Reading, Writing, Arithmetic and Sex Ed
How young is too young for sex education? Montclair State professors Eva Goldfarb and Lisa Lieberman say age-appropriate sex ed, concepts like consent and respect, should begin in kindergarten.
Their new study – the first of its kind in the field – shows comprehensive sex education can prevent child sex abuse and intimate partner violence, increase appreciation for sexual diversity and improve environments for LGBTQ students, among other benefits.
“This landmark study establishes once and for all that quality sex education that begins early, is developmentally appropriate and builds sequentially through middle and high school can improve young people’s physical, mental and emotional well-being,” says Goldfarb, a professor of Public Health. “While many people think of sex education only in terms of pregnancy and STD prevention, these findings speak to the broader impact of quality sex education.”
No Different Than Math
Goldfarb and Lieberman analyzed 30 years of published research on school-based programs around the world, and their results show that sex education, like any other subject, is most effective when it builds – creating an early foundation and advancing with age-appropriate content and teaching.
Children as young as preschool age not only comprehend, but can openly discuss subjects as varied as gender diversity, gender nonconformity and gender-based oppression, making it the ideal time to begin creating a foundation for lifelong sexual health.
“Waiting until eighth grade algebra to first introduce the subject of math would be absurd. The same is true for sex education,” says Goldfarb.
Creating Safer Environments
Programming implemented earlier has helped to prevent child sex abuse. It has also led to improved self-protective skills and knowledge of appropriate/inappropriate touching, increased parent-child communication and increased disclosure of abuse.
At higher grade levels, comprehensive sex education has also resulted in decreased intimate partner violence, as well as an increase in bystander interventions.
Quality sex education can also improve the school environment. The research found that LGBTQ-supportive classes resulted in a more positive school climate, including increased feelings of safety and lower levels of homophobia and bullying for all students – specifically homophobic bullying.