Holistic Sexuality: Middle School Teachers' Understandings and Negotiations Across Content Areas (Poster 18)

• In Event: AERA Promising Scholarship in Education Research: Dissertation Fellows and Their Research
  In Invited Poster Session: AERA Promising Scholarship in Education Research: Dissertation Fellows and Their Research Poster Session

Abstract

This study examines middle school teachers' perspectives on sexuality across subjects and their need for support to improve self-efficacy. Through a multi-site case study of urban STEM, Humanities, and Health educators, it explores how teachers perceive and navigate sexuality in their classrooms. Findings reveal that teachers' views and practices are shaped by factors that either support or constrain a holistic approach. While educators see sexuality as relevant, they need more resources to connect it to their teaching and classroom environment. This research also highlights inequities, with lower-resourced schools serving more racially minoritized students offering less sexuality education than higher-resourced schools. These disparities emphasize the need for equitable implementation of sexuality education.

Author

• Monique Y. Perry, University of Pennsylvania