Perspectives of Young People on Social Media-Based Sexuality Education Using a Feminist Approach in China: A Qualitative Study
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Journal Article
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Springer
Abstract
The feminist approach to sexuality education challenges and changes power dynamics and inequalities embedded within sexuality, while social media serves as a tool for building online communities and raising awareness about feminist issues. Adopting a feminist approach to sexuality education, particularly through social media platforms, remains largely unexplored and underdeveloped. In China, where traditional sex education is often limited and stigmatized, sexuality has been influenced by a complex interplay of traditional gender norms, evolving social attitudes, and state intervention. The aim of this study was to evaluate both sex educators and their online followers' perceptions of the implementation of social media-based sexuality education using a feminist approach in China. Semi-structured online interviews were carried out with 10 educators and 18 young followers, followed by thematic analysis using NVivo. The findings indicated that social media-based sexuality education using a feminist approach might be used to help disrupt oppressive norms about gender and sexuality and foster a positive attitude toward women's sexuality. Chinese online sex educators strategically avoided the term "feminism" and creatively evaded censorship and spread their messages in alignment with government policies while advocating for gender equality. However, participants also highlighted the existence of barriers, including internal conflicts, gender imbalances, social stigmatization, and political constraints, which needed to be addressed in order to effectively implement this approach.Description
Keywords
China, Feminism, Gender, Sexuality education, Social media, China, Feminism, Gender, Sexuality education, Social media, 4405 Gender Studies, 44 Human Society, 1117 Public Health and Health Services, 1699 Other Studies in Human Society, 1701 Psychology, Clinical Psychology, 4405 Gender studies, 5203 Clinical and health psychology, 5205 Social and personality psychology
Source
Archives of Sexual Behavior, ISSN: 0004-0002 (Print); 1573-2800 (Online), Springer, 54(2), 589-604. doi: 10.1007/s10508-024-03015-z
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