Sex Education-The Taboo!

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I know this posts' topic in itself might raise an eyebrow or two. But I am forced to pen down (type down?) my thoughts on this today. I am a very proud Indian. India is a country that is known for its rich heritage and culture. Unfortunately, over a period of time we seem to have lost track of what our forefathers taught us. We selectively took bids and pieces from the Vedas, manipulated few and set our own 'standards' to follow- the way to live. While this in itself is a debatable topic, let me get down to the taboo we have had for generations. Any middle class family in India (who account for  around 60% of our population) the use of the word 'Sex' is a taboo. I am not even getting into anything else here, just the word usage itself. I have to shamefully agree that I myself refrained from using the word way past my teenage days. Having said that, it is hence understood that a child born in a typical middle class family is raised on certain notion or the 'standards' to follow. I read a book recently on the psychology behind 'Curious'. Human beings are naturally wired in a way that they have inborn curiosity when it comes to Sex, Shelter, Food. 

There have been a serious of events I have been reading about recently. 3 year old child molested, 15 year old commits suicide after her pictures are published online, 16 year old rapes a 11 year old and records a video to threaten her. I have till date not read anything beyond the headlines. It pains me to read those. 3 year old? How cruel can this world be! One of the schools  recently decided to add Sex education as part of their curriculum for kids as young as 5 year old. There were a bounty of protests that followed and the school had no choice but to remove this from the curriculum. Did we forget India is the land from were we blessed the rest of the world with 'Kama Sutra'. And well, historians attribute Kama Sutra was composed between 400 BCE and 200 CE! (Thousands of years ago!!). 

Connecting back to the book on Curious, research says that Kids are curious to know things which is why they keep asking questions. Now, the society sets a taboo on this particular thing called 'Sex' and unfortunately your kid is not going to be in a world that doesn't need to know a thing or two. Sadly, it becomes ultimate extremes of kids getting to know things the wrong way and hence are curious to know how it is done or they are totally lame and don't understand what is happening to them if the situation were to arise. 

Given this situation, it is more than a need of the hour, to ensure we have a safe environment for our next generation. To begin with, Sex is not Taboo!! Please go back to our vedas, read our history. Sex education in schools is a definite must. I had a colleague of mine who very hesitantly asked me once how to talk to her daughter who is now 15 year old on this! My first thought was asking her if she had started this discussion anytime before- Simple things on good touch and bad touch. Surprisingly, she said NO! There is a whole lot of difference, when kids explore and learn things on their own as against the parents telling the kids what this is all about. I know a lot of close friends of mine, whose family have open discussions on Sex related things without raising an eyebrow. Surprisingly, I find these boys and girls way more 'cultured' and more importantly, know how to respect the opposite gender. 

Change begins at home! I hope someday I will open my newspaper in the morning, not praying that I don't read anything about a case of Child molestation...

Vive!
Me Myself :)

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