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【看CP學英文】二十幾個小學生在座位上不安的騷動,因為站在台前的老師手中拿著保險套,正在解說它的用途。

Two dozen elementary students wiggle in their seats. They are captivated by their teacher who is, to their surprise, holding a handful of condoms.

當老師問到「誰知道避孕套是什麼?」時,全班在一陣哄堂大笑中有接近一半的學生舉手,其他沒有舉手的學生則安靜地盯著講桌前不明的方形包裝。

“Who here knows what a condom is?” Their teacher asks. A wave of giggles sweeps the classroom before half of the students raise their hands. The others simply stare idly at the mysterious, square-shaped packages.

2017年,這個在高雄拍攝,首播於公視的性平教育影片,引發了極大的爭議。

Shot and broadcasted from Kaohsiung on national television in 2017, this playful lesson on sexual education and gender equality sparked controversy among Taiwanese residents.

儘管許多保守派和反同性戀者譴責該影片內容,但該影片也受到數千名民眾支持。

Although it was widely denounced by many conservative and anti-gay critics, the lecture was also applauded by thousands of supportive citizens.

不管這堂課的內容如何被詮釋,值得深思的是,影片點出普遍台灣學生並沒有接受過深度性教育的問題。

Regardless of the differing impression observers had towards the lesson, however, it was agreed on all sides that the average Taiwanese student did not receive such in-depth sexual education.

目前,政府規範的性教育核心價值與立場皆是以「禁慾」為主。根據「台灣女人連線」常務理事黃淑英進行的一項研究發現,台灣學校對於性教育仍有根深蒂固的偏見。

Currently, government-mandated sex education simply recommends students to remain sexually abstinent. In a study performed by Huang Sue-ying (黃淑英), the chairwoman of Taiwan’s Women’s Link, the sex education programs in Taiwanese schools have an inherent bias.

台灣現行性教育結合傳統觀念與道德論述,教導學生必須禁慾,或是強調應等到婚後才發生性行為。

Mixed with traditional ideologies as well as a moralizing tone, Taiwan’s sex education program teaches students to suppress their sexual urges or practice sex solely within wedlock.

這種偏頗的教育模式可能導致學生壓抑對「性」的慾望,或在沒有正確觀念的前提下進行不安全性行為。

This inadequate schooling method ultimately leaves students to fall within two categories — one that includes concealing sexual desires and another that involves practicing unsafe sex.

上述兩種結果雖有所不同,然它們終究都可能導致青少年對性行為形成不恰當的幻想和慾望。

Although the two options may seem different, they ultimately lead to similar faults in sexual practices and desire within teens.

在《性研究期刊》一項研究中,發現企圖壓抑性慾望的青少年只會更加沉迷性幻想、色情影片或自慰成癮。

In a study by The Journal of Sex Research, it was found that teenagers that attempt to repress sexual thoughts only beget a stronger preoccupation of sexual fantasies as well as addictions to pornographic material or masturbation.

根據台灣性教育學會的民意調查,台灣有近40%的青少年從事過不安全的性行為。

As collected by a poll released by the Taiwan Association for Sexuality Education, 40 percent of sexually active teenagers are practicing unsafe sex.

此外,輔仁大學鄭其嘉教授也表示,94%的愛滋感染是因不安全性行為所造成的。

What’s more, according to Professor Chi-Chia J. Cheng from Fu-Jen Catholic University, 94 percent of HIV infections are conceived through unsafe sex.

這樣不完善的性教育還可能導致更嚴重的後果。

However, complications from having a restrictive sex education do not end there.

2019年,位於台北的一所國際學校因性騷擾醜聞而引起軒然大波。據報導,一群男學生未經女學生許可擅自拍攝和散佈她們的私人照片。

In 2019, an international school located in Taipei struggled with a sexual harassment scandal; a ring of male students began inappropriately photographing and distributing private images of female students without their consent.

雖然事件中男同學行為不當,但換個角度想,他們同時也身為失敗性教育體制下的受害者。

The male students, although wrong in their actions, were also victims in their own right.

教育體制原本應該教給學生正確的「性」觀念,讓他們了解有關合意性行為和性侵犯的差別,也許他們不會犯同樣的錯誤。

Their schooling system, which was supposed to teach and guide them, had failed to properly provide them with sex education. Had they were properly educated on consent and sexual assault, perhaps they would not have made the same mistakes.

台灣現行大部分的教材和內容是由政府和前人所定,極需更新。

Most if not all of the schooling material and content in Taiwan is dictated by the government and older generations.

儘管個人都有權對「性」發表自己的看法,但絕對不應將特定族群的意識形態加諸於另一群人身上。

Although all individuals may be entitled to their own opinions on sex, the beliefs of one demographic should never be exerted upon another.

現在是台灣該向年輕世代進行全面性教育的最佳時機,讓學生透過對「性」透徹了解,奪回他們對「性」的自主決定權。

It’s time for Taiwan to present thorough sex education to younger generations, and allow them to determine for themselves whether or not they want to be sexually active.

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