Op-Ed Contributors

Let's accept facts and guide the youth

By Eric Sommer (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-08-04 09:27

The result of such inter-generational "disconnect" is that romantic relationships, and sexual activities can simply be hidden from the "elders", thereby pre-empting any possibility of guidance in the use of contraceptives.

In a modern or modernizing society like China, the question is not whether young people will engage in sexual activities, rather it is whether they will practice "safe sex" - that is, whether they will use contraceptives - but whether they will be vulnerable to unwanted pregnancies, abortions and even to sexually transmitted disease such as HIV/AIDS.

The importance of providing clear information and guidance on the use of necessary precautionary measures for safe sex can never be over-emphasized. Parents and young people can still have their own views on that matter, though. What is not debatable, however, is that a high percentage of young people in China are sexually active, and that the epidemic of unwanted pregnancies, abortions and sexually-transmitted diseases like HIV/AIDS will persist until information on safe sex is passed on to the youngsters.

Hence, I think parents have to change their attitude - and if necessary talk to their teenage children about the importance of safe sex. They have to realize that things have changed since they were young. I may not be comfortable discussing safe sex and the steps that should be taken to guard against unwanted pregnancies and diseases like HIV/AIDS with children. But I'd rather be uncomfortable than see a young girl go through the hell of abortion or worse contract HIV/AIDS.

Parents need to be explicit and clear about the use of protection during sex and, if need be, they may even have to guide their children if they are too embarrassed to buy contraceptives. Parents need to realize that as the primary caregivers to their children, they will have to take the blame if their children end up with unwanted pregnancies or contract venereal diseases.

High schools, too, need to give clear and explicit guidance to students on safe sex and to explain to them the consequences of not practicing safe sex. Since older teachers may be reluctant to discuss such matters, the alternative is for the government to produce one or more videos which can be shown in high schools to give youngsters precise information on safe sex.

The author is a Canadian teacher in Beijing.