Sexuality education in an age of resistance: Reflections at the nexus of education, health and rights
In July last year, Katrina Marson, Giselle Woodley, Jordina Quain, Hanna Saltis, and I hosted a panel discussion at the World Association for Sexual Health Congress exploring the resistances and challenges facing comprehensive sexuality education (CSE). We kept these conversations going after the panel and decided to write a collaborative reflective piece.
Why sexuality education matters and why it is under attack
The article explores the growing pushback against comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) in Australia and globally, and why protecting it matters for young people’s health, rights and wellbeing. CSE is more than learning about sex. It includes topics like:
Respectful relationships
Consent and communication
Gender and sexuality diversity
Online safety
Body literacy and wellbeing
Decades of research show that CSE helps young people build safer, healthier and more affirming relationships.
Despite strong evidence that CSE benefits young people and communities, it is facing increasing resistance. Our article reflects on this by drawing on a panel discussion we delivered at the World Association for Sexual Health congress and our experiences as researchers, educators and practitioners. We identified some key sources of resistance.
Main Paper Points
1. The idea of ‘protecting childhood innocence’
One major argument against CSE is that it ‘sexualises’ children or takes away their innocence. But this idea does not match young people’s real lives. Young people are already navigating:
relationships, dating and friendships,
online sexual content,
peer pressure, and
gender norms and questions about identity.
When we deny young people accurate, age-appropriate information, we do not protect them. We leave them unprepared. Actually, CSE can help young people:
recognise grooming and abuse, and
understand consent, set boundaries and seek help.
2. Backlash against gender and sexuality diversity
Another key site of resistance is LGBTQ+ education. In Australia, programs designed to support LGBTQ+ students have faced intense political and media backlash, despite strong evidence that they improve student wellbeing and safety. Research shows that when students see themselves reflected in education:
mental health and school engagement improve, and
bullying decreases.
Yet fear of complaints or controversy often leads schools to censor content, even when educators support it.
3. Young people’s rights are being sidelined
We believe that CSE is a human right. Access to accurate, inclusive information supports young people’s rights to:
good health,
safety,
education,
bodily autonomy, and
freedom from violence.
International human rights bodies increasingly recognise CSE as essential to these rights. When education is restricted, these rights are undermined.
4. CSE benefits everyone, not just young people
CSE also has broader social and economic benefits. Evidence shows it can:
improve mental health,
lower healthcare costs,
support workforce skills like communication and empathy,
advance gender equity, and
reduce gender-based violence.
Beyond schools, CSE can support the good health and wellbeing of communities, not just individuals.
Why this matters now
We are seeing rising political and cultural resistance to discussions of gender, sexuality and young people’s rights. This creates:
fear among educators,
curriculum censorship,
withdrawal of resources, and
public misinformation.
Our article argues that defending CSE is a social and political duty.
Where to from here?
We end with a call for:
continued advocacy,
collective solidarity among educators and researchers,
evidence-informed policy, and
protection of young people’s rights to knowledge.
Because when CSE is supported, young people and communities are better equipped to thrive across the lifespan.