Sexual knowledge is often discussed in religious institutions to teach students about the importance of abstinence and chastity before marriage.
This approach can have negative consequences for young people's understanding of healthy relationships and their own bodies. It also limits their ability to make informed decisions about their sexual activity, leading to unhealthy and even dangerous behaviors. This article explores how the policing of sexual knowledge impacts autonomy, relational maturity, and consent.
Autonomy
The policing of sexual knowledge can undermine young people's sense of self-determination and agency. Religious institutions often emphasize that individuals should follow strict guidelines regarding sexual behavior, which can lead to feelings of shame and guilt when they break these rules. This lack of autonomy can cause people to seek out unhealthy or risky sexual experiences because they feel they are unable to control their urges. In addition, it can lead to a disconnect between an individual's desires and what society expects them to want, making it difficult to develop a healthy relationship with oneself and others. By limiting access to information about sexuality, religion reinforces the idea that sexual pleasure is wrong, further eroding young people's sense of personal power.
Relationship Maturity
Religious institutions often promote the idea that sex should only occur within marriage, leaving little room for discussions about non-marital intimacy. This leaves young people ill-equipped to navigate complex relationships that may involve multiple partners and emotional attachments. They may be unaware of the potential physical and psychological consequences of unprotected sex, leading to increased risk-taking behaviors such as unplanned pregnancies or STD transmission. It also limits the development of skills necessary for healthy communication and negotiation in romantic relationships, such as expressing needs and boundaries clearly and respectfully. Without this foundation, many young people struggle to maintain stable, long-term relationships.
The policing of sexual knowledge can prevent individuals from fully understanding consent and how to ask for it. Religious education often frames sex as something that must be agreed upon by both parties, but it does not provide opportunities to practice communicating effectively with partners. This can leave young people vulnerable to coercive or abusive situations where they do not feel comfortable speaking up. It can also create confusion about what constitutes acceptable forms of consent, leading to misunderstandings and harmful encounters. Teaching young people how to communicate their desires and expectations openly, without shame or judgment, would better prepare them for healthy sexual interactions.
The policing of sexual knowledge can have far-reaching impacts on young people's autonomy, relational maturity, and ability to give informed consent. By limiting access to information and creating a culture of shame around sex, religious institutions are failing their students by depriving them of essential tools for healthy decision-making and relationship-building. Instead, it is vital to create spaces where young people can learn about their bodies, desire, and relationships without fear or stigma.
How does the policing of sexual knowledge in religious education impact autonomy, relational maturity, and consent?
Policing sexual knowledge within religious education is detrimental to developing independence (autonomy), healthy relationships with others (relational maturity), and informed decision making about sex (consent). The suppression of information regarding human development, physiology, contraception, safe sex practices, and gender identities can lead to anxiety, confusion, and isolation from peers during adolescence.