Abstract

The thesis is based on the recollections of sexual health education received by five women, between 23 and 29 years of age, in school and out of school contexts in Quebec. Through an open ended questionnaire containing six questions the women were asked to discuss their past sexual health education and comment on whether it prepared them for healthy sexuality in their lived experience. The following themes emerged from the data: technical information was given but was mainly with intent to discourage sexual behavior; the school context as well as discussions with parents created discomfort; the main problem identified was lack of emotional components in the curriculum, books and magazines, information received from friends and relatives, television as well as medical professionals. One source of information that was not identified by the participants but is prominent in the recent literature is the internet. Based on these results the thesis makes recommendations for improving sexual health education in schools as well as recommendations for more in depth research on this topic in the Quebec context.