"Gender-based violence is perhaps the most wide-spread and socially tolerated of human rights violations. It both reflects and reinforces inequities between men and women and compromises the health, dignity, security, and autonomy of its victims" (Johnson 2006). In Canada and Nova Scotia, gender-based violence is an epidemic. Gender-based violence affects all ages, genders, sexual orientations, cultures, faith bases, socio-economic conditions, and is not restricted to certain geographical areas of the country. Those most at risk of gender-based violence include women, young women and girls, Indigenous Peoples, 2SLGBTQAI+ and gender diverse people, women living in Northern, rural, and remote communities, and women living with disabilities (Government of Canada 2024). Although all genders can experience gender-based violence, women in Canada are more likely than men to experience intimate partner violence. “In 2018, 44% of women reported experiencing some form of intimate partner violence in their lifetime” (Government of Canada 2024). A key component in the fight and prevention against gender-based violence is education, comprehensive sexual health education that is accessible through out the lifespan.
What exactly is gender-based violence? “Gender-based violence is defined by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees as follows:
[H]armful acts directed at an individual based on their gender. It is rooted in gender inequality, the abuse of power and harmful norms. Gender-based violence can include sexual, physical, mental and economic harm inflicted in public or in private. It also includes threats of violence, coercion and manipulation. This can take many forms, such as intimate partner violence, sexual violence, child marriage, female genital mutilation and so-called ‘honour crimes’” (MacDonald 2023. P. 30).
In September 2024, Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston “adopted a bill declaring domestic violence an epidemic in the province” (Doucette 2024). The province of Nova Scotia reported having the highest rates of intimate partner violence in Canada, “30% of women and 22.5% of men who have been in a relationship reporting being physically or sexually assaulted by their partner” (Doucette 2024). Additionally, Nova Scotia reported the “highest rate of human trafficking in 2022 at 4.5 incidents per 100,000 population, up from 3.1 incidents per 100,000 in 2012 (Statistics Canada 2023).
The Mass Casualty Commission’s final report acknowledges that guns play a role in gender-based violence. “The greatest risk for intimate partner violence becoming lethal is a gun in the home” Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, reminded the Canadian Parliament on December 6 while speaking in remembrance of the December 6, 1989, murder of fourteen women at École Polytechnique, a violent act of misogyny. Gender-based violence does not have an age limit. In 2019, 4518 seniors experienced family violence, 58% were women (Statistics Canada 2024).
The importance of a comprehensive sexual health education and the role it plays in preventing gender-based violence, can not be downplayed and is confirmed by the World Health Organization, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, researchers, and medical experts. Comprehensive sexual education can be credited with equipping children and young people with valuable life skills, enforcing positive attitudes, and values that enable them to protect their health, their social and sexual relationships, make responsible choices and protect the rights of others (WHO 2023). “Evidence consistently shows that high-quality sexuality education delivers positive health outcomes, with lifelong impacts” (WHO 2023).
It is also crucial that sexual education be available throughout the lifespan. UNESCO states, “Educating young people is the only true, long-term solution to gender-based violence. However, it must be high-quality, age-appropriate, and evidence-based comprehensive sexuality education” (2018). Doctor Jennifer Gunter, a Canadian gynecologist, and author of several books including “The Vagina Bible”, “The Menopause Manifesto”, and “Blood” says, “Kids are graduating knowing more about frog biology” (The Honest Talk Podcast 2024). The lack of information about sexual health continues into high school, post secondary institutions, and adulthood.
The term “sex education” has been upgraded to sexual health education. Language is important because of the controversies surrounding “sex education” and the connotations that implies, that the focus is on promoting sexual behavior and changing gender identities. “Sexual health education implies a more specific focus on the health-related aspects of sexuality” (Sexual Health Education 2016). Traditionally sexual education has focused on basic biology, abstinence-based messaging, sexually transmitted infection and disease prevention, and the prevention of unwanted pregnancy. Currently, in Nova Scotia, sexual health education is taught in all public schools from grade primary to grade nine.
The “Sexual Health Education in Nova Scotia Schools – A Resource for Teachers”, states that “the curriculum taught in Nova Scotia follows national and international guidelines…sexual health education builds knowledge and skills related to human development, healthy and respectful relationships, positive self-image, and self-worth, informed decision-making, media literacy, and the prevention of negative sexual health outcomes.” (2021). The sexual health education offered in Nova Scotia public schools is not concentrated to a specific class but is integrated within the total curriculum of health education. Concepts such as “safe and healthy relationships, substance misuse, safe use of technology, and personal safety” are covered.
