South asian female university students' experiences of sex education and sexual identity

This study explored how South Asian women are taught (or not taught) sexual health education in British Columbia, Canada from 2007 to 2019. The study indicates that there is a need for race and culture to be incorporated into sexual health education. Sixteen participants also shared what needs to be discussed in the classroom, including consent, pornography, birth control, STIs, female pleasure, and sexting. These findings are relevant not just to young South Asian women but to all students. For South Asian women, however, this study adds an important perspective to public health protocols, contributing to research about sexual education amongst racialized women and ethnic minority communities in Canada. Further research is needed on this topic, but this dissertation adds meaningfully to the dialogue on what kind of sex education students need and want, and how an inclusive, intersectional approach can help youth make better decisions about their relationships and bodies.