Why Sex or Sexuality Education still taboo in India

India is growing rapidly with huge transformation in its society, but it continues to maintain its deep-rooted cultural attitudes about certain issues. Even in the twenty-first century, sex education is still a taboo subject in India. Every day, roughly 100 children, both boys and girls, are sexually abused in this country. And it looks that the number is rising. The main reason for sex education’s neglect in India is that it is seen as a threat to Indian culture. 

Even despite a growing awareness of the need for many young children to be informed of their sexual health issues, it remains a significant taboo in India. Because this topic is primarily about sex and sexual activities, which is a culturally sensitive subject in India, students are sometimes overlooked in their quest for appropriate knowledge.

Ours is a country where Kama Sutra is engraved in stones and also where sexuality is reluctant to speak openly. The temples of Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh are engraved with various expressions of lust, love, romance, and togetherness. Sex, which has been very openly engraved throughout history, is considered taboo in modern India.

Sex Education program educates and informs young individuals about sex, sexuality, sexual health and sexual rights, and other related things at a proper age. Sex education can be defined as programs offering information on sexuality and gender identity, consent, and awareness about sexual abuse. It aims to develop awareness around sexual health.  

In a country like India, where the population is higher and denser than the land area, sexual education is highly controversial. Here are a few reasons of misconceptions that exist among people in India about sex:

• Indian traditions and morals do not allow any pre-marital sexual relationships, as these are “Christian or Western influences,”. 
• Teenagers will become corrupted and engage in sexual activities if they are given sex education.
• The concept of homosexuality and gender identities is only depicted in films; if a child sees such films, they may be influenced to become homosexual.
• Men do not have to know about menstruation or pregnancy until they reach the age of marriage, because only women go through it. Boys are not able to understand the needs of women in such situations because no one tells them about it.

In our country, most of the parents have such views. 

Why Is Sex Education Important at The Right Age?

• It is important that young girls and boys understand the changes that occur in their bodies as they reach adolescence, which can only be accomplished through sex education.

• Both girls and boys need to understand everything about the menstrual cycle so that the girls learn to accept it as a normal part of life, and the boys do not get grossed out by periods, tampons, and sanitary pads learn early in life to be sensitive to this issue. 

• Sex education makes students more responsible citizens. Especially boys. Therefore, sexual violence against women is less likely to decrease.

• An awareness about sex will also create an awareness about pregnancies and other related issues including safe sex and diseases like Sexual Transmitted Disease (STD) and Human Immune Virus (HIV).

• Sex education is essential. Through it, students can learn about consensual sex, rape, sexual assault and exploitation.

• Last but not the least, victims of child sexual abuse will understand that something wrong is being done to them and will be able to communicate to their parents the untoward incident.

Sex education is an important tool for children to learn about a broad range of topics related to the biological, psychological, and socio-cultural perspectives of individuals, as well as a critical intervention to prevent and reduce sexual harassment, assault, and abuse. All that is required is for it to be conveyed in an age-appropriate and entertaining manner that is founded on science and facts.

However, due to some misconceptions or a lack of sufficient knowledge about sex education, this crucial subject remains taboo in our conservative society. 

Some people think that sex education is just about sex. But in reality, the topic of sex education covers a wide range that aren’t simply about sex, such as health, sexuality, safety, gender norms, identity, respect, kindness, self-expression, and power dynamics. It educates us about the diversity of human bodies, how they function, and the rights we have over them. 

There is another misconception in India that Sex education is not for the ears of children, especially boys. The truth is that when we discussing sexual health in our country, this topic is often not associated with young people. But we should be teaching them about their sexual health and well-being requires an age-appropriate approach on their part. 

Both girls and boys must to know when and how to say “no” to unwanted and inappropriate touching, and sex education is important to help fill in the gaps in their knowledge about consent, body rights, and safety.

Basically, sex education should start with the family. It can help prevent sexual abuse of children to some extent. Create a safe space for each child in their home so that the children can tell you without any fear of inappropriate physical approach from anyone.  Teach them that none should touch some specific areas of their body and what are a good touch and bad touch with age-appropriate wordings. 

As a society, it is our responsibility to teach young people to protect themselves. As such, we need to move beyond taboos and acknowledge the importance of sex education to ensure a safer future for our younger ones.