Sex education and cultural values: experiences and attitudes of Latina immigrant women

    Authors

    M. E. Villar;M. Concha

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Sex Educ.-Sex. Soc. Learn.

    Keywords

    sex education; Latino immigrants; attitudes; acculturation; Education & Educational Research; Public, Environmental & Occupational; Health

    Abstract

    The paper aims to further explore the role that culture plays in the provision and assimilation of sex education among Latina immigrants in the USA. To accomplish this, researchers conducted focus groups and interviews with 30 women from Central and South America who have lived in the USA for at least five years. Participants were asked to reflect on their experience with sex education in their home country and in the USA, and to assess how their attitudes towards sex education may impact their behavioural choices as parents and as sexually-active women. The findings demonstrate a wide range of views that did not follow patterns by common demographical proxy variables, suggesting that such variables are not enough to predict adoption of new cultural values that are different from their family's traditional norms. Instead, adherence to traditional cultural beliefs appeared to be a better predictor of attitudes and behaviours.

    Journal Title

    Sex Education-Sexuality Society and Learning

    Volume

    12

    Issue/Number

    5

    Publication Date

    1-1-2012

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    545

    Last Page

    554

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000209110500006

    ISSN

    1468-1811

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