A new viral video is gaining worldwide attention as it compares sex education between Europe and the U.S. The difference in educating the youth about sex is also bringing different teen pregnancy rates.
The European nation of the Netherlands has one of the lowest teen pregnancy rates among developed nations at 14 per 1,000 girls between 15 and 19 years old, according to Guttmacher Institute. On average, Dutch teens do not have sex at an earlier age compared to other developed nations. Sex education in most countries in Europe is mandatory by law, according to Self.
Sex education in the Netherlands can start at four years old with discussions about sexuality, intimacy and appropriate touching. Kindergartners get their first lesson of sexuality education by being asked questions focused on love and relationships instead of sex.
By age 8, gender stereotypes are introduced while 11 year-olds learn about sexual identity and contraception. Sex education from the Netherlands is known as a program called Comprehensive Sex Education which is taught over years of schooling focused on human development, anatomy and pregnancy including contraception, STIs and HIV.
Teen pregnancy rates in the U.S., on the other hand, have one of the highest among developed nations at 57 per 1,000 girls. Only 22 states are required by law to teach sex education to public schools and only 18 states require information on contraception to be included.
Sexuality and humans being sexual creatures is something many people pretend is not an inherent part of being human, according to Amy Lang, a sexuality and parenting expert. Adults tend to be flustered and discomforted by the thought of sexuality.
The result is teens get a lot of information about sex by watching pornography instead. Unfortunately, pornography does not provide the fundamental understanding of sexuality such as the social, cultural and emotional, aspect of being human, said Lang as cited by USA Today.
According to a 2014 study by Georgetown University, teaching sex education in the adolescent stage may help avoid unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, STDs and maternal deaths. Unlike topics in history, science of literature, the main purpose of lessons on sex is to get students less interested in them, according to historian Jonathan Zimmerman.
