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Sex Ed. Textbooks ① - The Whereabouts of the Vulva

Sex Ed. Textbooks ① - The Whereabouts of the Vulva

The Storyteller: Teacher JeongYeon

5min
Sex Ed. Textbooks ① - The Whereabouts of the Vulva

🛸
Now on Another Planet Every person’s fate is like the history of a planet. No two planets are alike and each is distinct. Here we will introduce the planets of others to feed your curiosity. Find wisdom in real stories based on real peoples experiences, thoughts, and lives. JeongYeon tells you an interesting story…

What do you remember about sex education at school?

For me, a student with already interested in bodies and gender, sex education class was both stimulating and some what disappointing. While it was fun to learn about anatomy and genitals, pregnancy and childbirth, it was never enough to satisfy my curiosity.

I was able to fulfil that curiosity little by little after I entered university, majoring in Home Economics Education and exploring research and learning both formal and informal. In the process, I came to the conclusion that the sex education we receive at school is completely wrong.

Now that I’ve graduated university and am meeting students firsthand in the Home Economics classroom I have began to contemplate how to create a middle school sex education curriculum that could really change students lives.

What do you learn during Home Economics class?

In South Korea Home Economics is a subject that focuses on building relationships through healthy interactions with oneself, family, community, resources, and the environment, and developing independent living and practical problem-solving skills. Among the regular school subjects it deals with sex education the most. In the 2015 revised curriculum for middle school students the elements and outcomes regarding sex education for Home Economics are as follows.

These elements are then incorporated into the classes of middle school students across the country through the following process.

Through this process the curriculum impacts the textbooks, textbooks influence the classes and the classes then affect the teachers and students. The direction of a class can thus be influenced by the language and contents of the available textbook. The elements and outcomes are all composed of content to be learned in adolescence, emphasizing the growth of self-identity during mental and physical maturation.

But does the content of these textbooks accurately express these ideals? While the page design, sentence style, included pictures might vary depending on the publisher the basic focus and content of the textbooks are all very similar. Let’s take a look at the ‘Adolescent Sexual Development’ sections of representative textbooks used by schools around Korea.

JeongYeon’s Textbook Commentary Round 1 - The Female Body

▫️
What kind of language and expressions do these influential textbooks use when discussing the ‘female body’? Jeongyeon analyzed textbooks from three publishers (CheonJae Textbooks, BiSang Education, and JiHaksa) and discovered a few disappointing aspects.

CASE #1 The Whereabouts of the Vulva

What’s included in the textbooks

✔ Sections on male sexual development include both the internal reproductive organs (testicles, epididymus, vans deferens, seminal vesicle, prostate etc) and the external organs (penis, scrotum).

✔ Sections on female sexual development include only the internal reproductive organs (vaginal canal, ovaries, uterus, fallopian tubes).

What’s not included in the textbooks

✖ Sections on female sexual development do not include any explanation, or even mention, of female external genitalia (the inner and outer labia, clitoris etc).

👩🏻‍🏫
JeongYeon’s Comments Considering that the external genitals are very important in terms of sexual pleasure, understanding the body, and maintaining health I find it very problematic that this information is only provided for males, and not for females. Due to the structurally protruding nature of male genitals it is easy for boys to know how they are shaped and how they function. However, the nature of female genitals makes it difficult to understand their structure without purposeful effort and the use of a mirror. The vulva is undeniably a part of the female genitalia and educating students only about the internal genitals and their functions in pregnancy and childbirth is a direct violation of female adolescents “right to know” and understand their own bodies. Knowing the structure and function of the vulva would help students to understand their bodies and better manage their health. Above all, it is essential for women to properly understand the structure and function of the vulva in order to pursue their own sexual pleasure.

CASE #2 Menstruation… it’s a cycle. That’s it?

What’s included in the textbooks

✔ The textbooks explain ovulation, menstruation, the menstrual cycle and it’s expected date.

What’s not included in the textbooks

✖ Any kind of practical explanation of menstruation is excluded.

👩🏻‍🏫
JeongYeon’s Comments The textbooks only include explanations of the most basic concepts and information to do with menstruation. Seeing as almost all female students will experience menstruation every month much more information is needed to ensure they understand this part of their lives. Through learning about physical changes in menstruation, such as swelling of the lower stomach, hormonal changes, and increased appetite, individuals can understand their physical health without doubt and confusion. Learning about methods of easing menstrual pain, such as hot packs, stretching, and painkillers, can also help students better handle menstruation. Students may need to know about the painkillers that can be purchased at the pharmacy, and those that can only be prescribed by a gynecologist. Textbooks should also explain the characteristics of different menstrual products, such as disposable pads, re-usable cotton pads, menstrual cups and tampons, and how to choose the best product to suit you. Furthermore, it’s necessary to explain conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome which can cause irregular bleeding, vaginitis, and vaginal secretions. Students require education to recognize irregularities in their reproductive systems, and to know when to seek treatment at the hospital.


