Sexuality education policy and the educative potentials of risk and rights

Abstract

This article argues that institutions need to take more risks to improve sexuality education. Understanding how risk structures sexuality may help make sexuality education more attuned to the needs of diverse students. Situating sexuality in the context of human rights can help to demonstrate the kinds of social and institutional risks that are created by limiting sexuality education. In addition to contributing to high rates of HIV and unwanted pregnancy, insufficient sexuality education augments conditions for expressions of genderbased violence that harm young people in general but also more specifically impede young women's educational attainment. By limiting information and deliberation on desire, risk and culturally based gender inequities, sexuality education in its current state continues to limit health and life options for all people.