“I would have liked to be better prepared for the real things”: A qualitative analysis of school-based sexual health education received by girls who have experienced sexual dating violence

Abstract

Canadian guidelines suggest using a positive, empowering, comprehensive, and safe approach to provide sexual health education (SHE). However, when they do so, decision-makers and educators often favour sexual risk prevention initiatives rather than positive aspects of sexuality. Furthermore, youth often criticize the gap between what they learn in class and what they experience in “real” life. This is particularly true for youth who have experienced sexual dating violence and whose particular needs are little considered in the development of SHE initiatives. The current qualitative study aimed to identify the key principles of SHE from the perspective of adolescent girls who experienced sexual dating violence. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 100 adolescent female participants, aged between 14 and 19 years old, who reported at least one experience of sexual dating violence. Four conceptual categories were created based on participants’ narratives, from which a theorization of SHE key principles was conducted: (1) Consent-Based: SHE should promote the affirmation and respect of sexual desires and boundaries; (2) Positive-Oriented: SHE should promote the legitimization of girls’ sexuality and pleasure; (3) Gender Equality–Focused: SHE should promote gender equality in sexual and romantic relationships; and (4) Developmentally Appropriate: SHE should correspond to the psychosexual development of youth. Results support the relevance of educating about consent, promoting a positive and inclusive approach to sexuality with sexually victimized youth, and involving them in SHE initiatives to better meet their needs. Implications for practice are discussed.