Welcoming Sexual Knowing: Theorizing a Culturally Sustaining Approach to Sexuality Education in K-12 Schools

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Friday 9:50 am Four Seasons Ballroom 2-3
  In Roundtable Session: Queer Ethics of Care in Education Research and Praxis (Table 7)

Abstract

Sexuality education is a crucial component of public health. As various health institutions and scholars recognize, ensuring equitable access to this education for K-12 students is vital. However, in Canada and the United States, there are ongoing controversies regarding the delivery and content of sexuality education. These controversies reflect a dissonance between public school curricula and the diverse beliefs and values within a pluralistic school environment. Current policies may fail to reflect students’ diverse cultural backgrounds and lived experiences. In this paper, I propose a culturally sustaining approach to sexuality education (CSPSE). CSPSE centers students’ implicit knowledge to address their health needs and support their holistic development in a diverse society.

Author

• Jacob DesRochers, Queen's University - Kingston