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Sex education in Indonesia: Between taboo and necessity
Despite improvements in addressing violence against women, sexual violence remains alarmingly prevalent, underscoring the urgency of comprehensive sexual education initiatives.
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A protester holds a banner reading “my body my choice” on a crowded street. (Courtesy of Shutterstock/StunningArt)
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exual education occupies a complex position in Indonesian society, where cultural norms and religious beliefs intersect with pressing public health concerns.
Despite improvements in addressing violence against women, sexual violence remains alarmingly prevalent, underscoring the urgency of comprehensive sexual education (CSE) initiatives.
According to the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan), there were 431,471 reported cases of violence against women in 2019, representing a 6 percent increase from the previous year.
While the number decreased to 299,911 in 2020, sexual violence continues to pose a significant threat, highlighting the need for preventive measures.
However, despite numerous efforts at highlighting the urgent need for sexual education in Indonesia, it has yet to be incorporated into the school curriculum, which is mainly due to our strict attitudes toward topics regarding sex.
Breaking the taboo surrounding sex and sexuality in Indonesia proves challenging due to cultural norms that confine discussions on these topics primarily to the private sphere, notably within the context of marriage.
This taboo is deeply ingrained in cultural and religious traditions, fostering widespread discomfort and hesitancy to openly tackle sexual health issues.
