Hostname: page-component-7bb8b95d7b-dtkg6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-09-06T23:53:01.821Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Parents as Sexuality Educators of Their Children in the Technological Age

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 February 2016

Juliette D.G. Goldman*
Affiliation:
Griffith University, Australia
Graham L. Bradley
Affiliation:
Griffith University, Australia
*
Faculty of Education, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, PMB 50, Gold Coast Mail Centre, Qld 4217, Australia. E-mail J.Goldman@mailbox.gu.edu.au
Get access

Abstract

Parents play a crucial role in the development of their children. However, changing social, economic, educational and technological contexts are influencing the lives and roles of parents as well as those of their children. The one constant is that children need help to understand their bodies, puberty, their developing sexuality, and the myriad changes they experience. Parents can play an important and helpful role here, from their children's birth through preschooling and childhood and into adolescence, to educate and demystify children's sexuality. In response to living in the technological era upon us now, a selection of developmentally appropriate web sites has been identified here for parents to use in tandem with their offspring to enhance their important role as first sexuality educators of their children.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2004

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Amin, T. (2000). Students need better sex ed. Retrieved March 27, 2000, from http://www.sxetc.org/library/articles/art00W_130.aspGoogle Scholar
Aved, B.M., & Lobdell, G.W. (1989). Parent-child communication about sexuality: The physician as a community educator. Journal of Adolescent Health Care, 5(4, 292293.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Australian Parliament House. (2002). House of Representatives and Community Affairs Committee. Retrieved March 27, 2000, from http://www.aph.gov.au/Google Scholar
Ballard, S.M., & Morris, M.L (1998). Sources of sexuality information for university students. Journal of Sex Education and Therapy, 23(4, 278287.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barone, N.M., & Wiederman, M.W. (1997). Young women's sexuality as a function of perceptions of maternal sexual communication during childhood. Journal of Sex Education and Therapy, 22(3), 3338.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Berends, M.C., & Caron, S.L. (1994). Children's understanding and knowledge of conception and birth: A developmental approach. Journal of Sex Education and Therapy, 20(1, 1829.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Berne, L.A., Patton, W., Milton, J., Hunt, L.Y-A, Wright, S., Peppard, J., et al. (2000). A qualitative assessment of Australian parents' perceptions of sexuality education and communication. Journal of Sex Education and Therapy, 25(2-3), 161168.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Berger, K.S. (1998). The developing person: Through the life span (4th ed.). New York: Worth.Google Scholar
Berends, M.L., & Caron, S.L. (1994). Children's understanding and knowledge of conception and birth: A developmental approach. Journal of Sex Education and Therapy, 20(1, 1829.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bowes, J. (2000). Parents response to parent education and support programs [Newsletter]. Melbourne, Australia: Australian Institute of Family Studies.Google Scholar
Bradley, G.L., & Matsukis, P. (2000). Identity status and youth recklessness. Youth Studies Australia, 19(4, 4853.Google Scholar
Brock, L.J. (2000). Sexuality education: A qualitative cohort study of what sons in their 30's wish their father had told them. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Texas Women's University, TX.Google Scholar
Brockman, J. (1996). Digerati: Encounters with the cyber elite. San Francisco: Hara Wired.Google Scholar
Brown, S. (2000). National longitudinal survey of youth: National campaign to prevent teen pregnancy. Washington, DC: Child Trends.Google Scholar
Bryson, L. (1993). Equality, parenting and policy making. Australian Journal of Marriage and Family, 14(2), 6675.Google Scholar
Bundy, M.L., & White, P.N. (1990). Parents as sexuality educators: A parent training program. Journal of Counselling and Development, 68(3), 321323.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Caron, S.L., & Moskey, E.G. (2002). Changes over time in teenage sexual relationships: Comparing the high school class of 1950, 1975 and 2000. Adolescence, 37(147, 515526.Google ScholarPubMed
Center for Disease Control. (2000). School health programs: An investment in our nation's future. At-a-glance 2000. Retrieved March 15, 2000, from http://www.cdc.gov/nccd-php/dash/ataglanc.htmlGoogle Scholar
Connell, R.W. (1999). Sex in the world. In Epstein, D. & Sears, J.T (Eds.), A dangerous knowing: Sexuality, pedagogy and popular culture (pp. 89101). London: Cassell.Google Scholar
