Childhood Sex Education in Canada

Carly Bruce

doi:10.29173/cjfy29712

Abstract

Childhood Sex Education in Canada

Highlights

The topic of sex education in childhood is multi-faceted and highly controversial
In an exploration of the current province and territory-based sex education curricula, Action Canada for Sexual Health & Rights (2020) found that there was a substantial amount of disconnect and inconsistency, an absence of any type of monitoring from anyone in a position above the teachers, and that none of the curricula met the criteria set out by the U.N for a comprehensive sex education
The majority of sex-ed curricula being outdated, sourcing between 2000-2012, and the highly politicized nature of what is included and removed from lessons contribute to an incomplete, sub-par, and stagnant level of education that is being delivered to children in Canada (Action Canada for Sexual Health & Rights, 2020)

Summary

Introduction

The topic of sex education in childhood is multi-faceted and highly controversial. There are many arguments over what should be considered age-appropriate, how we must protect the innocence of the children, the insistence on religious beliefs being prioritized, as well as the ease of access children have to sexually explicit material through what they view in the media and on the internet. Canada’s sex education lacks unity and federal guidance, as it differs from province to province to territory, and is focused largely on preventing teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and other negative sexual outcomes, and in some cases being completely abstinence focused (Action Canada for Sexual Health & Rights, 2020). It is this paper’s position that this limited and narrow-sighted sex education does not match the sexual development stages of children, should be enhanced to better aid in recognition of child sexual abuse cases, and that the absence of LGBTQIA+ representation puts the well-being of students in danger. Following is a deep look at Canada’s current state of sex education, an examination of how it could be improved, an acknowledgement of, and answer to parental push-back, and provides some insight on the positive benefits of a more comprehensive sex education curriculum for children up to the age of 14

Findings

Discussion

Conclusion