Sex education has been believed as an integral part of every institution especially in schools

both public and private thus it promotes awareness for reducing adolescent sexual risk- taking and

somehow educating ourselves about sex behavior. However, not all are believing in this way as

how they perceived sex education on their lives. Specifically, this review helps us to seek answer

to the following questions:

1. What are the pros of sex education; and

2. What are the cons of sex education?

According to the WHO, sex education should be imparted on the on the children who are 12

years and above. It is estimated that 43 percent of the HIV infected persons are in the age group

of 12 to 19. However, like ideologies, sex education in schools too has its own pros and cons, (De,

A., 2015). Here are some pros and cons of sex education.

1. Pros of sex education

(Rahmani, A., Merghati-Khoei, E. & Fallahi, A., 2018) explicates that there are three themes

emerged from the analysis as advantages of sex education: a. increased knowledge; b.

normalization of sexual and reproductive issues; and c. self-efficacy.

a. Increased Knowledge

(Rahmani, A., Merghati-Khoei, E. & Fallahi, A., 2018) exclaimed that based on their study,

more than 2/3 of the 41 young women participants believed the sex education could increase the

knowledge and promote their understanding of sexual and reproductive health. They added that
sex education is an important means of gaining knowledge, in compared to learning from parents

or peers. In addition, 90 % of the participants stated that they have learned sexuality from their

peers while they believed that peers were not the right people to learn from. Furthermore, most

participants believed that parents able to understand their sexual needs and therefore were not able

to educate them or answer their sexuality-related question.

b. Normalization of Sexual and Reproductive Issues

(Rahmani, A., Merghati-Khoei, E. & Fallahi, A., 2018) specified that based on their study,

participants regarded sex education as a means to overcome the disapprovals surrounding sexual

matters. They believed that if sex education was provided, they would be able to accept sexuality

as a natural phenomenon thus the sensitivity surrounding sexuality would decline and people could

speak openly about it.

c. Self-Efficacy

(Rahmani, A., Merghati-Khoei, E. & Fallahi, A., 2018) asserted that based on their study, most

participants believed that sex education could protect them from risky sexual behaviors. They

found themselves at a potential risk during their sexual activity because they lacked a sense of

control to reject the sexual act or use a condom. Participants explained further that sex education

might provide a situation for them to think about their sexual relationships before they have sexual

encounters; therefore, they could make the best decision in this situation.
 1. What are the cons of sex education?

a. Motive for Initiating for Sexual Behavior

(Rahmani, A., Merghati-Khoei, E. & Fallahi, A., 2018) stressed that based on their study,

the participants believed that sex education could operate as a sexual stimulus. Another woman

added that providing primary information about sexuality will stimulate individuals’ curiosity

to search for more sexuality information thus these young women believed that they might

initiate their sexual relationships if they receive sex education because they view sex education

as a motivation for sexual awareness.

b. Tainted Modesty

The participants described sexual modesty as the inclusion of ethical and religious modalities

in sexual behaviors. Several participants stated that sex education could destroy modesty.

‘Providing sex education looks like giving out a license for immoral sexual behaviors. Overall,

Some participants believed that one of bad effects of sex education could be tainting modesty,

which may provide a justification for premarital sexual behaviors. They thought sex education

might provide a license for avoiding abstinence and destroying modesty.

Generally, the findings from the study of (Rahmani, A., Merghati-Khoei, E. & Fallahi, A.,

2018) indicated that sex education could have three important advantages for young women:

increased knowledge, normalization of sexuality issues, and improved self-efficacy.

Disadvantages of sex education in the viewpoints of participants could be a motive for initiating

sexual behavior and tainted modesty.

 References

Rahmani, A., Merghati-Khoei, E. & Fallahi, A., (2018). “Perceived Advantages and

Disadvantages of Sex Education in Young Women: A Qualitative Study”. Retrieved from:

http://jhrba.com/en/articles/57221.html