The (re)production of ‘normal’ sexuality: a study of sexuality education for students with psychological and behavioural challenges in the Netherlands

Abstract

ABSTRACT Dutch school-based sexuality education, renowned for its progressiveness and positive impact on sexual health, has been criticised for advancing a limited, yet dominant discourse on sexuality shaped by societal and political factors. Critics have argued that it perpetuates a narrow conception of ‘normal’ sexuality tied to neoliberal, secular, able-bodied, white, heteronormative norms. This inadvertently excludes certain social groups, such as people with disabilities. While the exclusion of people with disabilities has been critiqued by crip theory, an unexplored area remains: how does ‘normal’ sexuality manifest itself in tailored sexuality education for students with disabilities? This study focused specifically on children who faced psychological and behavioural challenges. By means of a case study, interviews, observations, and discourse analysis, the research revealed that, despite flexibility, the curriculum and implementation of sexuality education for this members of group still retains aspects of ‘normal’ sexuality. Based on our findings, we advocate for further exploration of sexuality education for students with special educational needs, incorporating perspectives from individuals with disabilities, teachers and experts. To promote a more inclusive approach to sexuality education, we recommend providing formal training to educators to guide them in navigating these issues in the classroom implementation of sexuality education.