Sex education in schools is a sensitive issue. This is currently particularly evident in Italy, where, under new legislation, sex education will only be permitted with prior parental consent. In nurseries and primary schools, it will be banned altogether. In Austria, too, sex education is a subject of repeated controversy. The debate quickly turns to values, fears and political conflicts. For young people, however, the focus is usually on very specific questions: How is my body changing? What is contraception? Where are my boundaries? How do I recognise violence? And how do I treat others with respect?
Biologist Gudrun Kern is conducting research on this topic at the University of Graz. Together with Uwe K. Simon, she has investigated what content external providers publicly communicate in sex education workshops. They analysed 67 materials – including websites, workshop descriptions and leaflets – from 17 organisations in Styria, Carinthia and southern Burgenland.
The results contradict a common misconception: external sex education in the regions studied does not focus on supposedly controversial topics. The most frequent topics are body awareness, menstruation, contraception, puberty and biological development. Violence prevention, personal boundaries, protection and age-appropriate teaching also play a central role. “Sex education is rarely just about sex,” says Gudrun Kern. “It’s about safety, informed decisions and taking young people seriously in their development.”
Diversity is part of it
During Pride Month in particular, sexual orientation, gender identity and social diversity come into sharp focus. However, the current debate also shows how quickly these topics become politicised. The University of Graz study makes it clear: “Diversity is an integral part of comprehensive sex education,” says Kern. “But the data from the materials examined clearly show that the organisations cover a very broad range of topics – from body awareness and relationships to protection against violence.”
Protection, consent and self-determination
A particularly prominent theme in the study is the area of protection. Many organisations address violence, legal regulations, personal boundaries, pornography and sexualised violence. In doing so, they align with international standards for comprehensive sexuality education, such as those set out by the WHO or UNESCO.
At the same time, the analysis reveals gaps. The term ‘consent’ rarely features. Decision-making skills, sexual autonomy and positive aspects of sexuality such as pleasure, intimacy or self-confidence are also less prominent than biological or preventive content.
Against the backdrop of international debates, it becomes clear: “Age-appropriate sex education should not be reduced to mere biology or risk prevention. It can help young people to recognise their own boundaries, respect the boundaries of others and make informed decisions.”
Migration as a blind spot
It is striking that migration backgrounds have so far been given scant explicit consideration in the materials. “Issues relating to the body, relationships and sexuality can also be linked to different life experiences, access to information and family circumstances,” explains Kern. More research, more materials and programmes that are grounded in real-life experiences and sensitive to discrimination are needed here.
Sex education has been part of the school curriculum in Austria for decades. However, many teachers do not feel sufficiently prepared to deal with sensitive topics. For Kern, the topic is also relevant in teacher training. “Those who teach in the future will be confronted with questions about the body, identity, boundaries, social media, relationships and violence prevention. Sex education should be understood less as a controversy and more as a contribution to safety and self-determination,” says Kern. “When young people are informed, they can make better decisions – for themselves and in their interactions with others.”
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