
Inclusive sexuality education for sexual and gender minorities: Examining the effects of sexuality education on sexual and gender minority adolescent and emerging adults' sexual behaviors and health
The most common discourses surrounding sex education have pushed sexual and gender minority (SGM) issues aside or have systematically erased them altogether. For SGM adolescents and emerging adults (AEA) to experience comparable health benefits to their cisgender peers, sex education curricula must include SGM matters. However, due to the lack of inclusion and perpetuated heteronormative beliefs in sex education curricula, SGM AEA are less likely to receive CSE for their sexual health and experiences, as these curricula do not provide accurate and relevant information to all individuals. This project aimed to understand SGM young adults, ages 18-24, previous sex education experiences, and the impact it presents on their current sexual health to inform the development of inclusive sex education curricula. This integrated doctoral research used a basic qualitative approach conducting 19 semi-structured interviews to examine the sex education received by participants comprehensively, assess whether certain factors of their sex education experiences influenced SGM AEA health behaviors and sex practices, and provide recommendations for improving sex education curricula to be inclusive of the SGM population. From the 19 interviews, three significant themes arose (1) Sexual Experiences and the Influence of Sex Education, (2) Perspectives on Sexual Education Experiences, and (3) Methods to Change Current Sexual Education Classes. Findings demonstrated that several opportunities for improvement exist in the current model of sex education. SGM AEA felt excluded from the sex education curricula and felt their sex education was primarily heterosexual and consequences-focused, with information geared to negative outcomes of sex, sexuality, and sexual health. This education did not meet their needs and led many participants to feel anxious and ill-equipped for their sexual experiences, highlighting the need for inclusive sex education and increased advocacy efforts to make this curriculum change was echoed in many interviews.
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Work Title | Inclusive sexuality education for sexual and gender minorities: Examining the effects of sexuality education on sexual and gender minority adolescent and emerging adults' sexual behaviors and health |
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License | In Copyright (Rights Reserved) |
Work Type | Dissertation |
Publication Date | 2023 |
Deposited | November 27, 2023 |
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