Sex Education and Rape

Abstract:     
This Article begins by describing what we know about the sexual experiences of teens and young adults. It then discusses the damaging messages about sexuality and gender that popular culture teaches, and highlights their impact on sexual health, autonomy, equality, and pleasure. Next, the Article surveys sex education programs in schools, which typically avoid discussions of sexual desires and boundaries, except for the boundary of abstinence, defined as waiting to engage in heterosexual, vaginal penetration until marriage. The Article then advocates that sex education programs begin to teach sexual discourse around desire and boundaries to prevent rape, and to increase sexual health and pleasure.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 29

Keywords: Rape, Consent, Sexual Education, Law, Gender

Accepted Paper Series