Viewing Sexual Health Education through the Lens of Critical Pedagogy: A Case Study in Chicago Public Schools

Elizabeth Jarpe-Ratner and Booker Marshall
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Elizabeth Jarpe-Ratner: School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
Booker Marshall: Office of Student Health and Wellness, Chicago Public Schools, 42 W. Madison St., Chicago, IL 60602, USA

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 4, 1-16

Abstract: Comprehensive sexual health education (SHE) programs are being implemented in many state and local jurisdictions. Much research has focused on the strength and effectiveness of such programs. However, the experiences of teachers and students in their implementation is underexplored. A case study of the implementation of the SHE policy and curriculum in Chicago Public Schools sought to explore teachers’ and students’ experiences. Sixteen teachers were interviewed and five student focus groups, including 46 students, were conducted. Both teachers and students identified opportunities to improve upon the current program, including to (1) incorporate more student-centered learning opportunities and allow for tailoring to each specific group of students; (2) use discussion and dialogue to encourage students’ exploration of their own opinions and identities and development of a sense of agency over their own learning; (3) shift focus from risk reduction to a more holistic focus on healthy sexual wellbeing; and (4) directly discuss current health inequities, contributing factors, and intersectionality. These findings align with a critical pedagogical approach and underscore the need to understand SHE implementation within its sociopolitical context. Implications of the use of critical pedagogy as a framework for SHE in Chicago and beyond are discussed.

Keywords: comprehensive SHE; implementation of SHE; critical pedagogy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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