A Critical Analysis of Sexuality Education in the United States: Toward an Inclusive Curriculum for Social Justice

189 Pages·2019·1.332 MB·English

by  Tiffani Kocsis

A Critical Analysis of Sexuality
Education in the United States
A Critical Analysis of Sexuality Education in the United States explores the
development of sexuality education in North America and uses economic,
legal, and psychological paradigms to identify and trace exclusionary
programming and practices in schools.
By analyzing legal and political documents, as well as state and private
curricula, this insightful text considers the historical and contemporary
experiences of adolescents in connection to the social structures of
sexuality education. Challenging the current state of sex education in
the United States, in terms of both content and delivery, the chapters
succinctly illustrate how schools are failing to meet the developmental
needs of all students. Student perspectives and evidence-based research
demonstrate that an exclusionary curriculum is failing to equip students
with the knowledge and understanding they require to undergo a process
of empowerment about their sexuality, and engage in safe, informed, and
consensual sexual activity. Finally, by employing a rights-based approach
to sexuality education, the author offers important recommendations for
change in state and federal curricula.
Offering unique and comprehensive insight into the state of sex
education in the United States, this text will be of great interest to graduate
and postgraduate students, academics, researchers, policy makers, and
libraries in the fi elds of sexuality education, education policy and politics,
sociology of education, gender studies, and curriculum studies.
Tiffani Kocsis is Assistant Principal at Campbell Hall in Los Angeles,
California, USA.

A Critical Analysis of
Sexuality Education in
the United States
Toward an Inclusive Curriculum
for Social Justice
Tiffani Kocsis
First published 2020
by Routledge
52 Vanderbilt Avenue, New York, NY 10017
and by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2020 Taylor & Francis
The right of Tiffani Kocsis to be identifi ed as author of this work has been
asserted by her in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright,
Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced
or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means,
now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording,
or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in
writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice : Product or corporate names may be trademarks or
registered trademarks, and are used only for identifi cation and explanation
without intent to infringe.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
A catalog record for this book has been requested
ISBN: 978-1-138-31831-1 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-0-429-45468-4 (ebk)
Typeset in Sabon
by Apex CoVantage, LLC
To my mom, who carried the weight of the world on her
shoulders so I didn’t have to. This text will be imposed onto
coffee mugs so you’ll always have a copy of the work that
you constantly cheered on.
To my husband, whose personal and professional sacrifi ces
may have gone unnoticed by word but never by heart. You
continue to give so much and this project would have never
happened without your willingness to single-parent night
after night. I see all that you do and the incredible man that
you are.
For Kellen, Paige, and Piper, my three little birds, for your
missed bedtimes and moments I failed you, which you met
with unconditional love. In your eyes I see the true meaning
of joy, and it fi lls my soul every day. May your days be full
of wonder and your hearts untroubled. Never forget that
your voices deserve to be heard—give ’em hell.

Contents
Figures and Tables ix
Abbreviations x
Preface xi
PART I
Overview 1
1 Two Distinct Approaches to Sexuality Education
Programs 5
2 Issues of Gender and Orientation 16
3 Critical Feminist Theory, Queer Theory and Critical
Pedagogy: Applications in Sex Ed 31
PART II
Traditional and Critical Emancipatory Sexuality
Theory: In contrast 41
4 Traditional Views of Adolescent Sexuality
Development 43
5 Gender, Power, and Sexualities 52
PART III
The Federal Politics of Sexuality Education 69
6 Sex Education Rises to a National Conversation 71
7 Conservative Mobilization 76
8 Modern Policies 87
viii Contents
PART IV
Case Law and Legal Challenges 97
9 Establishing Trends 99
10 Supreme Court Cases 102
11 Circuit and District Court Cases 107
12 Rising Challenges 113
PART V
Implications for School Site Programming 115
13 AO Education—Problematic Exclusions 119
14 To Begin the Transformation 124
15 Social Justice Ideals for Sexuality Education 139
Index 164
Figures and Tables
Figures
2.1 Percentage of LGBT students who feel unsafe based on
real or perceived characteristics 23
2.2 Percentage of students seeking information online 28
15.1 Canadian sexual health education in the IMB model 152
15.2 Canadian sexual health elements 153
Tables
7.1 Federal funding for AO programs fi scal years
1982–2007, in millions 83
15.1 Topics for inclusion as content in a rights-based
approach to sexuality education 144