Cyber sex-ed for global students. (2000, February 14). Maclean's, 113(7), p. 8.Google Scholar
Downie, J. (1998). Parents as sexuality educators: The challenge for nurses. Neonatal Paediatric and Child Health Nursing, 1(1, 1217.Google Scholar
Edwards, M. (1999a). Intimate relationships in later life. SIECUS Report, 27(3), p. 2.Google Scholar
Edwards, M. (1999b). Sexuality education from a ‘people’ perspective. SIECUS Report, 27(6), pp. 23.Google Scholar
Education Queensland. (2000). Study of society and environment syllabus. Brisbane, Australia: Author.Google Scholar
Ellerman, D.A. (1993). Parental support and control in relation to children's self-esteem. Australian Journal of Marriage and Family, 14(2), 7680.Google Scholar
Elrod, J.M., & Rubin, R.H. (1993). Parental involvement in sexual abuse prevention education. Child Abuse and Neglect, 17(4), 527538.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Epstein, D., & Sears, J.T. (Eds.). (1996). A dangerous knowing: Sexuality, pedagogy and popular culture. London: Cassell.Google Scholar
Etzioni, A. (1997). Education for intimacy. Educational Leadership, 54(8, 2023.Google Scholar
Feldman, S.S., & Rosenthal, D.A. (2000). The effect of communication characteristics on family members' perceptions of parents as sex educators. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 10(2, 119150.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fine, M.J., & Lee, S.W. (Eds.). (2001). Handbook of diversity in parent education: The changing faces of parenting and parent education. San Diego, CA: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Finkelhor, D. (1994). The international epidemiology of child sexual abuse. Child Abuse and Neglect, 18(5), 409417.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Furedi, F. (2001). Paranoid parenting. London: Penguin.Google Scholar
Gibbon, M., Lomoges, C., Nowotny, H., Schwartzman, S., Scott, P., & Trow, M. (1994), The new production of knowledge: The dynamics of science and research in contemporary societies. London: Sage.Google Scholar
Goldman, J.D.G. (2000, May 21–23). Sexuality education in the new millennium. Paper presented at the 4th National Sexuality Conference, Hobart, Australia.Google Scholar
Goldman, J.D.G. (1995). All of me: Sex education for junior students. Melbourne, Australia: Longman Cheshire.Google Scholar
Goldman, J.D.G. (1990). The importance of an adequate sexual vocabulary for children. Australian Journal of Marriage and family, 11(3), 136148.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Goldman, J.D.G., & Bradley, G.L. (2004). Sexuality information for the elderly. Australian Journal of Primary Health, 10(1), 96103.Google Scholar
Goldman, J.D.G., & Bradley, G.L. (2001). Sexuality education across the lifecycle in the new millennium. Sex Education, 1(3, 197218.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Goldman, J.D.G., & Bradley, G.L. (1996a). A profile of Australian high school dropouts who return to school. Studies in the Education of Adults, 28(2, 85210.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Goldman, J.D.G., & Bradley, G.L. (1996b). Young adults who re-enter Australian high schools and drop out again. International Journal of Lifelong Education, 15(6, 113.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Goldman, J.D.G., & Goldman, R.J. (1983). Children's perceptions of parents and their roles: A cross-national study of Australia, England, North America and Sweden. Sex Roles, 9(7), 791812.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Goldman, R.J., & Goldman, J.D.G. (1981a). Sources of sex information for Australia, English, North American and Swedish Children. The Journal of Psychology, 109, 97108.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Goldman, R.J., & Goldman, J.D.G. (1981b). What children want to know about sex and what they claim to receive in school: A comparison of Australian with English, North American and Swedish Children. The Australian Science Teachers Journal, 27(2, 6169.Google Scholar
Goldman, R.J., & Goldman, J.D.G. (1982). Children's sexual thinking. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.Google Scholar
Goldman, R.J., & Goldman, J.D.G. (1988). Show me yours: Understanding children's sexuality. Melbourne, Australia: Penguin.Google Scholar
Gourlay, P. (1996). If you think sexuality education is dangerous, try ignorance! Sexuality education: Critical factors for success. Box Hill, Australia: Family Planning Victoria.Google Scholar
Grunseit, A., Kippax, S., Aggleton, P., Baldo, M., & Slutkin, G. (1997). Sexuality education and young people's sexual behavior: A review of studies. Journal of Adolescent Research, 12(4), 421453.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hacker, K.A., Amare, Y., Strunk, N., & Horst, L. (2000). Listening to youth: Teen perspectives on pregnancy prevention. Journal of Adolescent Health, 26(4, 279288.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Haffner, D.W. (1993). Towards a new paradigm on adolescent sexual health. SIECUS Report, Dec-Jan, p. 1.Google Scholar
