Lisa Michaela Vallin

Thoughts and Perceptions Surrounding Sexual Literacy: a Cross Cultural Study Looking at Swedish and American Youth and Their Perspectives and Experiences of Sex Education Lisa Michaela Vallin

The United States and Sweden today are often described as opposites in regards to sex and sexuality. In 1955, Sweden became the first nation to implement mandatory, national sex education in the public schools. Since then, the country has been widely recognized for its open and progressive views of sex and sexuality. In contrast, controversy exists in the U. S. as to what is appropriate sex education. Contemporary Sweden has received severe criticism from a number of scholars and institutions about teaching a narrow sex education. This research examine two groups of young students, their perspectives and experiences of sex education and the process of developing sexual literacy using a mixed-methods approach: a combination of surveys and in-person semi-structured interviews. Although this research is based on a convenience sample, the outcome of the study challenges the notion that Swedish sex education is more progressive than American. The findings of this research also support the concept of sexual literacy as a model to reframe sexuality education using a holistic approach focusing on pleasure, happiness, desire and wellness.