Youth and sexuality

Course goals

1) Acquiring knowledge on (being able to reproduce information) and understanding of (being able to provide explanations):

• Different theoretical models explaining young people’s sexual behaviour (e.g., the evolutionary, socio-constructivist, and biopsychosocial model);
• Developmental stages of sexuality in children and adolescents across different societal contexts; 
• Potential determinants and consequences of healthy sexual behaviour.

2) Applying this knowledge (e.g., indicating to what extent a specific event, phenomenon or statement can be explained to a specific theoretical model or linked to a  developmental stage).
 
3) Analyzing the scientific literature in the field of youth and sexuality (i.e., formulating a good research question; collecting, organizing and critically evaluating theoretical and empirical articles; linking different studies; formulating your own conclusions and the implications of your work).
 
4) Critically evaluating news items (e.g., in a newspaper or magazine) that report on scientific publications in the field of youth and sexuality.

5) Developing skills to discuss socially sensitive and/or controversial topics with others and to foster a safe environment while doing so.

 

Content

‘Young people start having sex later’ (22 January 2024, Volkskrant)
‘Fire in Amsterdam apartment: potential LHBTIQ+ assault’ (20 August 2021; nos.nl)
‘Despite commotion, more Sexual Education lessons in the Week van de Lentekriebels’ (31 March 2023; nos.nl)
'Public prosecution service prosecutes man who took off condom during sex’ (24 March 2023; NRC)

These are a few examples of headlines from newspapers in the past years. The sexual development and behaviour of young people is clearly a topic of interest, debate, and in some cases, a cause of concern. Opinions regarding issues such as online dating, sex education, the importance of consent, and the rights of sexual and gender minorities have changed considerably over the past few decades, in the Netherlands as well as in other countries. There are also major cultural differences in behaviour and perspectives regarding sexuality, both between different countries and between different groups of people in the Netherlands.

This course will deal with the theme ‘Youth and Sexuality’ from a variety of perspectives. In doing so, we will consistently attempt to bridge the gap between academic research and current events in society. We will thereby use a biopsychosocial approach to sexuality and will address questions such as: What do we consider a healthy sexual development? What is the state of the sexual health of young people, including sexual minorities, in the Netherlands? How do we compare to young people in other countries and to previous generations? In what ways does the social context (parents, friends, school, media, culture) influence young people’s sexuality? And what can we, as individuals and as a society, do to prevent sexual coercion and to help young people who suffer from sexual trauma?

Please note that there is a maximum number of participants for this course, so register in time.