Source: My UM

In some parts of the world, including China, sex remains a taboo subject. The resultant hesitation, both on the part of the individual and the society, to have an open and candid discussion about sex, has caused many social problems. To help students foster a correct attitude towards sex, UM has or ganised several events to popularize knowledge about sex. So what are our students’ thoughts on the subject? Let’ s check it out.

Sex Education from Parents

Yellow Wong, a third-year student from the Faculty of Business Administration, says his parents are very open-minded, so his earliest sex education comes from them. He thinks it’ s important to receive sex education at as early an age as possible, because a better understanding of the physiological changes that take place in puberty can help temper one’ s curiosity about sex, which will in turn benefit one’ s development physically, mentally, and emotionally. ‘Some of my friends’ parents will even prepare condoms for them,’ he says. ‘Young people nowadays tend to rely on the internet as a primary source of information. But the problem with relying on the internet for information is that you have to sift through a sea of misleading information to get to a few gems of truth. So I hope schools will provide effective sex education to help raise awareness about the importance of safe sex.’

‘I’m for having safer sex.’

Javen Lin, a second-year student from the Department of Communication, says boys tend to be more relaxed about having a conversation on the subject of sex, but it’d be awkward if the same conversation happens between a boy and a girl.

Some consider it irresponsible to have premarital sex, but Lin doesn’t think marriage should be the yardstick against which the legal legitimacy of sex is judged. ‘Personally I have nothing against premarital sex as long as it is consensual. I will keep the condoms distributed by the university, because I’m for having safer sex,’ he says.

Curious but No Adequate Knowledge

Kate Chang, a second-year student from the Department of Communication, says people rarely talk about sex in their daily lives. It’s a subject that more often appears in movies or in jokes. ‘Text books are probably the only place where you will find a serious discussion of the subject,’ she says. Chang thinks parents tend to avoid the subject altogether, and the result is that young people are curious about sex but don’t have adequate knowledge about it. She believes the first step in changing people’s attitude towards sex as a taboo subject is to educate parents about the importance of sex education.