Demystifying sexuality education in schools

The sexuality education program introduced in 2018 is divided into eight major themes:

• Comprehensive view of sexuality
• Sexual growth and body image
• Identity, gender stereotypes and roles, and social norms
• Emotional and romantic life
• Preventing sexual violence
• Sexual behaviour
• Pregnancy and birth
• STBBIs and pregnancy

These themes aren’t taught all at once! They’re spread out over the 12 years of mandatory education according to students’ age and maturity level. For example, younger grades are taught concepts such as respecting differences, expressing feelings appropriately, body changes, and good hygiene habits, while sexuality (how it all works) and STBBI prevention are covered in high school.

The notion of consent is a key element taught throughout the program. Understanding consent is essential to preventing sexual violence and learning to properly express one’s emotions, whether in love or friendship. It is the foundation of healthy, equal relationships. When kids learn about consent, they’re taught not only how to establish and respect personal boundaries but also how to recognize when their own touch or behaviour isn’t welcome.

Quebec’s previous sex education program focused primarily on biological aspects and the prevention of STBBIs. The new program retains these important elements, but also addresses diverse aspects of sexuality in a positive and inclusive manner. Here are some of the topics it covers.

• Developing healthy emotional relationships
• Gender stereotypes (e.g., boys don’t cry, girls aren’t as good at math)
• The advantages of having a positive body image
• Pleasure and intimacy (for older students)
• Adopting a positive attitude toward contraception
• Understanding the repercussions of sexual discrimination (sexism, homophobia, etc.).

Sexuality is much more complex a notion than one might think. Indeed, it involves far more than just what goes on in our bodies and in our heads. Some aspects of sexuality are even anchored in the society in which we live. The five dimensions of sexuality are as follows:

• Biological (the body)
• Psychoaffective (the mind)
• Sociocultural (norms, stereotypes, societal expectations, etc.)
• Interpersonal (relationships with others)
• Moral (right and wrong)

Understanding how each of these dimensions affects us is the key to understanding who we are.

Everyone is unique! The goal of the new program is to celebrate our differences. There are many aspects to sexuality, and everyone’s personal experiences are influenced by a number of factors. That’s why it’s important that students feel they can be proud of their differences, and that they respect the differences of others. Below are some of the aspects of diversity addressed by the program:

• Diverse body types
• Sexual diversity and differences (e.g., homosexuality, bisexuality, asexuality, heterosexuality)
• Diversity and equality of gender identities (i.e., the gender with which a person identifies, regardless of biological sex or sexual orientation)
• Sociocultural differences
• The diversity of family models