The Factors to Determine the Content about Gender and Sexuality Education among Adolescents in China

Abstract

The risks of adolescents being exposed to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and participating in unsafe sexual practices are increasing. There is the necessity and significance of providing adolescents with appropriate sexuality education considering they are at the stage of life exploration and risk-taking. However, in delivering sexuality education, the contents and instruction methods are usually discussed with contextual differences. In the Chinese context, the socially prejudiced perceptions on homosexuality can be attributed to the traditional Chinese Confucian philosophy, which has been dominating Chinese education for thousands of years. In China, students rarely receive adequate information about HIV, STDs, the use of contraceptives, pregnancies, and other sexually related topics in their formal education. Underlying the Confucian cultural background, this essay will analyze the variables that determine the subject matter of sexuality education for adolescents and then discuss how this cultural form affects social views and policy on sexuality education.