China: sex education and gender difference
Since the late 1980s sex education has been widely promoted in the
People’s Republic of China and, particularly in urban areas, is becoming an
important aspect of young people’s education. Physical and psychological
development, personal hygiene, sexual desire, homosexuality, premarital sex,
teenage pregnancy and venereal diseases are only some of the themes discussed
in the classrooms.
Sex education textbooks establish parameters, standards of behaviour
and principles of sexual morality to “guide” young people’s sexual and gender
development. Boys and girls are asked to conform to these parameters in
order to complete their development as strong and healthy citizens of the future.
This study proposes a gendered analysis of formal sex education materials
recently published in China. In particular, it points out that educational
messages present evident gender imbalances and represent standards of morality
and responsibility which vary according to gender.