A Comparative Study of Attitudes of Sexuality, Sexual Health Knowledge, and Sexual Practices of Young Women in Mexico, Canada a

This paper reports on the perceptions of sexuality, sexual health knowledge, and practices of young women in Mexico, Canada and the United States. It describes and compares the perspectives of young women concerning their sexual health needs. It also identifies crosscultural differences related to the accessibility of sexual health information and services. Some of the results are discussed in comparison with other international research conducted on similar issues. INTRODUCTION “I heard that you can tell your boyfriend isn’t a virgin if when you touch his penis, it’s hard.” This was the shocking statement that came from my Mexican host family’s 22-year-old maid one night after dinner. I was speechless and didn’t know how to react. Prompted by such comments (although others not nearly as surprising) during my study-abroad experience in Xalapa, Mexico, I started to pay closer attention to opinions of sex and sexual practices within the Mexican youth culture. I soon decided that I wanted to investigate young Mexican women’s practices and perceptions of sex and sexuality. This investigation led to an international comparative study on perceptions of sexuality, sexual health knowledge, and practices of young women in Mexico, Canada and the United States. Indeed, each culture has a unique perspective on sexuality, and a correlation seems to exist between the accessibility of sexual health resources to the young women and their perceptions of sex and sexuality as well as their practices. Population Action International is a Washington D.C.-based, independent policy advocacy group that works toward the advancement of access to family planning and related health services, especially for girls and women. According to Population Action International, although sexual education has entered the Mexican classroom, it is not geared toward the youth’s needs and lacks ample information: Mexico's recent progress in incorporating sexuality education into the national school system is due in large part to NGO advocacy efforts that built on a poll showing parental support for sex education. However, the million teachers who should cover the material are still untrained. As a result, they often continue to skip sexuality education, or limit open communication and discussion. The government's approach to reproductive health tends to be clinical, to the neglect of the social, economic and personal aspects of sexual relationships (NGOs advance, 2003). Not only is the quality of the sexual education courses questionable, but the accessibility to resources beyond schooling plays an additional role in these women’s sexual health awareness. Studies released by the Mexican Family Planning Association (MEXFAM) revealed that although the awareness about different methods of birth control has increased, the rate of usage is still lower than desired (Betaza, 2005). Dr. Rafaela Schiavon, a reproductive health investigator for the Ministry of Health commented, “We’re familiar with the methods (i.e. of birth control), but at times we don’t use them, but the double standard is that at times it keeps us from planning the use of a method for unmarried couples; it’s a job for society as a whole. Some young women know about birth control, but the phrase ‘that could never happen to me’ stuck and now these young women are learning how to be mothers” (Betaza, 2005). In comparison, according to Body & Soul, a Canadian magazine about health, nourishment, spirituality, and relationships, French-Canadian youth receive quite extensive sexual education in the context of (secondary) education.