Kids don’t discuss sex with parents

Chennai: A survey conducted by the departments of anthropology and women studies of Madras University along with Indian Association of Sexology recently showed that 90 per cent of school students never discussed sex related matters with their parents.

They organized a seminar titled ‘Sexual right as human rights’ in a bid to create awareness and to celebrate World Sexual Health Day (September 4) on Thursday.

Indian Association for Sexology conducted the survey among school and college students about various aspects such as how they feel about their body, whether HIV is curable, have they ever discussed sex related matters with their parents and so on, its chairman Dr T. Kamaraj said.

Another survey was conducted on attitude towards LGBT. It was found that majority of the girls are scared of transgenders. “We are also collecting one lakh signatures from students and public and submitting to Chief Minister and Prime Minister to implement appropriate sex education in schools and colleges, to prevent HIV and other discriminations,” he said. He further added that in some countries homosexuals are killed. Dr S. Sumathi, head of Anthropology department, said anthropologists strongly believe in cultural factors. There are enough studies that prove that sexuality, sexual relations have to be perceived through cultural perspectives.

“It has been nurtured through socialization. Each community, society, nation have their own perspective about sexuality with respect to culture alone,” she said.

She added that this issue ends up in murder and honour killing. “We believe in certain things and we have strong values attached to it. Infidelity was once upon a time perceived as not a good value. But now the values are changing,” she said.