Sexual education, childhood and teacher education

Abstract

This research resulted from a bibliographic investigation and document analysis we conducted to compose a final course work defended in the Pedagogy Course of the Maranhão State University entitled Children Sexual Education: a theoretical approach from Cultural Studies in Education. Researchers in the field of sexual education have pointed to the relevance of discussing this theme in early childhood education because they understand that it is possible to trigger forms of problematization, crossed by issues of gender, sexuality, pedophilia, eroticization, etc. We based our theorization on the post-structuralist perspective and Cultural Studies in Education. The materials went through the following analytical process: floating reading as a "pre-analysis", followed by the "material exploration", which consisted in the transformation of the initial data and the categorization and production of the registration units for the "treatment of the obtained results". The bibliographic research and the document analysis theorized in this essay, made us understand the complexity of the discussions about sex education in early childhood education. We understand that the educational approach to sexuality must be beyond the biologicist and hygienist bias. Cultural Studies in Education broadens this understanding from the social and cultural processes that are built over time, where children are inscribed in the way of doing childhood and education. This research can be used as an indicator for the improvement of public policies for the training of teachers in early childhood education.