Healthy Sexual Development: A Multidisciplinary Framework for Research

Abstract

A group of Australian researchers from a range of disciplines involved in studying children's sexual development developed a framework for researching healthy sexual development that was acceptable to all disciplines involved. The 15 domains identified were: freedom from unwanted activity; an understanding of consent; education about biological aspects; understanding of safety; relationship skills; agency; lifelong learning; resilience; open communication; sexual development should not be "aggressive, coercive or joyless;" self-acceptance; awareness and acceptance that sex is pleasurable; understanding of parental and societal values; awareness of public/private boundaries; and being competent in mediated sexuality.

Locked down apps versus the social media ecology: Why do young people and educators disagree on the best delivery platform for digital sexual health entertainment education?

“…They were asked, on camera, a series of questions designed to prompt jokes across a range of sexual health topics. The questions were developed by an Advisory Group of education and health experts to elicit discussion of topics across the range of factors identified by McKee et al as relevant to healthy sexual development (McKee et al 2010). These include a range of skills and competencies, including: 'Education about biological aspects of sex'; 'An understanding of consent'; 'Relationship skills'; 'Awareness and acceptance that sex can be pleasurable'; and 'Competence in mediated sexuality'.…”

‘Sex and History’: Talking Sex with Objects from the Past

“…These comments reflect broader international research into the nature of adolescent sexual development and the identification of a set of new goals for sexuality education (McKee et al 2010). Such research calls for sexuality education worldwide to move away from a risk perspective, through which the aim is to protect young people from perceived dangers of adolescent sexuality (such as pregnancy, diseases, or abusive relationships) towards a positive attempt to encourage healthy sexual development (Allen 2007).…”

Hvordan forstå barns aldersnormale seksualitet i barnehagen?

“…I så fall må vi bruke et flerdelt normalitetsbegrep, og definisjoner av normalutvikling og praktisk-pedagogiske vurderinger av seksuell lek og atferd bygge på en reflektert forståelse av det normale og en reflektert grensesetting for leken. Faglitteraturen tilbyr flere tverrfaglige vurderingsverktøy, som for eksempel McKee et al (2010), Hegge (2016), Stevnhøj & Strange (2016) eller Bromberg & O'Donohue (2013). I Hegges (2016) «Trafikklyset» skjaeres ikke all seksuell atferd over en kam, men blir sortert i grønn (ufarlig), gul (bekymringsfull) og rød (umiddelbar reaksjon).…”