This post aims to illustrate the main inspiration for this project, which is the changing attitudes towards sex in Ireland. Beginning with a history of sexual repression in Ireland, the contrast between the old fashioned Catholic belief system and Ireland’s current, more progressive, stance on sex and sexuality is discussed. This is then followed by analysis of the current education system, including the 2019 report on the current relationships and sexuality program by the House of Oireactas. Finally, the importance of proper sexual education to overall sexual health and the role of both parents and educators in this is discussed

As a nation, Ireland spent the majority of the 20th century still heavily influenced by the Catholic Church. By comparison to other countries in the developed western world, attitudes towards sex in Ireland were considerably more conservative up until the 1970’s.‘Sexual repression seemed to intensify in Irish Catholic culture as the nineteenth century progressed’  (Fahey T. 1999 p.253) Perhaps because of the influence of the catholic church, people in Ireland had negative connotations towards behaviours, such as premarital sex and contraception, that were becoming commonplace in other western countries. Change came in Ireland as a result of external pressure to conform with the more progressive attitudes of other european countries, as opposed to internal societal pressure. The majority of western countries had embraced the sexual freedom movement by the time Irish people began to challenge the sexually repressed culture of their time. ‘Most Western industrial countries have experienced, in the decades after 1960, tremendous change in attitudes and behaviours in areas such as women’s role in society and sexual freedom. In Ireland, however, these changes occurred in the context of the wider pressures of industrialisation and urbanisation that took place long after they happened in other countries in Europe’ ( Crisis Pregnancy Agency, 2006, p. 8)

The influence of the Catholic Church in Ireland affected all aspects of society in Ireland at this time, from education to media. The education system at the time was predominately run by religious orders, and sex education often took the form of abstinence only sex education. Before the reformation of the Relationships and Sexuality Education (R.S.E)  in the mid 1990’s, abstinence only sex education was the main type of sex education in Ireland. The media in Ireland was also heavily influenced by the repressive attitudes towards sex in the country. There was stigma around topics such as premarital sex, contraception, sexuality and abortion. Contraception itself was illegal in Ireland until 1980 but it’s use was still frowned upon at that point. When Gay Byrne produced a condom on television during a conversation about the aids epidemic in 1987 it caused outrage.(“Late Late Extra”, 1987) There was a refusal amongst the older generation to embrace the use of contraception and it was still considered shameful to even see a condom. ‘It should also be remembered that, until comparatively recently, sexual discussion, public policy on sex and sexual behaviour itself all occurred within a cultural framework that was significantly influenced by Catholic social and moral teaching.22 The Catholic ethical framework was the dominant framework in Ireland until the 1960s; concerns about sexual probity were part of daily life and were enforced, to various degrees, throughout Irish society’ ( Crisis Pregnancy Agency, 2006, p. 9) Ireland was behind the times in comparison to other western countries who, by this point, had a much more liberal perception of sex and sexuality.

The last three decades have seen an complete transformation in public attitudes towards sex and sexuality in Ireland. The conservative mindsets of previous generations have now been replaced by the progressive and tolerant mindsets of younger generations. Ireland is now a population that  predominantly have an awareness of the concept of sexual health and a willingness to talk about issues surrounding sexual health. Compared to previous generations we are generally more accepting of all sexualities, sexual health practices and premarital sex. ‘The first large-scale study of sexual health and relationships in the State, published yesterday, found just six per cent of people now think premarital sex is always wrong, compared to 71 percent of people back in 1973’ (Donnellan, E. 2006) Ireland has come a long way from the repressed culture of the 1970’s, and done so in a relatively short space of time. This however, isn’t without its challenges. With the advent of the internet and the globalisation of media we have more information about sex than ever before.“Recently we’ve shifted from absolutely no conversation to now having the internet with absolutely everything about sex instantly accessible on people’s smartphones.”(‘Why sex should no longer be a dirty word’, 2018) Given that only forty years ago the use of contraception in this country was illegal, we are not properly equipped to deal with this level of information within the education system.

