Chinese parents too shy to talk about sex

Chinese parents too shy to talk about sex
Feb 28, 2008 02:56
guest101	The recent release of " Nude Pics of Hong Kong celebs dominated the newsstand and other media. The British Guardian published an article " In the new China, sex can still be the stuff of scandal". Partly this statement is true. Although Chinese people have become more open than before, talking about sex can still be a taboo. Yesterday the All-China Women's Federation published a survey, stating that sex education at home is "seriously deficient". ( The following is an excerpt of the result of the survey from Xinhua) <<<The study polled more than 5,000 school students aged six to 17, and about 6,500 parents from 28 cities and counties in 10 provinces and regions. Most of the children surveyed said they would like to ask their parents questions about sex, but a majority of moms and dads said they were too embarrassed to answer. For example, 54 percent of parents said they had never talked with their children about how to deal with sexual harassment, while less than 30 percent said they had provided only limited advice. Han Siping, a researcher with the Hangzhou Education Research Institute in Zhejiang province, said: "When children are unable to get the information they need from parents and teachers, their thirst for knowledge will drive them to find answers online, or from pornography or movies." Sixty percent said they wanted to learn how to help their children with psychological health issues, while 49 percent were keen to know how to offer good moral guidance.>> Undoubtedly, Chinese parents do hope to help their children to go through the adolescence peacefully, but they are just too shy to talk about sex with their children. Usuallly, Chinese parents feel very embarassed when they talk about sex in front of their kids. Will you talk about sex in front of their children.

Feb 28, 2008 02:56

guest101

The recent release of " Nude Pics of Hong Kong celebs dominated the newsstand and other media. The British Guardian published an article " In the new China, sex can still be the stuff of scandal". Partly this statement is true. Although Chinese people have become more open than before, talking about sex can still be a taboo. Yesterday the All-China Women's Federation published a survey, stating that sex education at home is "seriously deficient".

( The following is an excerpt of the result of the survey from Xinhua)
<<<The study polled more than 5,000 school students aged six to 17, and about 6,500 parents from 28 cities and counties in 10 provinces and regions.

Most of the children surveyed said they would like to ask their parents questions about sex, but a majority of moms and dads said they were too embarrassed to answer.

For example, 54 percent of parents said they had never talked with their children about how to deal with sexual harassment, while less than 30 percent said they had provided only limited advice.

Han Siping, a researcher with the Hangzhou Education Research Institute in Zhejiang province, said: "When children are unable to get the information they need from parents and teachers, their thirst for knowledge will drive them to find answers online, or from pornography or movies."

Sixty percent said they wanted to learn how to help their children with psychological health issues, while 49 percent were keen to know how to offer good moral guidance.>>

Undoubtedly, Chinese parents do hope to help their children to go through the adolescence peacefully, but they are just too shy to talk about sex with their children. Usuallly, Chinese parents feel very embarassed when they talk about sex in front of their kids. Will you talk about sex in front of their children.

Feb 28, 2008 06:06

WESTNORWOODGAS
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Join Date: Jun 22, 2007
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I think it's much the same everywhere, I know I would feel uncomfortable if I had to explain the subject to my daughter.
I learnt about sex at school, we had a young male teacher who was very good at talking about it and his own sex life with one of the other teachers ( who he got pregnant ) much to our amusement.
Without it I have no idea how I would have learnt myself because my parents didn't seem to know how to tell me.
Alan

Feb 28, 2008 20:10

SHESGOTTOBE
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Join Date: Nov 23, 2007
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Although we didn’t have a subject called Sex Education in high school, it was discussed in detail (for weeks if I can remember it right) during our Biology and Home Economics subjects. In Biology, we learned all about the reproductive organs, the conception, the stages of pregnancy up to child birth. In Home Economics, we were taught about family planning and all sorts of contraceptives. By the way, our classes were coed so boys and girls attend the classes at the same time, even in Home Economics. Both teachers were women.

I agree. They should be taught to adolescents, at that time when they are curious so they would know the consequences and be wise about it. They are going to know these things eventually anyway. Why wait for the next batch of nude photos? O_o

Feb 29, 2008 07:59

APAULT
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Join Date: Mar 11, 2006
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So if Chinese parents aren't explaining sex to their kids, are the schools?????

I hope so because at my university I am forbidden to talk about sex (along with politics - so I am forbidden to say what a great leader President Hu Jin Tao is, nor can we discuss the US Presidential elections; violence - so I cannot say how I abhor soccer violence; and drugs - so I cannot recommend they stay off drugs including tobacco and alcohol). No wonder all my students can talk about is shopping!

But one of the reasons for having foreign teachers is that we can introduce and explain our culture.............!

Feb 29, 2008 11:36

JCNILE123
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Join Date: Mar 30, 2006
Status: Offline

(((Chinese parents too shy to talk about sex)))

And so western parents from the pre- 50's era.

The 60's hippie era got us the sexual revolution; today we have the liberal child molester’s sons and daughters of the 60's parents as teachers, wanting to teach children on grades 5th how to put a condom on a cucumber.

Is that sexual education?

What about teaching children the risks of multiple sexual partners, and sex before marriage it self?

Mar 1, 2008 19:49

GUEST1755

Interesting thread! Anything relating to sex has been difficult in China. Talking about sex is forbidden in China for thousands of years. The progress of a society needs to be gradual rather than to be drastic. Once upon a time, I overheard several women's gossip: " British men never talk about sex in public." Many westerners' understanding of Chinese culture is as superfacia as the way Chinese understands western culture.

Mar 14, 2008 03:29	#6
DESTRUCKDOZ Points: Join Date: Sep 30, 2007 Status: Offline	My Chinese parents never addressed the issue of sex directly. They lectured us indirectly by saying if we shamed the family that all the inheritance would go to the child that was obedient.

Mar 14, 2008 07:18	#7
RITA Points: Join Date: May 10, 2005 Status: Offline	Maybe there is more than just being shy to talk about sex, and not just parents are reluctant to talk about sex candidly with their children, I think there is something about culture. And as a matter of fact, not only Chinese culture, almost in all the cultures in the world, people avoid talking about it. When people meet, it's always easier to talk about weather, food, children or politics etc..

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