Internet Child Safety Foundation. (2004). Retrieved February 2, 2004, from http://www.hal-leymovement.org/Google Scholar
Itzin, C. (Ed.). (2000). Home truths about child sexual abuse influencing policy and practice: A reader. London: Routledge.Google Scholar
Kelly, M.A. (1999). Report from a study tour teen sexuality education in the Netherlands, France, and Germany. SIECUS Report, 27(2), 1114.Google Scholar
King, B., Parisi, L.S., & O'Dwyer, K.R. (1993). College sexuality education promotes future discussions about sexuality between former students and their children. Journal of Sex Education and Therapy, 19(4, 285293.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Klein, M. (2000). Coming attractions: Sexual expression in the next decade. SIECUS Report, 28(2), 9.Google ScholarPubMed
Kniveton, B.H., & Day, J.C-K. (1999). An examination of the relationship between a mother's attitude to sex education of her children and her perception of her own parents' views. Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties, 4(2), 3237.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Koch, P.B. (1991). Sex education. In Lemer, R.M., Peterson, A.C., & Brooks-Gunn, J. (Eds.), Encyclopedia of adolescence (Vol. 11). New York: Garland Press.Google Scholar
Kyman, W. (1995). The first step: Sexuality education for parents. Journal of Sex Education and Therapy, 21(3, 153157.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McCaffree, K. (1998). A view from the field: The personal challenges and rewards of consulting worldwide on sexuality education. SIECUS Report, 26(5), 1517.Google ScholarPubMed
McCann, S. (1999). Learning to feel good about yourself: Puberty education reconsidered. SIECUS Report, 27(6), 2427.Google Scholar
McKay, A. (1999). Sexual ideology and schooling: Towards democratic sexuality education [Book review]. Journal of Sex Research, 36(3), 314.Google Scholar
Maddock, J.W. (1997). Sexuality education: A history lesson. Journal of Psychology and Human Sexuality, 9, 122.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moore, N.B., & Davidson, J.K. (1999). Parents as first sexuality information sources: Do they make a difference in daughters' sexual attitudes and behaviours? Journal of Sex Education and Therapy, 24(3, 155163.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pamar, S. (1998). SIECUS expands its reach around the world. SIECUS Report, 26(5), 3.Google Scholar
Patton, W., & Mannison, M. (1990). Understandings and description: How we talk about sex. Australian Journal of Marriage and Family, 11(3, 149157.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Portelli, C.J., & Meade, C.W. (1998). Censorship and the Internet: No easy answers. SIECUS Report, 27(1, 48.Google Scholar
Pringle, P. (2000, January 10). Adult web sites pioneered e-commerce long before the retail world caught up. The Australian, p. 12.Google Scholar
Ridini, S.P. (2000). Health and sexuality education in schools: The process of social change [Book review]. Journal of Sex Research, 37(1), 92.Google Scholar
Ritchie, I.B., & Ross, G.F. (1992). Fathering response patterns: A non-metropolitan study of demographic and behavioural associations. Australian Journal of Marriage and Family, 13(3), 158165.Google Scholar
Roffman, D.M., Shannon, D., & Dwyer, C. (1997). Adolescents, sexual health and the Internet: Possibilities, prospects, and challenges for educators. Journal of Sex Education and Therapy, 22(1, 4955.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schnarch, D. (1997). Sex, intimacy, and the Internet. Journal of Sex Education and Therapy, 22(1), 1520.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sexuality Information and Education Council of the US (SIECUS). (1999). Issues and answers facts sheet on sexuality education. SIECUS Report, 27(6), 2933.Google Scholar
Strous, J., & Fabes, R.A. (1985). Formal versus informal sources of sex education: Competing forces in the sexual socialization of adolescents. Adolescence, 20(78, 251263.Google Scholar
Valentich, M., & Crompton, J. (1989). Teaching children about AIDS. Journal of Sex Education and Therapy, 15(2, 92102.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Walsh, A., Parker, E., & Cushing, A. (1999). A discourse analysis of fathers' accounts of providing sexuality education for young sons. Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 8(2), 103114.Google Scholar
West, W. (2000). Millennium school: Online education begins to take off. Education Review, 4(1, 1011.Google Scholar
Wurtele, S.K. (1993). Enhancing children's sexual development through child sexual abuse prevention programs. Journal of Sex Education and Therapy, 19(1), 3746.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wurtele, S.K.Melzer, A., & Kast, L.C. (1992). Preschoolers' knowledge of and ability to learn genital terminology. Journal of Sex Education and Therapy, 18(2), 115122.CrossRefGoogle Scholar