I wish more girls in El Salvador learned sex ed in school
“Sex education can change lives — but I realize now that many other girls in El Salvador don’t have access to it like I did,” Liz shares. (Courtesy of 3waycolor/Shutterstock)
A 20-year-old Salvadoran student writes about how every student deserves to be able to make informed, safe and healthy choices about themselves and their body.
I still remember the day I had my first sex education class. I was in fourth grade with no clue what a period or feminine products were. Having grown up without a female figure present since my mom passed away, I knew very little about these topics. It was an awkward experience for 10-year-old me to learn about menstruation, bodily changes during puberty and how to practice safe sex.
But even though I was uncomfortable at the time, I know now what an important day it was and can see all of the ways that class has helped me. Sex education gives students the information and tools they need to have a healthy mindset about their bodies and minds, making the confusing time of puberty slightly less confusing. It enables young people to take care of themselves and make healthy decisions about their bodies, sexual health and sexuality. It leads to a reduction in sexually transmitted infections, HIV and unintended pregnancy, and increases safer sexual behaviors.
Through sex ed I learned how to have healthy relationships. It prepared me to make choices regarding my body, to understand when I feel uncomfortable with a person and to know when and how to say “stop.” I discovered an appreciation for being a girl in puberty and how to take care of myself. It empowered me to not be ashamed of my body and the changes it went through.
“Sex education gives students the information and tools they need to have a healthy mindset about their bodies and minds, making the confusing time of puberty slightly less confusing.”
Sex education can change lives — but I realize now that many other girls in El Salvador don’t have access to it like I did.
I recently engaged girls in my community in discussions about sex education in school — and I was shocked by what I discovered. I learned that only some private schools in El Salvador offer sex ed taught by a certified professional, like mine did. Other private schools have sex ed but the classes are taught by uncertified teachers who don’t even use the proper names for private parts and fail to give comprehensive sex education. Girls attending public schools fared the worst; most of the public school students I spoke to didn’t receive sex ed at all.
The problem is that many people and schools in El Salvador and across Latin America still see sex education as a taboo subject, an ideology influenced by religion and older generations. They instead want to focus on chastity and encourage abstinence (which has proven to be an ineffective method of education). Many believe that sex ed encourages a sexual awakening or promiscuity in young people. There is an astonishing amount of ignorance and lack of information on sex education. All of this results in a high percentage of teenage pregnancies, sexual assaults and femicides in the region.
“I experienced firsthand what it was like to have a poor quality sex ed class. For the majority of high school experience, my teachers refused to even use the proper terms for the female and male genitalia.”
In recent decades, the church and conservative Salvadoran politicians have prevented progress being made in sex ed classes in school. In 1999, the ministry of health attempted to disseminate materials in schools on reducing teen pregnancy rates through safe sex, ending sexual-based violence and the importance of respecting LGBTQ rights. However under pressure from the church, the ministry of health removed all of these subjects. In 2018, officials presented a law to the Legislative Assembly that aimed to make sex education mandatory in public and private schools and ensure it is taught by qualified, trained teachers. However, some deputies thought that the proposal was not consistent with the Christian values professed by the majority of the Salvadoran population and it did not pass. Back in 1999 and again in 2018, the government failed to take steps to address this crisis and give students proper sex education.
I experienced firsthand what it was like to have a poor quality sex ed class. For the majority of high school experience, my teachers refused to even use the proper terms for the female and male genitalia. They spent most of the class trying to explain a simple paragraph about reproduction; they even skipped the whole part about safe sex. They made the conversation awkward, which in turn made the students feel awkward, continuing the cycle of sex education as a taboo topic. My 10th grade health class was different though. My teacher was not awkward about the subject and so me and the majority of my classmates actually paid attention. Being serious and talking naturally fosters a safe space for students to learn. I am so grateful I was able to discuss safe sex in that environment and that me and my classmates were taught how to take own health and well-being seriously.
Every student deserves to have the tools and education to make informed, safe and healthy choices about themselves and their body. Every child deserves sex education.
*Editor’s note: Liz Trueba is a pseudonym.
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