CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2021
| Author | Ellis-Curry, Sofia |
|---|---|
| Title | District Differences in Comprehensive Sexual Health Education (CSHE) Implementation in Washington State |
| Summary | This thesis seeks to understand how the social, political, and economic contexts of four school districts in Washington state create differences in the implementation of comprehensive sexual health education (CSHE), and the way in which LGBTQ sexualities and identities in CSHE are approached by teachers and districts. This is a qualitative research project based on in-depth interviews conducted with teachers, administrators, and other professionals in the fields of public health and public education working on CSHE. In this thesis, I use interview data and feminist methodologies to examine the differences between the Seattle, Lake Washington, Skykomish, and Hood Canal School Districts. Within the scope of the four school districts I examine, I argue that the economic context, specifically how much funding a district has, where that funding comes from, and teachers’ access to CSHE training, are the primary factors influencing the efficacy and quality of CSHE. The social context, specifically parents’ and caregivers’ political ideology, is a significant yet secondary factor. The differences between the four districts impact the implementation of CSHE, disproportionately disadvantage students in poor and rural areas, and affect the types of social and sexual scripts to which youths have access. Finally, I assert that because of the structural and temporal constraints associated with teaching CSHE, all students receive limited information about sexual orientations and gender identities, which serves to further marginalize LGBTQ youth. In this thesis, I argue that despite the passing of the CSHE law at the state level, local differences (re)produce inequalities. This case study underscores the gaps between state policy on sex education and barriers to its actual implementation at the micro level. In pursuing these research aims, this thesis seeks to advance research on sex education at the local level and contribute to the under-researched area of LGBTQ sexualities and identities in sex education scholarship. |
| Supervisor | Fodor, Éva |
| Department | Gender Studies MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2021/ellis-curry_sofia.pdf |
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