Eleventh International Conference on Health, Wellness & Society

Abstract

The aim of this research was to explore how New Zealand parents with young people aged 11-14 understand and experience their role in sexuality and relationship education. In New Zealand the Minister of Education discussed sexuality and consent education and stated it was first and foremost a parental, family and whanau responsibility. This statement was problematic as it failed to consider the feelings and emotions deeply embedded in adult engagement, and silence, around sexuality and relationships. Furthermore, it continues to perpetuate a public/private, home/school divide that fails to engage with the complexities of sexuality and relationships in the digital age. Adults are often haunted by their own sexuality education experiences and continue to try and protect young people from the complexity, irrationality, and joy of relationships. Rather than opening up discussion around the broader determinants of sexuality and relationships, this protection often shuts down the opportunity to engage with young people. The research drew on a feminist poststructural theoretical framework and utilized qualitative focus group interviews with 56 parents. Data were analysed through a Foucauldian inspired discourse analytic lens which highlighted key themes. This paper explores the theme of parental feelings of inadequacy in a neoliberal environment, and identify strategies that address the ‘affective’ element of sexuality, especially pornography in the digital age.