic of pornography in the context of exploitation, helping young people recognize that porn is a different product from safe, healthy, and loving sex.”
Young people may compare appropriate body image information and good relationships with the false information spread by the porn business thanks to the anti-exploitation framework. They may also use it to analyze how the industry takes advantage of them. “Young people are made aware of how their innate curiosity about sex is subverted and appropriated, depriving them of their autonomy over their sexuality,” Dr. Sanchez stated.
Children and young people are constantly exposed to pictures and messages about relationships, violence, and sex in today’s media-dominated society. The discussions about bodies, healthy relationships, equality, and consent are covered in the Sex and Relationship Education lessons. Students are encouraged to consider how and where they learn information, the types of sources they use, and the veracity and accuracy of the material. After then, students might reflect on how pornography affected their comprehension of these subjects and consider it critically.
In addition to developing skills for media literacy and healthy media behaviors, the Digital Media Literacy courses encourage learners to think critically about how they use media.
As a comprehensive program, the curriculum’s components together offer a critical critique of pornography. Every facet of the curriculum promotes the use of a porn-critical, anti-exploitation paradigm by students in order to foster genuine, satisfying, safe, and healthy relationships.