Discusses some of the continuing obstacles that prevent sex and relationship education (SRE) programmes in England from being more effective. The prevalence of teenage pregnancies…
Abstract
Discusses some of the continuing obstacles that prevent sex and relationship education (SRE) programmes in England from being more effective. The prevalence of teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections that disproportionally affect the young indicate the urgency with which action needs to be taken. Discusses current sex education practices in England with reference to recent SRE guidelines and strategies, and in the light of the findings of a focus group of health care and education workers who deliver SRE to young people. The focus group uncovered several barriers to successful SRE. Suggests that apart from commissioning SRE guidelines the Department for Education and Skills needs to take a more overall and direct role in assuring that all young people are offered an adequate SRE. Concludes that any real and lasting changes can only be achieved if sex and relationship education goes beyond the individual to include a focus on social and cultural processes.
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This paper aims to discuss how sex and relationship education (SRE) could benefit from considering current levels of young women's empowerment in (hetero)sexual relationships and…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to discuss how sex and relationship education (SRE) could benefit from considering current levels of young women's empowerment in (hetero)sexual relationships and challenge popular notions of twenty‐first century young women “having it all” and occupying powerful relational and sexual positions.
Design/methodology/approach
This study employed a qualitative research design. Young women were interviewed in focus group and follow‐up single interview discussion. The generated talk was then transcribed and critical discourse analytical techniques were employed to analyse the dialogues of the more sexually experienced young women to explore their narratives.
Findings
In contrast with popular images of sexually experienced young women enjoying promiscuity and caring little about the consequences of their sexual actions, this paper displays how some young women continue to struggle with their (hetero)sexual relationships, and particularly their first experiences of sexual intercourse. The young women in the study did not necessarily experience “empowered” love and sexual relationships, rather their talk about their relational and sexual experiences revealed uncertainties, dissatisfactions and compromises.
Research limitations/implications
This study explores eight discourses from the sexually experienced, six of whom were young mothers, and two discourses of whom were not mothers at the time of interviewing. Accordingly, the discussed perspectives and experiences originated from the sexually experienced, and predominantly from young mothers, and the conclusions drawn are specific to this research context. Future studies could explore the extent to which the discussed findings may also be relevant to other groups of young women.
Originality/value
This paper contributes towards considerations of the inter‐relationships between current public health and wider social, cultural and educational issues. By taking young women's own concerns seriously and organising the content of educational classes around young people's interests and concerns, SRE can increase its potential to impact on the quality of young people's love and sexual relationships over and above reducing teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
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The following classified, annotated list of titles is intended to provide reference librarians with a current checklist of new reference books, and is designed to supplement the…
Abstract
The following classified, annotated list of titles is intended to provide reference librarians with a current checklist of new reference books, and is designed to supplement the RSR review column, “Recent Reference Books,” by Frances Neel Cheney. “Reference Books in Print” includes all additional books received prior to the inclusion deadline established for this issue. Appearance in this column does not preclude a later review in RSR. Publishers are urged to send a copy of all new reference books directly to RSR as soon as published, for immediate listing in “Reference Books in Print.” Reference books with imprints older than two years will not be included (with the exception of current reprints or older books newly acquired for distribution by another publisher). The column shall also occasionally include library science or other library related publications of other than a reference character.