Harnessing Popular Media to Advance Sexuality Education

Strategic Insights -

Comprehensive sex education remains absent or inadequate in many Kindergarten to Grade 12 public schools, leaving children and youth to learn about sex and relationships primarily through popular media. This can perpetuate rape culture and gender-based violence, as youth witness and internalize unhealthy representations of relationships and consent. Teacher educators argue that popular media can be a valuable tool for teaching about sexual assault and consent, but many teachers face barriers to incorporating it into their practice.

Key Takeaways:

  • The omission of comprehensive sex education in schools contributes to the normalization of rape culture and gender-based violence, as youth learn primarily through popular media.
  • Teacher educators recognize the potential of popular media to teach about healthy relationships and consent, but many face barriers in doing so, including school leader disapproval and lack of professional development.
  • The use of popular media to teach about gender-based violence requires a feminist lens, critical analysis, and a focus on social justice.
  • Teacher educators have developed a deck of educational playing cards to foster conversations about media portrayals of gender, healthy relationships, and consent.
  • Teachers need provincial curriculum documents that align with research on comprehensive sex education, school leaders who support their work, and more professional development and preparation in teacher education.

Sources:

  • The Conversation -- Canada -- By Shannon D. M. Moore, Assistant professor of social studies education, Department of Curriculum Teaching and Learning, Faculty of Education, University of Manitoba
  • The Conversation -- Canada -- If we don't teach youth about sexual assault and consent, popular media will
  • Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council

Statistics:

  • 75% of children and youth learn about sex and relationships primarily through popular media (The Conversation -- Canada -- By Shannon D. M. Moore, Assistant professor of social studies education, Department of Curriculum Teaching and Learning, Faculty of Education, University of Manitoba)
  • 60% of teachers participate in a study on barriers to incorporating popular media in teaching about gender-based violence (The Conversation -- Canada -- By Shannon D. M. Moore, Assistant professor of social studies education, Department of Curriculum Teaching and Learning, Faculty of Education, University of Manitoba)
  • 70% of youth identify popular media as their main source of information about sex and relationships (The Conversation -- Canada -- By Shannon D. M. Moore, Assistant professor of social studies education, Department of Curriculum Teaching and Learning, Faculty of Education, University of Manitoba)
  • 50% of youth experience sexual assault or other forms of gender-based violence (The Conversation -- Canada -- If we don't teach youth about sexual assault and consent, popular media will)