Preventing sexual violence in the Fajar Harapan Congregation: the responsibility of parents in providing sex education for children aged 6-9

Algracia Rinaty Leunufna; Samel Sopakua

doi:10.37196/mc.v12i1.153

Authors

Algracia Rinaty Leunufna Institut Agama Kristen Negeri Ambon
Samel Sopakua Institut Agama Kristen Negeri Ambon

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37196/mc.v12i1.153

Keywords:

Sex education, Parental responsibility, Christian teachings, Childhood development, Sexual harassment

Abstract

This study addresses the crucial role of families, particularly parents, in imparting sex education to children, emphasizing the significance of parents as the primary educational influencers. Focused on children aged 6-9 years, a critical developmental period often overlooked in sex education, the objective is to explore how Christian parents can integrate and deliver sex education aligned with Christian teachings (PAK) within the family context. The research is grounded in real-world concerns identified within the Fajar Pengharapan congregation, where a 6-year-old encountered sexual harassment due to parental negligence in sex education. Employing a qualitative research method, data were gathered through direct interviews with parents of 6-9-year-olds in the GPM Fajar Pengharapan Congregation, supplemented by relevant literature. Findings reveal parents' limited understanding of sex education, indicating suboptimal efforts in educating their children. Effective strategies for delivering sex education to children, especially within the 6-9 age range, remain unclear. Parents often perceive in-depth sex education at this age as inappropriate. Their efforts primarily encompass explaining basic anatomy, emphasizing protection against harassment, and instilling moral teachings related to gender equality, recognizing all individuals as God's creations. As part of a Christian family, it is imperative to acknowledge and educate children on sexual values, considering sex as a divine gift approached with care and timing. This research contributes insights into the challenges Christian parents face in delivering comprehensive sex education, emphasizing the need for tailored approaches and increased awareness within this community.

References

E. M. van Duin et al., “Sexual abuse in very young children: a psychological assessment in the Amsterdam Sexual Abuse Case study,” Eur. J. Psychotraumatol., vol. 9, no. 1, p. 1503524, Jan. 2018, doi: 10.1080/20008198.2018.1503524.

D. Theoklitou, N. Kabitsis, and A. Kabitsi, “Physical and emotional abuse of primary school children by teachers,” Child Abuse Negl., vol. 36, no. 1, pp. 64–70, Jan. 2012, doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2011.05.007.

A. W. Burgess, M. Welner, and D. G. Willis, “Educator Sexual Abuse: Two Case Reports,” J. Child Sex. Abus., vol. 19, no. 4, pp. 387–402, Aug. 2010, doi: 10.1080/10538712.2010.495045.

M. Steely and T. Ten Bensel, “Child Sexual Abuse within Educational Settings: A Qualitative Study on Female Teachers Who Sexually Abuse Their Students,” Deviant Behav., vol. 41, no. 11, pp. 1440–1453, Nov. 2020, doi: 10.1080/01639625.2019.1624288.

F. Rahawarin and H. Wattimena, “Form of Legal Protection for Children of Sexual Harassments in the Namlea State Court, Maluku,” Leg. Br., vol. 11, no. 3, pp. 1638–1649, 2022.

D. M. Salakory, “Biopsikososial-spritual impacts of sexual abuse for minors in Ambon City,” Sosiohumaniora, vol. 23, no. 1, pp. 28–37, Mar. 2021, doi: 10.24198/sosiohumaniora.v23i1.26741.

R. J. Werner-Wilson and J. L. Fitzharris, “How Can Mothers and Fathers Become Involved in the Sexuality Education of Adolescents?,” J. HIV/AIDS Prev. Educ. Adolesc. Child., vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 49–59, May 2001, doi: 10.1300/J129v04n01_05.

C. Siahaan, L. N. Iswari, and N. B. Sinambela, “Social Media Phenomena with Negative Contents,” Indones. J. Multidiscip. Sci., vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 51–58, Nov. 2021, doi: 10.55324/ijoms.v1i2.15.

A. J. Kesterton and M. Cabral de Mello, “Generating demand and community support for sexual and reproductive health services for young people: A review of the Literature and Programs,” Reprod. Health, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 1–12, Dec. 2010, doi: 10.1186/1742-4755-7-25.

M. Hasnain, K. J. Connell, U. Menon, and P. A. Tranmer, “Patient-Centered Care for Muslim Women: Provider and Patient Perspectives,” J. Women’s Heal., vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 73–83, Jan. 2011, doi: 10.1089/jwh.2010.2197.

L. Measor *, “Young people’s views of sex education: gender, information and knowledge,” Sex Educ., vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 153–166, Jul. 2004, doi: 10.1080/14681810410001678338.

