Let’s talk about sex, more specifically the history of it.
There has been a long, ever-changing relationship between society and sex education. And while it’s still not perfect, it has come a long way in 200 years. But how has sex education changed from the 1800s to now?
Keep reading to learn 5 fascinating facts about the history of sex education you probably didn’t know.
1. Boys Were Taught That Masturbation Caused Insanity
Sex education was more like sex condemnation in the 1800s. And due to its conservative teachings, the church perpetuated the idea that pleasuring oneself caused insanity.
For this reason, boys had to curb their sexual desires by eating bland foods, leading to the invention of the graham cracker by Reverend Graham. Graham also condemned masturbation because he believed it was a satanic act and therefore unhealthy for the body.
There were even anti-masturbation devices that boys had to wear, some of which had spikes on them. Yikes!
2. Disney Released a Short Film About Menstruation
In the mid-1900s, sex education focused on hygiene and biology. So in 1946, Walt Disney made a 10-minute film called “The Story of Menstruation” for American schools. It was created in a partnership with Kotex, which is a brand of women’s hygiene products.
And while it was informative for the time, it was still teaching women how to be mild-mannered and clean rather than comfortable with maturation and reproduction.
3. Women’s Rights Activists Fought for Sex Education
In the 1960s and 70s, the National Organization for Women fought for more than education about hygiene. They wanted education about consent, birth control, and abortions.
With the help of organizations like this, the pill was legalized in 1960 and deemed a constitutional right in 1965. However, educators were still hesitant to talk about it during class which is a stigma that is still perpetuated to this day.
4. $2 Billion Went Towards Abstinence-Only Education
Between 1982 and 2017, the US spent a whopping $2 billion on abstinence-only teaching programs. But it didn’t work out so well.
As of 2011, the state of Mississippi requires abstinence-only or abstinence-plus teaching. But in 2018, Mississippi had the highest number of gonorrhea infections and the second-highest teen birth rate in the country. Conversely, New Hampshire teaches in-depth sex education including STI prevention and had the lowest teen birth rate in 2019.
Can we get that $2 billion back now?
5. LGBTQ Sex Education Isn’t Mandatory in the US
While there is a strong LGBTQ community in the US, most states do not feel that queer sex should be talked about in school.
According to planned parenthood, only 9 US states require that LGBTQ sex and relationships be discussed in the sex education curriculum. Not only this, but 7 states have actually banned any discussion of LGBTQ relationships.
Other “taboo” sexual topics that still aren’t taught widespread are masturbation, erectile dysfunction, sex with multiple partners, and STI transmission. If you want more education on STI transmission, browse around at the CDC’s website. Or if you need help with ED, check out this homepage!
Did You Know Those Facts About the History of Sex Education?
The history of sex education has had ups, downs, and a few strange moments along the way. And while it still has a long way to go, especially for minority communities, let’s all be glad that the anti-masturbation devices aren’t around anymore.
If you found this article interesting, check out more of our content on sex!
