Formal or informal sexual education of adolescents: Does the source matter?

BACKGROUND Due to the religious proscription, it was found that Arab youths acquire information and view pornography secretly. The internet exposes them to contents that contradict religious and cultural taboos. There are few studies about viewing habits of sexual contents among Arab adolescents and about the way they discuss sexuality. OBJECTIVE to characterize the barriers and difficulties that prevent sexual discourse in Arab society and enable pornography viewing, according to the perceptions of adolescents and mothers. METHODS phenomological qualitative research methods, in-depth interviews with 40 participants. 20 Arab adolescents, sampled by two age groups: 14-16 and 16-18. In addition, 20 mothers of adolescents from both sexes were interviewed. RESULTS The findings indicate that mothers “turn a blind eye” to porn viewing and sexual activity by boys, versus a sweeping prohibition and denial of such behavior by girls. The boys reported viewing porn routinely, whereas girls denied doing so, but admitted that their girlfriends watched porn. The study also found that the boys have guilt feelings during and after the viewing as a result of the clash between modernity and traditional values. CONCLUSIONS It is necessary to find a way to encourage a significant sexual discourse to prevent the violent consequences of its absence in Arab society. A controlled, transparent and critical sexual discourse could help youth make more informed decisions concerning the search for sexual contents, porn viewing and sexual behavior.

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Obscene Pedagogies: Transgressive Talk and Sexual Education in Late Medieval Britain by Carissa M. Harris

Studies in the Age of Chaucer ◽

10.1353/sac.2019.0022 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 41 (1) ◽

pp. 373-377

Author(s):

Heather E. Blatt

Keyword(s):

Sexual Education ◽

Late Medieval

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The dark side of the internet regarding sexual education

International Journal of Impotence Research ◽

10.1038/s41443-020-00398-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Emre Altintas ◽

Murat Gul

Keyword(s):

Sexual Education ◽

Dark Side ◽

The Internet

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Sexual Experiences and Perspectives of Adolescents and Young Adults With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Journal of Adolescent Research ◽

10.1177/07435584211028225 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 074355842110282

Author(s):

Elizabeth K. Schmidt ◽

Megan Dougherty ◽

Natalie Robek ◽

Lindy Weaver ◽

Amy R. Darragh

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Developmental Disabilities ◽

Sexual Health ◽

Health Information ◽

Sexual Education ◽

Adolescents And Young Adults ◽

Comparative Approach ◽

Sexual Experiences ◽

Diverse Range ◽

Sexual Health Information

The purpose of this study is to understand the sexual experiences and perspectives of adolescents and young adults (AYA) with intellectual or developmental disabilities, how they are receiving sexual education, and how sexual education can be tailored to their needs. This qualitative study utilized semi-structured focus groups and interviews with eight AYA with intellectual or developmental disabilities from January 14 to May 7, 2019. Data were analyzed using a constant comparative approach. Participants reported a diverse range of sexual experiences and an interest in marriage and parenting in the future. Two themes emerged for how AYA are learning about sexual health information: through formal (school, doctors’ visits, or from caregivers) and informal education (peers, siblings, self-exploration, or Pop Culture). Sexual education can be tailored to this population by addressing educational gaps (pregnancy, contraception, sexually transmitted infections, intimacy, and sexual activity) and by implementing specific participant recommendations (proactive, inclusive education with real-life examples). With a growing emphasis on disability rights to sexual education among individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, it is vital to understand AYA’s experiences, perspectives, and current understanding of sexual health information so that we can design a program specifically tailored to meet their unique needs.

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