The elementary school curriculum, health education is “integrated with other subjects, such as English Language Arts, Social Studies and Visual Arts” (2021). The “Sexual Health Education in Nova Scotia Schools – A Resource for Teachers states that grades Primary to grade 3 focuses on “informed, safe, and healthy decisions” this includes “mental health literacy, safe and healthy relationships, poison prevention, injury prevention, chronic and communicable disease prevention by learning about safe and healthy behaviours. Empathy, kindness, celebrating diverse families, how to ask for help from safe adults” (2021). Grades 4 to 6 learn continue to learn about these concepts as well as “health and safety around substances, injury prevention, puberty, the reproduction system, reproductive health, gender and sexuality, gender equality and healthy behaviors…and healthy use of technology” (2021). Grades 7 to 9, “healthy Living is a compulsory course for all students” (2021).
Building onto previously learned concepts the goal is to provide students the opportunity to “develop life skills by increasing their ability to make safe and informed healthy decisions as they meet the challenges of everyday life…Sexually Transmitted and Blood Borne Infections (STBBI) prevention, substance misuse prevention, human rights…and how to access community health resources” (2021). After grade 9, there is not a concentrated focus on sexual health education taught in Nova Scotia Public High Schools. The report “The State of Sex-ed in Canada” by Action Canada for Sexual Health & Rights, points out that what is excluded from the curriculum are the topics of “consent” and “pleasure and other positive aspects of sexuality” (2022).
The first eight weeks of the fall term on Canadian Post Secondary campuses is referred to as the Red Zone. The Acadia University states “50% of sexual assaults on campuses involve alcohol. Many occur in the first eight weeks of school known as the “red zone” “(2020) Statistics Canada tells us that “About 1 in 10 (11%) students who identify as women at Canadian postsecondary schools were sexually assaulted in a postsecondary setting in 2019, compared with 4% of students who identify as men. The majority (71%) of students witnessed or experienced unwanted sexualized behaviours—either on or off campus, or in an online situation that involved students or other people associated with the school. More women (45%) than men (32%) personally experienced these kinds of behaviours, which include inappropriate verbal or non-verbal communication, sexually explicit materials, and physical contact or suggested sexual relations” (Statistics Canada 2020).
I was four years into my post-secondary education before I learned about “the Red Zone” and when asking my younger cohort, and my niece, if they were aware of the concept of the red zone and what it was, they were not. Post-secondary students are also at a greater risk of human trafficking. They are vulnerable because often they are living away from home for the first time, experiencing food, housing and financial insecurities. Both the concept of the red zone and human trafficking should be topics our youth are aware of before leaving high school and entering post-secondary education.
A common misconception is that if we gate keep information about sexual health, that we are going to delay or stop our young people from engaging in sexual activities. Not recognizing that they have the right to have their own sexual citizenship and bodily autonomy. Jennifer S. Hirsch, co-author of the book “Sexual Citizens”, explains that “Sexual citizenship refers to people’s right to say yes to the sex they want and no to the sex they don’t want, as well as their understanding that other people have an equivalent right.
Upholding those rights is highly relevant to sexual-assault prevention.” (Glennon 2020). Shame and embarrassment leading youth to be secretive. Secretive when their partner is abusive, when they have valid health concerns including menstruation concerns, STI’s, questions about what is or is not normal. Finding information from porn, social media, their friends.
Who benefits from the gatekeeping of information that can educate everyone about what gender-based violence is? The short answer is the capitalist-patriarchal structures, institutions, and people in powerful positions. “Over 80% of sexual assaults are committed by someone known to the victim (friend, partner, service provider, neighbor, or family member” (McGill 2024). Educating children, youth, and adults about what is consensual, what is violence, what is toxic, takes the power out of the hands of the offenders and empowers those at risk of gender-based violence.
Comprehensive sexuality education is a human right. “Sex-ed is not about opinions. It’s about evidence, human rights, health, and gender equality” (2020). It has been recognized as a human right by several organizations including the United Nations, World Health Organization, UNESCO, UNAIDS, and the United Nations Population Fund (2020). Prioritizing the rights of people to be able to live safe, healthy lives free of fear, shame, and violence should be our top priority. There are a lot of parents who believe that it is there right to provide their children a sexual education, but I ask, are you? Are you really? Or are your kids one of the many that access the free, confidential sexual health services provided in Nova Scotia and other provinces in Canada, without the consent of their parents? Are you protecting the violence within your family or church institutions?