A review of the current curriculum for RSE was requested on April 3rd, 2018. The current curriculum is outdated, being over twenty years old, and isn’t properly representative topics such as consent, sexually transmitted infections (STI’s) and LGBTQ+ sex. The review of the current curriculum was published on the 29th of January 2019, and it called for a complete overhaul of the current curriculum. “The Committee noted that the curriculum for SPHE was published in 1999 and believes that this needs to be updated. Additionally the curriculum needs to be delivered to students from an earlier age”(Houses of the Oireachtas, 2019, p.26) Not only was it stated that the curriculum needed to be delivered to children at a younger age, it was also stated that LGBTQ+ sexual health issues should be included in the new curriculum. “Consideration should be given to the inclusion within curriculums of LGBTQI+ specific sexual health issues and the presentation of LGBT relationships without distinction as to their heterosexual counterparts” (Houses of the Oireachtas, 2019, p.27). As a large proportion of schools in Ireland align their ethos to a certain religion, it was observed that it is essential that this does not affect the sexual education of their students. “A new report from a group of TDs has found that religious schools should lose the power to influence sex education in line with their own ethos.” (Digital Desk Staff, 2019). As it is currently part of the law that schools can teach RSE from a standpoint that is in line with their own ethos, it was suggested that this education be given by groups external to the schools themselves.“The Education Committee recommends that outside groups that are brought in to schools to deliver Relationships and Sexuality Education, which will be regulated by the Department of Education or the Health Service Executive to ensure that accurate information is being given to students.” (O’Kelly, E. 2019). It was also suggested that the law that allows schools to create their own policies around RSE which reflects their ethos be amended promptly. “The Committee recommends that the Education Act 1998 be amended or at least reviewed, so that ethos can no longer be used as a barrier to the effective, objective and factual teaching of the RSE and SPHE curriculum to which every student is entitled.”(Houses of the Oireachtas, 2019, p.28). Along with other recommendations, it was advised that the new curriculum address issues concerning pornography. “The Committee recommends that the negative impact of pornography forms an integral and fundamental part of all discussions on and reforms of SPHE and RSE reinforcing positively framed sexual experiences.”(Houses of the Oireachtas, 2019, p.28). This review of the curriculum shows an awareness from the government that the current education system does not properly educate the youth for modern life. Although this review is a step in the right direction and was delivered within a year, the development of a new curriculum will be a lengthy task and it we can’t be sure when that new curriculum will be introduced.

Although it is easy to solely fault schools for the current state of sex education in Ireland , parents are not without blame. Article 42 of the constitution of Ireland names the family as the primary educators of a child, and it has been revealed that parents taking a proactive approach to sex education is beneficial for their children. ‘A simplistic solution would be to argue that school should be the primary educator of young people about sex. However, extensive research shows that parental involvement in sex education can have an extremely positive impact on the subsequent behaviour of young people, encouraging later sexual initiation, higher prevalence of protective behaviours and greater confidence in negotiating sexual relationships.’( Crisis Pregnancy Agency, 2006, p. 284). Understandably it is difficult for parents to educate their kids properly about sex when they themselves received an inadequate sex education. Nonetheless parents should make it a priority to properly educate themselves and create open conversation around sex in the home. “Parental involvement in sex education can serve to reinforce, and often supplement, key messages received about sex in school and can impact on their child’s sexual health in the future. Recent national research found that fewer parents surveyed in 2010 have talked to their children about sex and related topics (70%) than those surveyed in 2003 (82%)” (Kelleher C, Smith G, Bourke A, Boduszek D, McBride O, Morgan K.,2013) According to research parents are becoming less willing to talk to their kids at home about topics like sex. Being failed by both the education system and their parents, the youth of today are turning to the internet for information about sex.“In the absence of proper sex education and unable to talk to their caregivers, children will seek out information online.”(‘Why sex should no longer be a dirty word’, 2018). We cannot blame the youth for searching for information about sex, when sexual scenes becoming more common in movies, tv shows and video games. There is more pressure on youths today to be knowledgeable about sex, and people are becoming sexually active at younger ages than before.

