– Riti Meher Shrestha
Introduction: The Silence That Speaks Volumes
Imagine: You’re sitting at the dinner table with your family, and someone casually brings up a topic about digestion or a headache. No one flinches. But the moment someone mentions menstruation, contraception, or sexual health, there’s an awkward silence, eyes look away, and someone quickly changes the subject.
Why does something as natural as sexual health which affects every human being not get the same open discussion as other health topics? And more importantly, does keeping in-depth sexual health education in the shadows truly protect us, or does it create more harm than good?
Let’s dive deep into this societal contradiction.
The Taboo That Shouldn’t Be
Sexual health is not just about sex. It is about our well-being, our rights, and our safety. It includes:
✔ Understanding how our bodies function.
✔ Learning how to prevent unwanted pregnancies.
✔ Protecting ourselves from sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
✔ Knowing our rights and boundaries in intimate relationships.
Yet, even in the 21st century, sexual health remains a hushed topic, often surrounded by misinformation, shame, and fear. But why?
Why Does Society Still Treat Sexual Health as Taboo?
- Cultural and Religious Conditioning
For centuries, many cultures and religions have associated purity, morality, and honor with sexuality—especially when it comes to women. Discussions around sex and reproductive health were either avoided or controlled, leaving people with gaps in knowledge that were filled with myths instead of facts.
✘ “Good girls don’t talk about these things.”
✘ “Boys will figure it out by themselves.”
✘ “Sex education means encouraging teenagers to engage in sex.”
These harmful beliefs continue to shape attitudes toward sexual health education today.
2. The Fear of “Encouraging” Sexual Activity
One of the biggest misconceptions is that talking about sexual health encourages sexual activity. However, research shows the opposite is true.
📌 Studies have found that comprehensive sex education leads to safer behavior, delayed sexual activity, and reduced rates of STIs and unplanned pregnancies.
Ignorance doesn’t prevent sexual activity; it just makes it more dangerous.
3. The “It’s Not My Responsibility” Mentality
Parents often assume schools will teach their children about sexual health. Schools assume parents will handle it at home. As a result, many young people grow up confused, misinformed, and vulnerable.
✘ A girl in her teens believes you can’t get pregnant the first time you have sex.
✘ A boy doesn’t know how to use contraception properly and faces an unintended pregnancy scare.
✘ A young woman assumes that STIs only happen to people with multiple partners, so she never gets tested.
When no one takes responsibility, misinformation spreads like wildfire.
Does Ignorance Protect or Harm Us?
1. The Consequences of Silence
When sexual health remains a taboo, people suffer in silence.
Unwanted pregnancies spoil young lives.
Sexually transmitted infections go undiagnosed and untreated.
People stay in toxic relationships because they don’t understand boundaries and consent.
In extreme cases, lack of education can even be deadly—for example, when women undergo unsafe abortions or when people unknowingly spread life-threatening STIs.
- The Power of Knowledge
Instead of fearing education, we should embrace it as a protection and empowerment.
✔ Knowledge helps people make informed decisions about their bodies and relationships.
✔ It gives individuals the confidence to set boundaries and recognize red flags in relationships.
✔ It creates a society where people support each other rather than judge.
Wouldn’t we rather equip people with the right tools instead of leaving them to struggle in the dark?
Breaking the Silence: What Can We Do?
It’s time to shift the narrative. Here’s how:
✔ Start conversations at home. Parents should have age-appropriate talks with children instead of making sexual health seem “shameful.”
✔ Demand better education. Schools must teach comprehensive, fact-based sexual health—not just reproduction but also consent, respect, and emotional well-being.
✔ Normalize discussions, whether it is in the media, at work, or in social spaces, about sexual health.
♥ The more we talk about it, the more we remove the shame and fear surrounding it, and the more informed and better decisions will be made.
Conclusion: Knowledge Is Power, Silence Is Not Protection
Sexual health is not a dirty secret. It is a fundamental part of life. Ignorance doesn’t protect us; it makes us vulnerable.
The important question we need to address is not “Should we discuss sexual health?” but rather, “Why did we ever stop?”
❂ Let’s break the silence, end the stigma, and empower people with knowledge. Because by acquiring knowledge, we unlock the potential to do better.