sexual literacy

Sexual literacy can be defined as “the knowledge and skills needed o promote and protect sexual wellness-having healthy intimate relationships, being able to prevent disease, understanding sexuality beyond just the act.” In a 1990 Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS) survey, 55% Americans failed the basic sexual knowledge test. In another SIECUS study completed in 1999 (Public support for sexuality education reaches highest level) two in five teachers said that school policy restricts their ability to answer questions about sex. If teachers themselves cannot reach out and express an interest in communicating sexual issues to their students, then a different form of outreach is necessary. The problem is that those contacts are almost never available to students and these students are at the stage when sexual activity is a major issue.
This discomfort when dealing with sex results in the U.S. being the developed country with the highest teenage pregnancy rates. Every year, 4 million new STD infections occur. It cites that the abstinence-only programs, which have received nearly $1 billion in government funds, actually decrease sexual literacyrates. In order to improve literacy, we need programs that encourage rather than prohibit discussion of contraception and have educators talk about sexual activity as a personal decision rather than just wrong and harmful.
The National Sexuality Resource Center is a online resource whose motto is “Advancing Sexual Literacy through new dialogues.” On the website, I found links to Sexualidades Latinas, which aims to broaden sexuality dialogues among Latinos and Spanish-speaking communities, religion and sexuality dialogues, and nutrition and sex articles. San Francisco State University has a Human Sexuality Studies Program that hopes to clear up misconceptions about sex. On a Planned Parenthood of Indiana Website, I found links to more info about their Free Emergency Contraception (EC) Day, services to have birth control delivered to your home, and a way to get confidential questions to difficult questions. These kinds of resources are needed to effectively reach out to those who feel uncomfortable discussing sexual health issues openly or have no one to speak to.