The reform of sex education is important as proper sex education contributes towards good sexual health as individuals progress through life. The World Health Organization defines sexual health as “a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination and violence.” (World Health Organisation 2006, p.5 ) This definition includes both the physical and mental aspects of sexual health, asserting the importance of consent, respect and safety in sexual health. Sexual education is important because it can set an individual up with a positive attitude towards sexuality from a young age, eradicating the fear and confusion that is often associated with early sexual development and encounters.  ‘Sexual development is often typified as something problematic to be contained and controlled, especially for girls. This characterization often has more to do with the anxieties, fears, and beliefs of adults than the reality experienced by adolescents’ (World Health Organisation 2006, p.7 ) We must strive to create an educational experience that is inclusive, free from stigma and equips youths with the tools necessary for adulthood before they are in a situation they are not prepared for. ‘Sexuality education must seek to promote health and well-being, as well as sexual rights.’(World Health Organisation 2006, p.18 ) The ideal sexual education system would place importance on all aspects of sexuality.

References

Crisis Pregnancy Agency (2006). Irish Study of Sexual Health and Relationships (ISSHR), October, UCD viewed on 01/02/2019 via <https://www.ucd.ie/issda/static/documentation/esri/isshr-report.pdf>

Donnellan, E. (2006) ‘Irish attitude to sex undergoes dramatic shift over 30 years’ Irish Times, 17 October, viewed 01/02/2019 via <https://www.irishtimes.com/news/irish-attitude-to-sex-undergoes-dramatic-shift-over-30-years-1.1016414 >

Digital Desk Staff (2019) ‘Report to call for reform of Ireland’s 20 year old sex education programme’ Breaking News.ie, 29 January, viewed 01/02/2019 via <https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/report-to-call-for-reform-of-irelands-20-year-old-sex-education-programme-900823.html>

Fahey T.(1999) ‘Religion and Sexual Culture in Ireland’ The British Academy , viewed 01/02/2019 via <https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/pubs/proc/files/79p241.pdf>

Houses of the Oireachtas (2019) ‘Joint Committee on Education and Skills Report on Relationships and Sexuality Education’ Committee on Education and skills, 29 January, viewed 01/02/2019 via <https://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/committee/dail/32/joint_committee_on_education_and_skills/reports/2019/2019-01-29_report-on-relationships-and-sexuality-education_en.pdf>

Kelleher C, Smith G, Bourke A, Boduszek D, McBride O, Morgan K. Sex in Ireland in the last decade: sexual health research and its policy implications. IRCHSS Policy Brief. Dublin: Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, 2013. [online] Available from URL :  https://epubs.rcsi.ie/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1053&context=psycholrep (accessed 7/11/2018 and again on 25/11/2018)

Late Late Extra  1987, Television Programme, RTE, 16 May, viewed 01/02/209 via <https://www.rte.ie/archives/category/society/2017/0504/872557-condom-controversy/>

O’Kelly, E. (2019) ‘Sex education outdated, ethos should not influence teaching – report

’ RTE, 29 January, viewed 01/02/2019 via <https://www.rte.ie/news/education/2019/0129/1026159-sex-education-schools/>

‘Why sex should no longer be a dirty word’(2018) Irish Examiner, 23, October, viewed 01/02/2019 via <https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/views/analysis/why-sex-should-no-longer-be-a-dirty-word-878393.html>

World Health Organisation. (2002). Defining sexual health: report of a technical consultation on sexual health, 28-31 January, Geneva. Geneva, World Health Organization, viewed 01/02/2019 via <https://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/publications/sexual_health/defining_sexual_health.pdf>

Bibliography

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