their environment, rather than replicate the status quo. Beyond the instructional process, schools are sites of socialization; they serve as spaces in which power imbalances may be perpetuated or transformed. Unfortunately, many school environments still tolerate (or even encourage) sexism; bullying, homophobia, and transphobia; and racism and xenophobia. Failing to address uum; rather, it represents a tacit policy of condoning discriminatory practices and violence. In other words, whether by action or inaction, schools are already—at every moment—sending messages about gender, sexuality, and human rights to young people. For millions of young people, the Internet and popular culture are also important sources of information and messages about
Photo: © 2012 Anil Gulati, Courtesy of Photoshare
respectful social norms, enabling them to apply newly acquired information in their own lives and in their intimate relationships. New evidence demonstrates that this empowerment approach is far more likely than conventional sex education to reduce adolescents’ rates of STIs and unintended pregnancy (Haberland 2013). This—and nothing less—is what constitutes comprehensive sexuality education. When a sexuality education program helps learners strengthen their higherorder thinking skills and face challenges in a creative, constructive manner, it is also contributing toward the achievement of overall learning standards and the creation of well-educated individuals. Such programs prepare students for active citizenship and help them overcome inequities and imbalances of power and transform
Programs around the world, like the one reaching these girls in India, empower young people to use
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