In addition to a more well informed, accepting society, comprehensive sexual health education also aids in the reduction of discrimination and intimate partner violence. It creates more gender equality, safer learning, work and social spaces. It increases our confidence allowing us to make informed decisions about our relationships, bodies and health. And finally, it helps to eliminate the epidemic that is taking over our country, gender-based violence.
References
“Acadia Revises Sexualized Violence Policy, Improves Supports”. 2020. Acadia University. Retrieved December 6, 2024. https://www2.acadiau.ca/about-acadia/newsroom/news-reader-page/acadia-revises-sexualized-violence-policy.html
“Comprehensive sexuality education to prevent gender-based violence” 2018. UNESCO. Retrieved December 6, 2024. https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/comprehensive-sexuality-education-prevent-gender-based-violence
Doucette, Keith. 2024. “Nova Scotia adopts bill declaring domestic violence in the province and epidemic”. CTV News Atlantic. Retrieved on December 1. https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/nova-scotia-ndp-tables-opposition-bill-to-declare-domestic-violence-an-epidemic-1.7035632
Glennon, Lorraine. 2020. “Raising Strong Sexual Citizens”. Columbia Magazine. Retrieved December 6, 2024. https://magazine.columbia.edu/article/raising-strong-sexual-citizens#:~:text=Hirsch%3A%20Sexual%20citizenship%20refers%20to,relevant%20to%20sexual%2Dassault%20prevention.
Heidinger, Loanna. 2023. Trafficking In persons in Canada, 2022. Statistics Canada. Retrieved December 1, 2024. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/85-005-x/2023001/article/00002-eng.htm
Ien, Marci. 2024. Women and Gender Equality. 44th Parliament, 1st Session. House of Commons House Publications. Retrieved on December 7, 2024. https://www.ourcommons.ca/documentviewer/en/44-1/house/sitting-384/hansard
Johnson, Holly. 2006. “Measuring Violence Against Women: Statistical Trends 2006”. Statistic Canada. Retrieved December 6, 2024. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/85-570-x/85-570-x2006001-eng.htm
MacDonald, Michael J. Honorable. Leanne J. Fitch and Dr. Kim Stanton. 2023. Turning the Tide Together: Final Report of the Mass Casualty Commission, Volume 3: Violence. The Joint Federal/Provincial Commission into the April 2020 Nova Scotia Mass Casualty. Mass Casualty Commission. Retrieved on December 1, 2024. https://masscasualtycommission.ca/files/documents/Turning-the-Tide-Together-Volume-3-Violence.pdf
“One in ten women students sexually assaulted in a postsecondary setting”. 2020. Statistics Canada. Retrieved on December 5, 2024. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/200914/dq200914a-eng.htm
“Sexual Assault Misconceptions”. 2024. McGill Office for Sexual Violence Response, Support and Education. Retrieved December 7, 2024. https://www.mcgill.ca/osvrse/survivor-support-self-care/misconceptions-vs-facts/misconceptions#:~:text=Over%2080%25%20of%20sexual%20assaults,assault%20does%20not%20occur%20often.
Stewart, Jennifer and Catherine Clark. 2024. “Jennifer Gunter – Canadian gynecologist, author of The Vagina Bible, The Menopause Manifesto, and Blood”. The Honest Talk Podcast. Retrieved December 1, 2024. https://www.thehonesttalk.ca/podcasts/jennifer-gunter/
Rathus, Spencer A. Jeffery S. Nevid Ph.D., Loise Fichner-Rathus, Alex McKay. 2016. Sexual Health Education. 2024. Chapter Fifteen: Sexual Health Education. Human Sexuality in a World of Diversity. Retrieved December 1, 2024. https://www.pearsoncanada.ca/media/highered-showcase/multi-product-showcase/rathus-ch15.pdf This link is for the publishing information: https://www.pearsoncanada.ca/media/highered-showcase/multi-product-showcase/rathus-flyer.pdf
Sexual Health. 2024. World Health Organization. Retrieved December 1, 2024. https://www.who.int/health-topics/sexual-health#tab=tab_2
Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research (SRH). 2024. World Health Organization. Retrieved December 1, 2024. https://www.who.int/teams/sexual-and-reproductive-health-and-research-(srh)/areas-of-work/sexual-health
“The State of Sex-ed in Canada”. 2022. Action Canada for Sexual Health & Rights. Retrieved December 5, 2024. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5d77e56c1fc5e024160affa9/t/627b117ee12ee57a6264d08d/1652232576510/Action+Canada_StateofSexEd_F+-+web+version+EN.pdf
What is gender-based violence? 2024. Government of Canada. Retrieved December 1. https://www.canada.ca/en/women-gender-equality/gender-based-violence/about-gender-based-violence.html#k
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