Sex Education Finally Reaches China

Sex education has only very recently been added to Chinese schools. Increasing rates of abortion and pre-marital sex have led experts to agree that sex education for young people is necessary. But now a new elementary school books is creating outrage with its method of teaching sex ed to children.

The Steps of Growth is being used to teach children as young as six about sex. Many Chinese parents think the images it uses are too graphic. There have been other complaints about some Chinese sex education dolls that are very anatomically correct. Imagine your child holding a giant penis plushie at school.

The debate over how young is too young for sex ed has reached many countries, including the US. But is China different? Should sex education be introduced slowly because of the fact that a decade ago talking about sex was still taboo?

China does need to make up for lost time when it comes to sex education. According to one report, 60 percent of Chinese youth aged 15-24 were open to pre-marital sex. So while young people have a more modern view of sex, health education is still a generation behind. It needs to catch up.

Even so, China may not be ready for a book like The Steps of Growth. Six may be too young to start learning about sex, especially with explicit images. At the end of the day it’s up to the parents to decide how graphic is too graphic.

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