Question: Is it true that authorities sexualise children in preschools and schools?

Answer: Yes, unfortunately. The sexualisation of children by the authorities takes place in Sweden in the same way as in other European countries when the European Union (EU) introduces the World Health Organization’s (WHO) standard for sex education. The situation differs from country to country. In some countries the process of sexualisation has gone very far. In other countries, parents and teachers have managed to stop it. The WHO monitors implementation and has discovered that there is strong resistance to this type of sex education and in some countries resistance is growing stronger (Romania, Poland and Hungary).

Question: What is the World Health Organization (WHO) standard for sex education?

Answer: It is called comprehensive and holistic sex education which means children are seen as sexual beings who should be encouraged to explore their sexuality from birth. These ideas are described in detail in the standard for sex education that the World Health Organization (WHO) together with a Swedish researcher developed in 2010. It describes how 0–4-year-old children should be encouraged to masturbate and play doctor, to explore gender identities and learn how to withhold or give consent to sexual activity.

Question: Why haven’t I heard about government interest in young children’s sexuality before?

Answer: The Swedish School Board and other authorities’ increasingly sexual view of children had already begun in the 90s. Every time the curricula and support materials are revised more sexual content is introduced.  The authorities implementing the changes avoid, perhaps for obvious reasons, informing parents. The media’s reluctance to raise the subject of sexualisation in a public debate has also meant that it has been able to sneak in under the radar.

Question: What is new in the school curriculum?

Answer: From the autumn term of 2022 there is  a new school curriculum in Sweden. Sex education, which has been renamed Sexuality, consent and relationships, is now taking up more teaching time. It is no longer just a few lessons in year 8 as we over thirty remember it, but is now an integral part of lessons in most subjects starting as early as preschool. The Swedish School Board’s curricula and support materials are not clear exactly what the content should be so variations between schools are large.  This also leaves schools open to the influence of outside organisations.

Question: What can we do to prevent the sexualisation of children?

Answer: Get involved. At We Together, we get parents, educators, and other concerned citizens working to protect children across the country. You can join us in producing and publicising information about the sexualisation of children by the authorities. It manages to continue unchecked because there are still so few people who know the extent of what is going on. Contact us and together we will help create the future we want for ourselves and our children.

Question: How can I prevent the sexualisation of my children?

Answer: Inform yourself and others. Ask about the content of sex education at parent-teacher meetings. Well-informed teachers and parents together become an effective resistance that prevents this from continuing.

Question: Are there others who also want to prevent sexualisation at the children’s school?

Answer: If you are worried, other parents in your children’s school are surely also worried. Connect with other parents and build networks. We can help you to build such networks. Get to know your child’s teachers, school administrators, and other parents. They probably also feel anxious and with your support they can more easily take action.

Question: How can I prepare my children to better deal with the sexualisation that happens in school?

Answer: You can give your children a sound foundation regarding relationships and sexuality. Let them know that they can always come to you with any questions or concerns. Allow your children to have and to keep boundaries. Teach them to trust their instincts and to stand up for themselves.

Question: Why don’t more parents react to the sexualisation of children?

Answer: They don’t know about it. But as parents have heard from their children what is taught in school, many voices have been raised from all sides against the sexualisation that takes place. We can all make an important contribution by informing more people about it.

Question: Why don’t teachers react against the school’s sexualisation of children?

Answer: Many teachers and school administrators are fantastic; They love their subjects and the children and want nothing more than to help them learn and develop. Many of them are parents themselves and aware that sexualisation harms children. Presumably, many teachers hope that sexualisation is a temporary trend and so they avoid the trouble of openly criticising it. Unfortunately, there are also school staff who have a radical sexual and social agenda. They may not understand that they are harming and confusing children with the new sex education.

Question: How do the Swedish School Board and other authorities justify the sexualization of children?

Answer: They rely on arguments presented by the WHO in their standard for sex education. In short, these arguments are: 1) Sexuality is important for all people – even for the youngest children. 2) It is sexual thoughts that make children discover their body. 3) Parents are bad at explaining how babies are made. 4) Young people are unable to inform themselves. 5) Young people are very interested in talking about sexuality with school staff. 6) Schools must inform young people about  pornography and prepare them for a pleasurable sex life.

Question: There is nothing about sexuality in the curriculum for preschool, the Swedish School Board points out. Is that right?

Answer: Yes, that’s right. When the Swedish School Board emphasises this, they give, perhaps deliberately, the impression that it is only the curricula that affect teaching schools and preschools. Since the curricula are unclear about the content of sex education, external organisations and materials have gained influence and the variation has been great.  Swedish parents of young children contact us with their concern when issues of sexuality, consent and relationships are raised by preschool educators. This may be due to the influence that RFSU, which is a lobby organisation for the WHO standard, has gained through their training courses for educators and visits to preschools.

Question: How do you explain to others that sexualisation harms children?

Answer: If preschool and school staff let the teaching be permeated by sexuality, it also becomes a large part of the children’s thoughts. If you talk about sex in preschool and school, the children will play games about sex. Early and inappropriate sexualisation affects thoughts, feelings, actions. The risk of children ending up in situations that they do not really understand and are not mature enough to handle increases. They risk becoming victims of adult desires and psychological trauma that they will have to live with for the rest of their lives. Children’s privacy is not considered when the school wants to talk about  intimate matters, which creates insecurity. Children need to be children and discover the world at their own pace and get answers to the questions they ask themselves.

Question: Where can I find more information about the sexualisation of children by authorities?

Answer: We continuously publish up to date material on our website.