∷ Beijing Yifang Foundation → Education [Research] → 2018
• Study on Sex Education in Rural China
Partner Organization: Rural Women Development Foundation Guangdong, School of Public Health at Peking University
Project Duration: May 2018 - Jul 2019
Project Status: Ongoing
It is hard to separate sexuality from an individual’s personal identity when discussed in a socio-economic and cultural setting. An individual’s sexual development is complicated and multi-faceted, which is why it is crucial for adolescents to understand the concepts and be equipped with the adequate knowledge during the years when their gender identity is being formed. Sex education must reinforce the values of mutual consent, equality, responsibility and respect which are key to having safe and healthy sexual and social relationships. However, this is not always the case as a 2013 study revealed that sexual abuse affects 15.3% and 13.8% of Chinese girls and boys (below the age of 18) respectively (Ji, Finkelhor & Dunne, 2013). In this grim climate, rural adolescents, in particular the “left-behind-children” face the greatest risk due to the lack of resources for education, emotional support and protection from their absent parents. Sex education in rural China should not be passed as physical education, but rather a lesson on safety, protection, gender equality, sexual and reproductive health. This should extend not only to the adolescents but also to guardians, teachers and social workers. This is why the Beijing Yifang Foundation, the Rural Women Development Foundation Guangdong and the School of Public Health at Peking University joined forces for this study.
In 4-5 villages across the country, the team surveyed the knowledge level of adolescents, guardians, teachers, public security, village doctors and other stakeholders on life skills, sexual safety and protection, and gender equality. The empirical research from the study sets the basis for future programmes on life skills training, sexual education, planning and implementation of relevant policies for the mental and physical well-being of rural adolescents.