Teaching Sex to Empower, Not to Control: Sex Ed in Sweden vs. South Carolina

Teaching Sex to Empower, Not to Control: Sex Ed in Sweden vs. South Carolina

Sweden was the first country to mandate sex education in 1955 and now has a national sex ed curriculum integrated through all course subjects. Swedes divorce sex ed from discussions about religious morality. Their curriculum instead encourages students to ask questions and critically examine gender and sex norms, while teachers instruct students with medically accurate information.  Swedes were shocked to learn that in our local South Carolina s…