What a more appropriate CSE could look like

What a more appropriate CSE could look like

In 1998, former US President Bill Clinton made the infamous claim that oral sex is not sex. More recently, the AWARE instructor’s guide to its Comprehensive Sexuality Eduction (CSE) Program makes the mind-boggling suggestion that, maybe, "virginity is a state of mind".

There are many things I find disturbing about the instructor’s guide to the CSE Program. Excuses such as only 1.5 minutes being spent on the topic of homosexuality or the instructors’ guide not being indicative of the message imparted during an actual CSE program do not hold water in my opinion. My retort to those excuses are :

(1) What exactly was said about homosexuality during the 1.5 minutes ? I’m inclined to agree with the old AWARE’s supporters that a 1.5 minute discussion on homosexuality (no matter how inappropriate) probably isn’t going to turn a girl into a lesbian. But is a simple discussion revolving around the statement that "homosexuality is neutral" sufficient to convey complexities such as that not everyone who engages / experiments with homosexual sex is necessarily a homosexual, and that at least for those who are merely "experimenting", homosexuality is not "just the way you are" (another statement from the material) ?

(2) Even if instructors do not repeat every word in their guide to students, surely the answers provided in the guide (including the inappropriate answers) will be used as and when a student pops a question which the guide provides an answer to ?

Some of my other concerns are :

(1) Classifying "anal sex" as healthy or neutral, when this form of sexual activity (where it involves penetration of the anus with a penis) often (as far as I’m aware, can’t speak from personal experience here sorry) involves more pain and carries a higher risk of transmission of sexual disease.

(2) Classifying pre-marital sex as neutral.

(3) Classifying virginity as a state of mind (whatever that means).

(4) Categorically denying that the possibility that childhood trauma may cause homosexuality, when no one knows for certain the cause(s) of homosexuality.

I am therefore somewhat gratified to hear, on my return to Singapore, the Ministry of Education saying that the CSE program was inappropriate because it "convey[ed] messages which could promote homosexuality or suggest approval of pre-marital sex". I am also gratified to observe Internet forumers in general agreement that there was something inappropriate about the CSE program, though this has not stopped the occasional odd opinion that there was nothing wrong and everything right about the CSE program : see here and here.

I think a more appropriate CSE could, on the topic of sex, say :

(1) That sex is essentially a risky activity (I am such a pessimist). That there will always be a risk of unwanted / unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), even if condoms are used.

(2) That when a couple engages in sex within the boundaries of marriage there is greater (albeit sometimes misplaced) assurance that the husband would support the wife in the case of an unplanned pregnancy, and that the husband / wife have not been unfaithful and are therefore free of STIs. Even then, pregnant mothers are encouraged to test for HIV in case they had been infected by their husbands, to prevent the onward tranmission of HIV to their babies. Hence pre-marital sex is higher risk activity, compared to sex between married couples.

(3) That certain forms of sexual activity, such as anal sex, are particularly risky, because of the higher risk of STI transmission.

(4) That responsible sex in a pre-marital (and even marriage) context means (i) ensuring that you are free of STIs before engaging in sex (or that you inform your partner you have been sleeping around and I-might-have-caught-an-STI-from-I-don’t-know-who-but-nevermind-will-you-still-have-sex-with-me-please ?), (ii) using a condom, and (iii) being prepared to deal with the potentially lifelong consequences should something go wrong, ie. STI infection or unplanned pregnancy.

(5) That for the above practical reasons, sex should ideally be confined to married couples, and virginity is rightfully valued.

http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=28486.113