Sexual Education vs. Sexual Orientation

Sexual Education vs. Sexual Orientation

In This Article:

- Ideal Age for Sexual Orientation Guidance
- Who is Qualified to Provide Sexual Orientation Guidance
- How Sexual Orientation Guidance is Provided According to Multirio
- See Other Articles Related to This Topic

The concept of Sexual Orientation Guidance as a preventive measure against AIDS, early pregnancy, abortion, and STIs has undergone numerous transformations. Its scope is being intensely debated – whether within the family, school, or community. The very expression "Sexual Education" has fallen into disuse, and specialists question: is it possible to educate someone sexually? Currently, the most accepted term among experts like Helena Lima, a biologist, psychologist, and master's in psychology, is Sexual Orientation Guidance, a field that has been growing among health and education professionals.

According to explanations from Multirio, a governmental body in Rio de Janeiro, differentiating the terms indicates different meanings. "Other authors consider sexual orientation to be derived from the pedagogical concept of educational guidance, defined as a process of systematic intervention in the area of sexuality, carried out mainly in schools, by a qualified educator or other professional, and it approaches what we call formal sexual education," it defines.

According to the Sexual Orientation Guidance Guide, a publication translated and adapted by three NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations), sexual orientation, "when used in the field of education, derives from the pedagogical concept of Educational Guidance, defining itself as a process of systematic intervention in the area of sexuality, carried out mainly in schools." It presupposes the provision of information about sexuality and the organization of a space for reflection and questioning about attitudes, taboos, beliefs, and values regarding sexual relationships and behaviors. "Sexual Orientation encompasses sexual development understood as: reproductive health, interpersonal relationships, affectivity, body image, self-esteem, and gender relations. It focuses on the physiological, sociological, psychological, and spiritual dimensions of sexuality through the development of cognitive, affective, and behavioral areas, including effective communication skills and responsible decision-making," explains the Guide.

Sexual Education, on the other hand, according to the Guide, includes the entire informal process by which we learn about sexuality throughout life, "whether through family, religion, community, books, or the media."

Helena Lima, a coordinator of sexual orientation guidance projects in traditional São Paulo schools and currently the director of the Perdizes Unit of Colégio Pentágono, believes that sexuality is as integral a part of childhood as any other aspect and deserves attention in proportion to the child's demand. "Children have ample stimuli regarding sexuality and other aspects of life. Just as a child is taught to look both ways before crossing the street, to brush their teeth, manage their time and money, and learn colors, it is fundamental that they learn to understand their feelings in general, including those related to sexuality," she reflects.

According to the specialist, ignorance and the unspoken also generate fantasies and anguish. "So, there's no need to talk about storks and stars, nor to force the expansion of topics. The important thing is for the counselor to create space for questions and answer what is asked. It's that simple," she teaches.

Ideal Age for Sexual Orientation Guidance

For Helena, there is no ideal age to start sexual orientation guidance. She even considers the religious context and the environment in which this guidance will be given. According to her, if the setting is school, guidance should happen from the very beginning. "Socialization, class, teacher, classmates, recess, physical education – all of this is an intervention space," she advocates. "At home, also from the beginning, as long as REQUESTED. Don't stop your day and say, 'Let's talk about sex.' Disaster guaranteed, embarrassment, excesses. In summary, the ideal age is the one where there is demand. And the more contextualized, the less focus on 'sex,' the better. Sex is not a separate dimension of existence; it's just one more, with its own importance and difficulties..." explains the biologist and psychologist.

Who is Qualified to Provide Sexual Orientation Guidance

According to Helena, the most suitable professional to provide sexual orientation guidance in schools is undoubtedly a psychologist with solid training in the biological field, at least initially. "But, as it is a complex topic and above all requires trust, it can be any professional (a teacher, thinking of the school) who has theoretical preparation and fosters bonds and trust with their students," she adds. Marcelo Sodelli, a master's in educational psychology and clinical director of the Center for Studies and Themes in Psychology - Netpsi, believes that, in most cases, the role of interlocutor will indeed fall to the teacher, who, in these situations, also lacks training and guidance. He even believes that most prevention projects are more effective when teachers are involved, and that they, for the most part, do not feel prepared to perform this function.

According to the Sexual Orientation Guidance Guide, the work can be carried out by an "educator or other professional qualified for planned, systematic, and transformative action, aiming at the promotion of sexual well-being, based on values grounded in human rights and relationships of equality and respect among people."

How Sexual Orientation Guidance is Provided According to Multirio

According to Multirio, a Rio de Janeiro body, "the approach to sexuality should not be limited to the treatment of biological and reproductive issues; quite the contrary, it should include a broader questioning about sex, its values, its preventive aspects, for the individual as an exercise of citizenship."

They justify that Sexual Education, like any educational process, has long-term effects and results, often only observed after a considerable time, and certainly does not have the power to transform all the attitudes and behaviors of young people.

"The fundamental aspect is the possibility of developing positive educational work, of human valorization, even if its reach is limited, through adequate pedagogical intervention, which enables young people to have the capacity to choose and to eliminate feelings of guilt," Multirio explains.

They warn, however, that even while emphasizing the importance of sexual education as a liberating educational practice, this approach has not always met these objectives. "In addition to often being limited to disseminating information of a purely biological or preventive nature, concerning the control of sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy, and other social inconveniences, it can also spread repressive, moralistic attitudes that imply reproductive behavior appropriate to demographic policy."

Therefore, Multirio believes it is always convenient to analyze for whom and to what end Sexual Education serves. "With all the evidence, schools cannot shy away from their role as educators and ignore the sexual issue, given the situation created by the emergence and spread of AIDS among young people, among other issues. Parental participation is fundamental in the process of Sexual Education, as it encourages the process of co-responsibility," defines the Rio de Janeiro body.

Schools, according to them, "complement what is initiated at home, fill gaps, combat prejudice, and revise distorted concepts. The school's function is not to say what is 'right' or 'wrong'; it should prepare young people to distinguish what is biological, what comes from culture, from the social class to which they belong, leading them to their own truth. It is up to parents to clearly position themselves on what they consider important for their children," they believe.

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