School+Based+Sexuality+Education+in+Netherlands

=**Demographics of the Netherlands**= The Netherlands is located in **Western Europe.**





**Population:** 16,947, 904

 * Age 0-14 : 17%
 * Age 15-24 : 12%
 * Age 25-54 : 40%
 * Age 55+ : 30%

**Religious Affiliation:**

 * Catholic: 28%
 * Protestant: 19%
 * Other (Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, etc.): 11%
 * None: 42%

The Netherlands' religious affiliation compared to the rest of the world:

**Cost of Education**
Students who are 15 years and younger get free education. Once the student turns 16 years old they must start paying annual tuition. Families with low income are eligible for grants and loans.

** Sex Education in The Netherlands ** In accordance with structural functionalism (Nanda & Warms, 2011), the structure and content of the Netherlands' school-based sexuality education is a reflection of the country's cultural norms surrounding the topics of sex and sexuality. In effect, school-based sexuality education functions to support these cultural norms and expectations by educating young people in a particular way. After researching the methods and content of sexuality instruction in the Netherlands, one can make generalizations about some of the country's cultural values.

Sex education in the Netherlands is quite different than anywhere else. In the Netherlands, there is no mandated national curriculum. However, schools are obligated to teach Sex Ed (Weaver, Smith, & Kippax, 2005). Almost all schools (97%) teach sex education. Teachers receive pre-service teacher training where they learn how to teach about sex and sexuality. This pre-service training is provided by the Netherlands Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (Weaver, Smith, & Kippax, 2005).

Each school is free to determine the methods in which teachers teach sex education. They are also free to select materials, approach, and amount of time spent on each topic. Sex education is typically taught within related subjects such as biology. Nearly 50% of elementary and middle schools teach sex education (Weaver, Smith, & Kippax, 2005). In some schools, sex education starts in kindergarten.

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Almost all schools (97%) have a sex education course (Weaver, Smith, & Kippax, 2005).

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Sex Ed Topics Covered in Schools
The type of sex education that the Netherlands teach is extremely comprehensive. The goal of sex education in the Netherlands is to nonjudgmentally equip students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to make responsible decisions if they decide to engage in sexual activities (Weaver, Smith, & Kippax, 2005). There are many different topics that are covered in the Netherland's sexuality education courses.

**Puberty**
Puberty is the stage of human development when the body becomes capable of reproducing (Yarber, Sayad, & Strong, 2009). There are many physical changes that are going on in an adolescent's body during puberty. Some of the physical changes that are taught are body growth, pimples, hair growth, first menstruation, and first ejaculation. In addition to the different physical changes that occur during puberty, there are also emotional changes. Emotional changes that are taught include feeling insecure, thinking more about sex, and questioning their sexual identity (Ferguson, Vanwesenbeeck, & Knijn, 2008).

**Reproduction**
After learning about puberty, teachers then move on to reproduction. Topics that are included in this section are sperm, ejaculation, orgasm, and the menstrual cycle (Ferguson et al., 2008). Adolescents learn that sperm, also known as spermatozoon, is the male gamete (Yarber et al., 2009). In addition to sperm, students learn about ejaculation, which is the expulsion of semen through the penis. Ejaculation for male-bodied individuals is usually accompanied by orgasms. Orgasm, for all sexes, is the climax of sexual excitement. It is usually a rhythmic contraction of the muscles in the genital area and intensely pleasurable sensations (Yarber et al., 2009). Lastly, the menstrual cycle is a monthly process during which the uterus is readied for implantation of a fertilized ovum (Yarber et al., 2009).

**Weerbaarhid (Interaction Competence)**
The Netherlands also teach weerbaarhid topics. Another word for weerbaarhid is interaction competence. Teachers educate students about assertiveness, communication, personal norms, values, decision making, and how to ask for help (Ferguson et al., 2008).

**Relationships**
There are also topics that cover sexual identity, sexual orientation, gender, and relationships (Ferguson et al., 2008). Sexual identity is one's self-ale or self-identification as a heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual person (Yarber et al., 2009). Sexual orientation is a pattern of sexual and emotional attraction based on the person's gender and/or sex. Gender is the social and cultural characteristics associated with being male or female (Yarber et al., 2009).

**Pleasure**
The Netherlands' sex education also includes masturbation and sexual pleasure (Ferguson et al., 2008). Masturbation is the stimulation of the genitals for pleasure (Yarber et al., 2009).

**Safe Sex**
Lastly, topics such as contraceptives, prevention of STIs and pregnancy, and responsibility are stressed (Ferguson et al., 2008).

The Netherlands' Sex Ed is comprehensive and medically accurate. As a result, according to Ferguson et al. (2008), when compared to the United States, the Netherlands have a higher rate of using condoms, pills, and dual methods. Dual methods are using both condoms and the pill together. The Netherlands use of condoms, pills, and dual methods results in lower pregnancies, live births, and abortions (Ferguson et al., 2008).





All of the sources that are used in the Netherlands' sex education comes from reliable sources rooted in statistics, research, science, and biology. Sex education is taught from a pleasure and relational lens. There are repeated sayings such as "only do what you want" and "sex with yourself is safe and enjoyable". The Netherlands' sex education is taught from an individualist rather than a collectivist dimension. The Netherlands emphasize discovering and standing by personal beliefs. With this, respect for d ifferent beliefs is encouraged (Ferguson et al., 2008).
 * Dimensions **



**Recommendations**
For those looking for a great example of unbiased, comprehensive sex education, the Netherlands' sex education is one of the most effective curriculums that aids in the reduction of STI's and pregnancy among adolescents.

**References**
Ferguson, R. M., Vanwesenbeeck, I., & Knijn, T. (2008). A matter of facts... and more: an exploratory analysis of the content of sexuality education in The Netherlands. Sex Education, 8(1), 93-106. doi:10.1080/14681810701811878

Grauvogl, A., Stutterheim, S. E., Evers, S. M., & van Lankveld, J. J. (2012). Perceptions of sexuality and sexual health among young people in the Netherlands. Sexual & Relationship Therapy, 27(2), 110-121. doi:10.1080/14681994.2012.702894

Nanda, S. & Warms, R. (2011). Cultural anthropology. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth

Netherlands: System and School Organization. (n.d.). Retrieved October 30, 2015, from [|__http://www.ncee.org/programs-affiliates/center-on-international-education-benchmarking/top-performing-countries/netherland__] [|s-overview/netherlands-system-and-school-organization/__]

The World Factbook. (n.d.). Retrieved October 30, 2015, from [|__https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/nl.html__]

Weaver, H., Smith, G., & Kippax, S. (2005). School‐based sex education policies and indicators of sexual health among young people: a comparison of the Netherlands, France, Australia and the United States. Sex Education, 5(2), 171-188. doi:10.1080/14681810500038889

Yarber, W. L., Sayad, B. W., & Strong, B. (2009). Human sexuality: Diversity in contemporary America (7th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. ISBN-978-0-07-337088-0.