The Halcyonite

By Ishani Y.

Grade 10

I have been to 10 different schools, and I only had sex education in one of them, where the ending was disastrous . It did not feel like a safe and welcoming environment, especially if you wanted to ask questions, and the teachers did not seem to care, and made it more awkward than it needed to be. So, I was excited when I learned that we would have a comprehensive sex ed unit here at Halcyon. Halcyon is different from that school I went to. The teachers actually care about you and the topics that they are teaching, and the students, even in 6th grade, are incredibly mature and well spoken. However, my hopes were diminished when I also learned that we would be separated by gender for these classes. 

The practice of separating male and female students for formal sex education persists in places where sex education is plagued by taboos. Some teachers say students grouped by gender might feel more comfortable asking sensitive questions, especially on topics such as menstruation, erections, and especially sex. Young people may feel more comfortable asking questions in a separate setting. Another argument is that it is easier to differentiate lessons to meet the needs and learning styles of all boy or all girl groups. The differing maturity levels of boys and girls can be accommodated for.

THIS IS UTTER AND ABSOLUTE NONSENSE!

The reasons for teaching sex education with all genders present in the same class far outweigh the reasons for separating the genders. One big reason is that the topic will be stigmatized by separating boys and girls. Nicole Cushman, who is the director of a sexual education program at Rutgers university says “When we divide young people by gender, the implication there is that we’re somehow giving them different messages. We kind of reinforce this cultural taboo about the subject, and we reinforce the idea that sex is not something to be discussed in ‘mixed company. There’s definitely consensus in the field that it is a best practice, or that it is preferable, to speak to all genders at the same time.” Since separating genders into different classes based on their anatomy, education will be unequal, and therefore gender-biased.

It is also important to note the students who are gender diverse, such as nonbinary students, will feel better catered for. Gender diverse students may feel uncomfortable, unsafe or unwelcome in split classes, since they will have to “choose” between the boy or girl class.

Students in gender-split classes may behave in a more mature manner because in gender-split classes, students may feel compelled to act in stereotypical gender roles. There are also more opportunities to learn about topics from different perspectives from different genders and to to develop empathy for the changes and challenges experienced by another gender. Communicating with each other about sensitive topics is an important skill for building and maintaining respectful relationships with others – whether it be friendships, romantic relationships, and intimate relationships.

To gain more perspective, schools should offer instruction taught by both male, female, and gender diverse educators to provide positive role models and reduce stigma. Also, schools should have students ask questions they may not be comfortable asking in front of the class by using an anonymous question box.

    In my opinion, segregating children by gender sends the message that it is a topic that should not be discussed openly in mixed company, as it implies that it is something secretive or shameful. Since I am female, I believe the more openly we can discuss these topics and the more openly we can discuss them without shame and embarrassment, the more comfortable people will feel in reporting sexual misconduct when and if it happens. In addition to taking away the power from perpetrators, this will also diminish the power of the shame they rely on to ensure secrecy. Therefore, I believe that our practices need to change and that adolescents need to receive sexual education together, and not separately.

Bibliography

Rough, Bonnie J. “Perspective | Why We Shouldn’t Be Separating Boys and Girls for Sex Ed.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 19 Oct. 2018, http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2018/10/19/why-we-shouldnt-be-separating-boys-girls-sex-ed/. 

“Seven Myths About Sex Education Debunked | African Arguments”. African Arguments, 2020, https://africanarguments.org/2020/09/seven-myths-about-sex-education-debunked/. Accessed 5 Nov 2021.

Mullooly, Michael et al. “Sex Education | TN2 Magazine”. TN2 Magazine, 2016, https://www.tn2magazine.ie/sex-education/. Accessed 5 Nov 2021

“Sex-Ed Misconceptions Debunked – The Gryphon”. The Gryphon, 2021, https://www.thegryphon.co.uk/2021/02/18/sex-ed-misconceptions-debunked/. Accessed 5 Nov 2021.