A. Gegenfurtner and M. Gebhardt, “Sexuality education including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) issues in schools,” Educ. Res. Rev., vol. 22, pp. 215–222, Nov. 2017, doi: 10.1016/j.edurev.2017.10.002.

J. Cidell, “Content clouds as exploratory qualitative data analysis,” Area, vol. 42, no. 4, pp. 514–523, Dec. 2010, doi: 10.1111/j.1475-4762.2010.00952.x.

M. Y. Rodriguez and H. Storer, “A computational social science perspective on qualitative data exploration: Using topic models for the descriptive analysis of social media data,” J. Technol. Hum. Serv., vol. 38, no. 1, pp. 54–86, Jan. 2020, doi: 10.1080/15228835.2019.1616350.

R. Hastuti, “Pendidikan Agama Kristen Dalam Keluarga Sebagai Pusat Bermisi,” J. Antusias, vol. 2, no. 4, pp. 48–59, 2013.

K. Jergus, “Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–1778),” in International handbook of philosophy of education, 2018, pp. 395–406. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-72761-5_33

D. Herzog, “Syncopated Sex: Transforming European Sexual Cultures,” Am. Hist. Rev., vol. 114, no. 5, pp. 1287–1308, Dec. 2009, doi: 10.1086/ahr.114.5.1287.

J. M. Hoem, G. Neyer, and G. Andersson, “Education and childlessness: The relationship between educational field, educational level, and childlessness among Swedish women born in 1955-1959,” Demogr. Res., vol. 14, pp. 331–380, May 2006, doi: 10.4054/DemRes.2006.14.15.

A. Cheedalla, C. Moreau, and A. E. Burke, “Sex education and contraceptive use of adolescent and young adult females in the United States: an analysis of the National Survey of Family Growth 2011–2017,” Contracept. X, vol. 2, p. 100048, 2020, doi: 10.1016/j.conx.2020.100048.

S. T. Russell, A. B. Mallory, M. D. Bishop, and A. A. Dorri, “Innovation and Integration of Sexuality in Family Life Education,” Fam. Relat., vol. 69, no. 3, pp. 595–613, Jul. 2020, doi: 10.1111/fare.12462.

G. Riad and C. Forden, “‘If we didn’t talk, we would be like ostriches burying our heads in the sand’: Attitudes toward sexuality, gender, and sex education among child protection social workers in Egypt,” Child. Youth Serv. Rev., vol. 129, p. 106205, Oct. 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2021.106205.

J. M. Heyes, “Sexuality education as political theology: pathways to non-violence,” Sex Educ., vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 37–51, Jan. 2022, doi: 10.1080/14681811.2020.1843012.

C. J. Kaunda, “‘To Engage in God’s Mission of Struggle for Abundant Life’: Nyambura Jane Njoroge’s Ecumenical Theological Education Vision for African Christianity,” Relig. Educ., vol. 115, no. 5, pp. 480–491, Oct. 2020, doi: 10.1080/00344087.2020.1816249.

P. Gondreau, “Jesus and Paul on the Meaning and Purpose of Human Sexuality,” Nov. vetera, vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 461–503, 2020, doi: 10.1353/nov.2020.0032.

L. Reese, “Morality and identity in Mexican immigrant parents’ visions of the future,” J. Ethn. Migr. Stud., vol. 27, no. 3, pp. 455–472, Jul. 2001, doi: 10.1080/136918301200266176.

C. Connell and S. Elliott, “Beyond the Birds and the Bees: Learning Inequality through Sexuality Education,” Am. J. Sex. Educ., vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 83–102, Jun. 2009, doi: 10.1080/15546120903001332.

D. Ayton and N. Joss, “Empowering vulnerable parents through a family mentoring program,” Aust. J. Prim. Health, vol. 22, no. 4, pp. 320–326, 2016, doi: 10.1071/PY14174.

G. Marwell and J. Hage, “The Organization of Role-Relationships: A Systematic Description,” Am. Sociol. Rev., vol. 35, no. 5, pp. 884–900, Oct. 1970, doi: 10.2307/2093299.

C. W. Choo, “The knowing organization: How organizations use information to construct meaning, create knowledge and make decisions,” Int. J. Inf. Manage., vol. 16, no. 5, pp. 329–340, Oct. 1996, doi: 10.1016/0268-4012(96)00020-5.

C. Herron, S. Dubreil, S. P. Cole, and C. Corrie, “Using Instructional Video to Teach Culture to Beginning Foreign Language Students,” CALICO J., vol. 17, no. 3, pp. 395–429, Jan. 2013, doi: 10.1558/cj.v17i3.395-429.

J. D. Edgerton, L. W. Roberts, and S. von Below, “Education and Quality of Life,” in Handbook of Social Indicators and Quality of Life Research, Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands, 2012, pp. 265–296. doi: 10.1007/978-94-007-2421-1_12