🚟
Class Continues How do Korean middle school home economics text books understand ‘women’s sexuality’ and ‘women’s desire’? Read more in JeongYeon’s next lesson, ‘Sex Ed. Textbook ② - Masturbation is for Men?’

내가 학교에서 받았던 성교육은

  • user thumbnale
    숨어있는 자기 1

    이런 선생님 만났었어야 했는데,,,

    2021.06.02
  • user thumbnale
    숨어있는 자기 2

    하,, 이 자료들이 공교육기간에 너무 필요하다고 생각되네요. 이 콘텐츠처럼 외음부에 대한 교육과 월경에 대한 실용적인 교육이 부재했다는 것이 새삼 공감됩니다. 또한 질염이나 성병에 대한 교육도 못받아서 성인돼서도 어떻게 처리해야할지 몰라 혼자 아파하며 낭비했던 시간들이 떠오르네요.

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    • user thumbnale
      숨어있는 자기 3

      그러니까요ㅠㅠ 이 자료를 당장 공교육기관으로.. 정말 아무것도 몰랐답니다 전 이혼가정에서 자라서 아빠랑 자랐는데 초경도 초경인줄 모르고 시작부터 정말 아무것도 모르고 고통받았던 기억이 있네요ㅠㅠ

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  • user thumbnale
    숨어있는 자기 4

    성교육 제대로 되어야 합니둥😭

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  • user thumbnale
    숨어있는 자기 5

    올바른 성교육 진짜 넘 중요해요 😢 !

    2023.04.24
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    숨어있는 자기 6

    고등학생 땐 저런 성교육을 아예 안 했고 특강으로만 1년에 한 번 성폭력 예방 교육만 받았으며 중학생 때 가정시간엔 남성 생식기, 피임 수술(콘돔도 건너뜀.), 임신에 대해서만 빠르게 진도 나갔던 기억이 납니다. 그래서 중학생 때 탐폰을 처음 써보려는데 생식기 구조를 몰라 직접 검색해보며 난감했어요.. 그래도 여학생, 남학생 나눠서 일주일정도 사춘기 교육 기간이라며 외부 강사분이 오셨던 시간이 있었는데 그때 제대로된 성교육을 해주겠다며 평소 궁금했던 점 다 물어보라 하셔서 유일하게 제대로된 성교육을 받았던 경험이 있습니다. 저희 학교에서 특별히 했던 건지 다른 학생들은 12년간 공교육에서 제대로된 성교육을 받아본적 없다고도 하고 일부 학교는 콘돔 정도 교육해준적 있다고 하네요.

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  • user thumbnale
    숨어있는 자기 7

    진짜로 너무 중요한거..

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    숨어있는 자기 8

    성범죄 피해경험자로서,, 의무성교육에서 범죄 피해를 입게 되었을 때 어떻게 대처하고 신고해야하는지 (현장 유지, 증거 모으기, 씻지 않기, 바로 신고하기), 신고 이후 절차 (피해상담은 어디서 어떻게 받고, 무슨 지원을 받을 수 있는지, 신고 이후 법적 절차는 간략히 어떻게 되는지, 이후 성병검사와 병원 내원해야 하는 점 등등) 교육하는게 정말정말 필요하다고 느꼈는데ㅠㅠ 우리나라 성교육은 “싫어요” “하지 마세요” 이거만 형식적으로 외치고 넘어가게 해서 너무 너무 답답함..

    2024.04.28
  • user thumbnale
    숨어있는 자기 9

    너무 중요한 올바른 성교육

    2024.08.25
  • user thumbnale
    숨어있는 자기 10

    tmi 썰을 풀자면 나 초딩때 가정쌤이 60대 훌쩍 넘은 할머니셨는데 성교육을 했는데 너무 성교육이 너무 디테일하고 적나라해서 충격적이었던 기억이 나네요~ 그때가 내가 초등학생 4~5학년때엿는데 그때는 성이란걸 집에서 교육을 잘 안시키던 그런 세대엿음 아기가 어떻게 생기냐 물어봐도 크면 다 안다고 하고 학이 물어다 주는거라고 삼신할매가 보따리 싸서 가져다주는거라고

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    • user thumbnale
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      그래서 그때 성교육을 잘못 배워서 고등학교 들어오기 그 전까지 남자에 대해서 그때 인식이 엄청 안좋게 박혀 있었던것 같아요,

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    👍

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