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The production of contraceptive cyborgs in Swedish upper secondary sexuality education
Stockholm University, Faculty of Science, Department of Mathematics and Science Education.ORCID iD: 0000-0003-0441-5660
Stockholm University, Faculty of Science, Department of Mathematics and Science Education.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-2518-3400
Stockholm University, Faculty of Science, Department of Mathematics and Science Education.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-2164-1291
2022 (English)In: Cultural Studies of Science Education, ISSN 1871-1502, E-ISSN 1871-1510, Vol. 17, no 2, p. 541-556Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

In this study we examine upper secondary students’ notions of contraceptive methods, as human reproduction and contraception are common content in sexuality education in Sweden and worldwide. Our data were constructed during an extensive educational sequence in natural science sexuality education and include audio recordings of 17–18-year-old students’ stories. Since the main body of the stories was about hormonal and digital contraception and contraceptive responsibility, these stories are the focal point of our analysis. Our study further aims to problematize, challenge, and develop education on contraceptive methods, and Donna Haraway’s theoretical perspectives have been particularly useful. We have in the analytical process linked Haraway’s cyborg image with her later work on tentacular thinking. Our result shows that scientific facts about human reproduction are important for the students’ ability to navigate between the advantages and disadvantages of various contraceptive methods. However, sexuality education turns out to not only be a matter of scientific facts. This study accentuates how natural science, historical, political, cultural, and market-oriented intertwinings affect students’ notions of contraception—and thereby also the construction of natural science sexuality education. 

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2022. Vol. 17, no 2, p. 541-556
Keywords [en]
Sexuality education, Contraceptive methods, Upper secondary school, Donna Haraway
National Category
Didactics
Research subject
Didactics
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:su:diva-199892DOI: 10.1007/s11422-021-10086-0ISI: 000730875100001Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85121388924OAI: oai:DiVA.org:su-199892DiVA, id: diva2:1620795
Available from: 2021-12-16 Created: 2021-12-16 Last updated: 2023-02-05Bibliographically approved
In thesis
1. Becomings of Swedish secondary sexuality education: Enactments in natural science subjects and interdisciplinary teaching about pornography
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Becomings of Swedish secondary sexuality education: Enactments in natural science subjects and interdisciplinary teaching about pornography
2023 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

This thesis is about Swedish secondary sexuality education with a particular focus on the becomings of natural science and pornography education. Recent scrutiny of the knowledge area has stressed the need for teaching to include student perspectives, cover more than mere medical and biological knowledge, and be more affirmative. Accordingly, the main aim of this thesis has been to investigate the becomings of lower and upper secondary sexuality education with a practice-based approach. A second aim has been to explore how the onto-epistemological framing could contribute to new understandings of what sexuality education could be and to make proposals for the teaching and learning of the knowledge area. Here, the theoretical positions offered by Karen Barad and Donna Haraway were used in analysis of teacher and student discussions on various phenomena related to sex and sexuality. The four studies forming the basis of this thesis further build upon engagements with four different schools—two lower and upper secondary settings, respectively. Data were produced through notes and audio recordings where the teachers discussed the construction of sexuality education, or from actual teaching in a class and student interviews. Study I engages with the teaching of genital anatomy and upper secondary students’ notions of virginity. The results suggest that teaching should engage with a variety of perspectives, for example, traditions, norms, and values with regard to virginity. Study II focuses on upper secondary student engagements with contraceptive methods, in particular, the use of hormonal contraception and a mobile phone contraceptive application. The results show the need for teaching to problematise possible side effects of various contraceptive methods, and contraceptive responsibility. Study III breaks with the natural science framing and engages with an interdisciplinary teacher collaboration concerning education about pornography. The topic came into being as somewhat troublesome, having had too great a focus on the teaching, and it is therefore suggested that the topic be part of a wider context addressing gender equality, relationships, sexuality, communication, and consent. Study IV returns to the teaching of natural science sexuality education, but from a more general perspective. In this study, the teachers found ways to invite students to be part of the unfolding of the teaching and to challenge heterosexual and sex-negative premises common in sexuality education in Sweden and worldwide. Overall, in the four studies, sexuality education was enacted as a highly relational and explorative practice. Encounters with primarily the material world, but also time and space, further made teaching more student centred. It is suggested that sexuality education moreover not only be taught as a medical and biological phenomenon, but also in entanglement with perspectives on culture, religion, history, tradition, and societal norms.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Stockholm: Department of Teaching and Learning, Stockholm University, 2023. p. 96
Keywords
Swedish sexuality education, practice-based approach, lower and upper secondary school, Karen Barad, Donna Haraway, student participation, material engagements, relationality, pornography education, virginity, contraceptive methods, science education
National Category
Didactics
Research subject
Science Education
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:su:diva-214415 (URN)978-91-8014-188-8 (ISBN)978-91-8014-189-5 (ISBN)
Public defence
2023-03-27, Vivi Täckholmsalen (Q-salen), NPQ-huset, Svante Arrhenius väg 20A, and online via Zoom, public link is available at the department website, Stockholm, 13:00 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Available from: 2023-03-02 Created: 2023-02-05 Last updated: 2023-02-27Bibliographically approved

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Planting-Bergloo, SaraArvola Orlander, AuliJakobson, Britt

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