Clitoris

[Perfect28]

The correct and full terminology for female genitalia is not taught in school. The closest we get to it, as far as I am aware, is the now statutory conversation about FGM. Why is this, and why isn't this a bigger conversation?

There's plenty of info out there. A cursory Google: yougov.co.uk/topics/health/articles-reports/2019/03/08/half-brits-dont-know-where-vagina-and-its-not-just
This purports that the clitoris was actually the most identified among the different parts (without actually mentioning the true size of the organ) or here www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/may/30/most-britons-cannot-name-parts-vulva-survey (links to study on article).
The vulva/vagina one does my head in. I suppose you think that doesn't matter either though huh.

@Perfect28 i suppose the teaching is centered around pregnancy. It’s very functional. Fluctuating hormone levels, eggs, sperm, fertilisation. There’s no mention of prostate, foreskin etc it’s just how to make a baby.

Honestly, we don't actually routinely talk in school about which part of the penis is the most sensitive, where the most nerve endings are, we don't mention about being really careful touching the head once the foreskin is back. I'm not sure the perineum is often mentioned on men or women.

I don't think male sexual pleasure is covered in any more detail in biology or in rse than female pleasure. I don't think it's up to teachers to teach children how to enjoy sex. (for clarity : I DO think it's right teachers to teach children how to keep themselves safe physically and emotionally, and how to behave respectfully, how to understand consent and that it can be withdrawn at any time, and that sex should never feel bad physically or emotionally)

Such an interesting debate. I remember just being taught the absolute functional basics, and thinking why would you do that…
I think there is a balance to be found which should include some mention of pleasure, I’m sure the many women who’ve struggled with attaining orgasm could have been helped in part with a bit more information at school. Not all parents are open and informative- many perpetuate the same taboos and hang ups their parents had.

Naming body parts is fine. Science lessons, in which reproduction is covered doesn’t discuss sexual pleasure for the male either it’s covered factually. The kids already know what sex is at 13-14 and I’m fairly sure , in general terms, they know how it works for males as it’s easy available information. Unfortunately less so for girls so at least naming the parts starts the process … it exists!

So sex 'shouldn't feel bad', that's it. It's worth pointing out that the urethra also doesn't have a part to play in reproduction so why do we label that? In fact why even teach them about reproduction at age 11? Why teach them at all? Those who want to be obstetricians or midwives can work that one out right?

I guess you mean the female urethra here. I suppose it’s structural like the bladder, rectum & anus.

As pp said there’s nothing about male pleasure either- it gets hard, it goes in, it squirts.

My kids were taught correct names for sexual organs in primary school. I clearly remember the "parents evening" held in advance of the planned Yr 6 'sex ed' lessons as the headteacher boomed out CLITORIS CLITORIS CLITORIS in the echoing Victorian classroom. She was a very old school head, ex-police, and didn't believe in avoiding stuff like this - she quite rightly explained it was important for kids to know the correct names for body parts and what they were for, and explained about how the correct anatomical labels were important for safeguarding.

I agree with WalkerWalking - teach kids the correct words and the biological functions, but there's no need to teach them about "enjoyment" as it's crossing a line.

But also - lots of adults not knowing where a clitoris or a vagina is, is not the fault of today's teachers is it? They either didn't listen, didn't attend or weren't taught in their own school. There seem to be a lot of adults around just now trying to push their own adult experiences onto children.

Surely we shouldn't be teaching sexual experiences to children because children shouldn't be experiencing sex? Maybe the target audience is 16+?

Sorry posted too soon. We teach reproduction at ks3 because it’s one of the systems. Also because parents are too squeamish to talk to their own kids about sex do someone has to do that they can keep themselves safe.

Posters seem to be overlooking that male pleasure is taught. So why shouldn’t female pleasure?

The way they teach sex ed in the Netherlands seems very effective and all age appropriate, and includes the fact that female pleasure is actually a thing. Also much more effective for students in same sex relationships etc too

Do=so. Tired eyes.

It’s really not. I think the phrase is ‘becomes excited and…’ same as the woman ‘becomes excited and the vagina self-lubricates’.

Singingsands so when does that cycle of ignorance end? People masturbate waaaaay below the age of 16.

Sock so am I right in thinking you believe the name and location should be taught but not actually what it is or does because its not a 'system' nor 'structural'. And in your view as it doesn't fit in to this reproduction or 'structutal' (?) system it therefore has no place whatsoever.

I think you’re getting over excited and twisting my words, that’s not what I said.

OP, if you are teaching a lesson on puberty and the power point is incorrect, isn't that a poor prepping issue on your part, rather than some wider problem with the education system?

The clitoris was labelled in biology text books when I was at school forty years ago.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31691374/

I'm not 'excited', I'm Angry.

"I struggle to orgasm. If only Mr. Cooper, my year 9 biology teacher had done a class seminar on clitoral stimulation." No adult woman ever.

"If only teachers had told us that sexual pleasure exists - how would we know otherwise?!" No horny, hormone fuelled teenager ever.

The utter creepy lunacy of people who want classes of 30 13 year olds to sit around talking about sexytimes with their teacher.

Hangonsnoopy go check out BBC bitesize 'reproduction in humans'. Trust me, its not in the biology books now. Yes, I should have been clearer. I was covering material that is centrally prepared.

Sexy times? Are you OK?

Ok so, picture this. Year 8 lesson, probably a Friday afternoon because it always bloody is.

teacher: the clitoris is placed here, reaches round there, function is female sexual pleasure.

student 1: what’s female sexual pleasure miss?

student 2: what does that feel like miss?

student 3: what do you do to it miss?

student 4: my brother says you rub it, he saw it on tv.

student 5: my sister likes having hers licked miss.

student 6: have you had yours licked miss?

Anyone who thinks this isn’t how it would go is obviously teaching in different schools to the rest of us.

Where do you draw the line, and at what point does it actually become a safeguarding breach? And what happens then?

But if you are teaching from a resource on human reproduction, why would that include the clitoris or sexual pleasure?

I don't understand what your point is @Perfect28 ? That school is the place where all this needs taught? That it is on teachers to close the female orgasm gap? Really?

I think you're over-reaching a bit. There are a number of ways to support a child developing a healthy awareness of their bodies and an appreciation of what they can do with it. It really isn't all down to school and teachers.

FWIW @Perfect28 i agree that we as women are sold down the river on this one, but it’s really not a ks3 or 4 lesson. It would have to be specialist teams coming into school- massively trained to inform but stay onside, and not the poor sod who has to teach them relativity an hour after talking about clit rubbing techniques.