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What Americans Can Learn About Sex Education from the Dutch: Breaking the Taboo for Safer, Smarter Teens
Revolutionizing Our Approach to Sex Education, One Open Conversation at a Time
Sex. It’s a word that makes Americans both curious and uncomfortable. Despite its omnipresence in advertising and pop culture, the real conversations about it remain wrapped in awkward silences, cultural taboos, and outdated traditions. Meanwhile, the Dutch, with their pragmatic approach, have created a society where open conversations about sex lead to healthier, safer, and more informed young adults.
As someone who believed I was progressive in educating my kids about sex, a conversation with my Dutch in-laws revealed just how far behind the curve I truly was.
The Illusion of Progress: My Own Journey
I was always proud of how I handled “The Talk” with my kids. My mother, ahead of her time, explained the basics of reproduction to me when I was young, and I carried that torch forward with my own children. But instead of a one-time conversation, I treated it as an evolving dialogue.
When my teenage son mentioned he had to study for a “sex ed” test, I seized the moment to educate him further. Armed with a rake and a stack of contraception facts, I turned a yard…
