Citation

Beyer CE, Ogletree RJ. J. Sch. Health 1998; 68(9): 370-375.

Affiliation

Dept. of Health Education, North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC 27707, USA. cbeyer@nccu.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, American School Health Association, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

9854693

Abstract

This study is an analysis of sexual coercion content in sexuality education curricula. Copies of 21 adolescent sexuality education curricula materials published from 1988 or later were obtained and the information therein reviewed for sexual coercion topics such as date/stranger rape, incest, sexual harassment or pressure, inappropriate touch, and exploitation/victimization. The results revealed that 3 of 21 curricula (Streetwise to Sex-wise, Values and Choices, and Life Planning Education-DC) addressed all the sexual coercion topics with the exception of sexual harassment. The topic covered by the greatest number of curricula was pressure. Date rape was addressed in 14 curricula, 12 covered the exploitation topic, inappropriate/unwanted touch was addressed by 11, stranger rape was addressed by 7, and incest was covered by 4 curricula. The curricula that covered the fewest number of topics also offered the least amount of depth as measured by the number of paragraphs. The most significant finding from the analysis was that none of the 21 curricula addressed sexual harassment. This article recommends that all facets of sexual coercion should be equally addressed in junior high/middle school and high school curricula. Even though the topic may seem sensitive or controversial, it should be covered because these adolescents deserve to have information and skills to prevent or effectively deal with sexual coercion.

Language: en