Talk About Sex With Children

Author：Wei Ma ,马薇

Student number: 2341798

A girl in the class called the police. Because at that time, the girl was already pregnant with a male teacher. After Mrs.Bean's course, the girl came to realize what she had encountered was not love, but an act of violation.

The shy students in the class

“Do we go to the wrong classroom?” In the classroom, a fifth -grader boy kept his head down, giggling shyly, and raised his doubts. The reason for his behavior was that the topic of this class was about "sex and self - protection", which is quite unfamiliar to him.

A class on preventing child sexual abuse

"It’s okay to feel shy. We’re just going to talk honestly about our bodies today”, said Xiaokai Zhang, also called Mrs.Bean by students.She is a social worker, and her main job is to provide sexual education for children.

Sensitive topic in the class

Even the shyest boy participated in the discussion.

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In today's class, after winning trust by small talks with classmates, Mrs.Bean was ready to start her real teaching. She prepared some questions that are not often brought up. One of them was, "Can a stranger touch our penises?"

At first, the classmates were taken aback，but as the class progressed，more and more children bravely raised their hands and faced this question.

Xiaokai is showing her teaching aids.

From awkward silence to brave attempts, Xiaokai has experienced thousands of such classes over the past six years.

Her career of sex education began in 2018, which has been quite a challenge for her. Because she was born and grew up in southern Fujian region, where has too many taboos about sex and biases regarding gender. Even today, there are still sayings like women are not allowed to enter temples during their menstrual periods.

Therefore，in her career, she has faced many troubles, including  courses cancelled inexplicably and hostile stares from some parents.

The children's handicrafts about reproductive organs.

Her teaching aids like plush toys which can bring a sense of security to students.

“I know it's hard for me and children，that’s why I fight for,” said by Xiaokai. One thing strengthened her courage was a class two years ago. At first, she just regarded it as an ordinary course. But a few days later, she heard that one girl in the class had called the police. Because at that time, the girl was already pregnant with a male teacher. After Xiaokai’s course, the girl came to realize what she had encountered was not love, but an act of violation.

This course changed the girl and Xiaokai as well，and she has a deeper understanding of her work.

A child's thoughts and feelings about sexual abuse on the Internet

The children have something to say about their own bodies.

“When I was a child, for a long time, I was afraid of the topic of sex. I wasn't even sure why I was afraid. But now, as a mother and an educator, I don't want any child to be as confused as I once was,” said Xiaokai.