Overcoming Resistance: The Role of Digital Platforms in Advancing Comprehensive Sexuality Education in Conservative Contexts – The Case of Georgia

• In Event: Roundtable Session 4
  In Refereed Roundtable Session: The impact and challenges of artificial intelligence and digital tools in diverse educational contexts

Proposal

In Georgia, addressing human sexuality education has faced strong societal and institutional resistance. "Sex education" remains highly controversial and has been replaced by "healthy lifestyle" education in formal settings. Although limited topics on human sexuality were introduced into the national curriculum, they have not been fully integrated into teacher training or professional development programs. As a result, Georgian youth increasingly turn to digital platforms for information on sexuality, bypassing traditional education systems. This paper explores the challenges of introducing comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) in conservative contexts, focusing on the potential of digital platforms to informally deliver this education. Georgia’s case highlights the obstacles and opportunities in navigating societal conservatism and promoting informed sexual health education through digital spaces.

Relevance to CIES 2025:

This paper aligns with the CIES 2025 theme, "Envisioning Education in a Digital Society," by exploring how digital tools address educational gaps in countries where traditional systems fail to deliver sensitive topics like sexuality education. It examines how digital platforms can circumvent societal resistance while promoting health equity and informed decision-making, aligning with global commitments to inclusive and gender-sensitive education.

Research Questions:

How does resistance to formal sex education manifest in conservative societies like Georgia, and what are the key barriers to implementing CSE in schools?
How do Georgian youth utilize digital platforms to access information on sexuality and reproductive health, and what are the strengths and weaknesses of this informal approach?
What role can digital education play in promoting CSE in contexts where formal educational reforms face opposition?
How can digital tools be better integrated into existing educational systems for more reliable dissemination of sexuality education?

Introduction:

Conservative attitudes significantly challenge the integration of comprehensive sexuality education in Georgian schools. Despite introducing limited human sexuality topics in the 2018-2019 national curriculum, societal pushback and the lack of teacher training have stalled CSE’s development. Georgia’s international obligations, such as those under the Association Agreement with the European Union, require progress in gender equality and sex education. Digital platforms present an opportunity to overcome these barriers and provide an informal yet essential source of sexuality education.

Methods and Framework:

This qualitative research will analyze data on sexuality education in Georgia and include interviews with educators, policymakers, and youth engaged in digital sexuality education. The study will also analyze popular digital platforms and closed groups used by Georgian youth to gather information. The research is framed by:

Post-colonial educational theory, examining resistance to Western reforms and how digital spaces provide culturally adaptive learning alternatives.
Feminist theory in education, analyzing how gender roles and patriarchal structures influence resistance to sexuality education and how digital tools empower marginalized voices, especially women.
Critical pedagogy, promoting transformative, participatory education that challenges dominant ideologies through digital engagement.

Author

• Helen Beriashvili, Tbilisi state University