In Sweden sex education has been compulsory since 1955. However, access to this still seems to be insufficient in special schools. Worries about unwanted pregnancies, sexual abuse and sexual risk situations make the surrounding unsecure about what, how and who are most supposed to deal with the subject.
Also, a heteronormative norm in sex education makes young gay people with ID to be an invisible group. In addition, stereotyped gender norms where girls are supposed to be oriented towards love and relationships and boys towards sexuality make it harder for young people with ID to find a more nuanced way to act.
The study aim to strengthen the sexual health among young people with ID, and to develop knowledge from their own experiences that can help teachers in special school to supply sufficient sex education. Which experiences of sex education do young people with ID in the age of 16-21 have? Are there any similarities or differences between boys and girls? In what way, and by whom, should sex education be supplied? What themes do the young people with ID think is of importance?
The study was based on qualitative research interviews with young females and males with ID in the age of 16-21 years. The results from the study intend to be used to develop an adequate pedagogic model together with the young people with ID for sex education at special schools.
Recorded June 12–16, 2011 at the 20th WAS World Congress for Sexual Health
'Forging the Future: Sexual Health for the 21th Century',Glasgow,United Kingdom
Visit The World Association Of Sexual Health at http://www.worldsexology.org
more about this speaker
