Sex education

Sex education, study of human sexuality and how it is acquired and expressed. Sex education begins in early childhood when children first show curiosity about their sexuality and body processes. Until the mid-20th century, satisfaction of that curiosity was solely a function of a child's parents, and information from outside the family was discouraged. Today children may receive sexual information from their peers, the media, churches, or schools and rely less on traditional sources. Sex education has generated controversy between those who believe that home sex education may be inadequate and those who believe it may encourage premarital sex or fail to teach moral responsibility. Many sex education curricula are available to schools and other agencies, beginning with programs for kindergarten and continuing through high school. They cover aspects of human sexuality including social, physical, and psychological aspects, rudimentary anatomy, marriage, and parenthood.

See also: Calderone, Mary Steichen.