SEX (Education)
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A Guide to Eective Programming for Muslim Youth LET’S TALK ABOUT SEX (education) A Resource Developed by the HEART Peers Program i A Guide to Sexual Health Education for Muslim Youth AT THE heart of the CENTRAL TO ALL MATTER WORKSHOPS WAS THE HEART Women & Girls seeks to promote the reproductive FOLLOWING QUESTION: health and mental well-being of faith-based communities through culturally-sensitive health education. How can we convey information about sexual Acknowledgments About the Project and reproductive health This toolkit is the culmination of three years of research The inaugural peer health education program, HEART and fieldwork led by HEART Women & Girls, an Peers, brought together eight dynamic college-aged to American Muslim organization committed to giving Muslim women and Muslim women from Loyola University, the University girls a safe platform to discuss sensitive topics such as of Chicago, and the University of Wisconsin–Madison women and girls in a body image, reproductive health, and self-esteem. The for a twelve-session training on sexual and reproductive final toolkit was prepared by HEART’s Executive Director health, with a special focus on sexual violence. Our eight manner that is mindful Nadiah Mohajir, with significant contributions from peer educator trainees comprised a diverse group with of religious and cultural Ayesha Akhtar, HEART co-founder & former Policy and respect to ethnicity, religious upbringing and practice, Research Director, and eight dynamic Muslim college- and professional training. Yet they all came together values and attitudes aged women trained as sexual health peer educators. for one purpose: to learn how to serve as resources for We extend special thanks to each of our eight educators, their Muslim peers regarding sexual and reproductive and also advocates the Yasmeen Shaban, Sarah Hasan, Aayah Fatayerji, Hadia health. Participants attended interactive workshops and Zarzour, Dilek Serbest, Sehar Sufi, Sumaiya Saad, and discussions and worked together in small groups to learn medical and scientific Nadia Ismail, for sharing their passion, enthusiasm, and about various topics, including self-esteem, body-image, understandings unique perspectives. The HEART Peers program is grateful media literacy, basic sexual health, sexual hygiene, healthy to Loyola University, in particular David Van Zytveld relationships, sexual violence, and peer education. Central established and widely and the Center for Urban Research & Learning (CURL), to all workshops was the following question: How can we for generously providing us with a comfortable meeting convey information about sexual and reproductive accepted today? space, Carrie Wachter and Rape Victim Advocates for health to American Muslim women and girls in a oering training, Sumaya Abubaker for genuinely and manner that is mindful of religious and cultural enthusiastically sharing her important work supporting values and attitudes and also advocates the medical Muslim survivors of sexual violence through the Rahma and scientific understandings established and widely Network, and the One Chicago, One Nation program accepted today? for funding part of the HEART Peers program. We extend a special thanks to Urooj Arshad, the Muslim Youth Project, HEART Peers did not end after the twelve-week and Advocates for Youth, a nonprofit organization and training. After twelve intense sessions, the program advocacy group based in Washington, D.C. dedicated to and its participants are ready to start the next phase of sexuality education, for continuously providing support its responsibility: to serve as leaders and resources of and guidance, helping us negotiate challenges, hearing sexual and reproductive health knowledge for Muslim our story, and believing in our work. Finally, we are grateful communities in the United States. This toolkit is the to Jameela Jafri, Summar Ghias, Amal Killawi, Laila first of the program’s many eorts to raise awareness al-Marayati, Shazia Pappa, and Golden Sage Editing for about sexual and reproductive health, an important, yet their assistance with the editing and design of the toolkit. neglected topic among Muslims in the United States today. ii A Guide to Sexual Health Education for Muslim Youth HEART Women & Girls 1 Prologue We begin in the name of God, the most Compassionate, Yet the reality is that few Muslim educators, administrators, • Practical tips and tools to implementing sexual health the most Merciful. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be community leaders, and parents understand the important programs and meeting the needs of the community, contents including important components of sex education upon him) encouraged his Companions to learn about their relationship between tools, information, and a young This resource serves as a foundation to bodies and ask questions in a respectful and mature manner woman’s choices and are thus unequipped to identify programming; to better understand their rights and responsibilities to and properly address key community needs. Within the guide those designing a sexual health • How educators can talk with parents about sexual health themselves and others. As such, the Prophet’s example and framework of the Islamic tradition, Muslims must begin to program or curriculum for young education during school hours; encouragement to his Companions suggests that Muslims discuss reproductive health, sexuality, and relationships, American Muslim women. ought to learn about their bodies and sexuality within the which will ultimately cultivate healthy families and • Resources (e.g. a list of organizations, books, websites, and context of the Islamic tradition. Many scholars such as Imam communities. By addressing the varied needs of American other references for educators when designing their own al-Ghazali have emphasized that it is the obligation of the Muslims, we will move one step closer to preserving the curricula) The Case for Sex Education Muslim to learn about sexual desires and health in a way health of our families and ultimately, our communities. This section outlines current research, that is clear and direct. By learning about their bodies and The ffth part of the toolkit includes brainstorming activities youth attitudes and behaviors, and sexuality, Muslims will be well-equipped to protect their to initiate and further conversation about sex education for Using the Toolkit programs and best practices. physical, emotional and spiritual health. American Muslim females. 05 The environments that many Muslim youth grow up in This toolkit is intended to serve as a resource for educators, Limitations today in the United States are not spaces of healthy, open schools, and institutions to develop religiously- and Given HEART’s work, this toolkit was written by women Designing a Sexual conversations regarding sexuality. Rather, they are full of culturally-sensitive sexual health education programming and is geared towards professionals designing programs Health Program contradictions. At home, many Muslim youth are expected for young American Muslim women. This toolkit relies for young American Muslim women. While much of the This section outlines how to connect to abstain from sex until marriage without any additional on data, best practices, and HEART’s groundbreaking information and suggestions ofered in this toolkit may key stakeholders and conduct necessary context and refrain from discussing sexuality. In other feldwork and research focused on sexual and reproductive in fact be relevant to both young men and women, we research and needs assessments. words, there is often no emphasis on understanding the health in Muslim communities to ofer a way to develop recognize that a similar toolkit geared towards young 15 body. At the same time, outside of the home, Muslim youth programs and curricula. As a refection of HEART’s American Muslim men is crucial to creating healthy as well as others are constantly bombarded with sexual feldwork and research, this toolkit explores the challenges communities and acknowledge the need for complementary images and messages encouraging them to have sex and present in providing sexual health programming and ofers programming. Content Development actively partake in romantic relationships. Adolescence is a recommendations, tips, and strategies on developing sexual Let’s explore the vital question: How confusing time for most youth, regardless of their religious health programming. Furthermore, this toolkit also provides We also acknowledge that some of the language used in do we teach sex education through an background or upbringing, given numerous physical and directive on creating awareness about the importance of this toolkit may sound exclusive, particularly to the Lesbian, Islamic lens? 23 emotional changes. As a result, curiosity may provoke sexual ofering sex education for Muslim youth and developing a Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) community. experimentation, (mis)information, and other risky behaviors religiously- and culturally-sensitive curriculum. While this The Muslim LGBTQ community is growing, and Muslims to fulfll a need to ft into the broader environment. toolkit does not ofer all the answers or even a simple must address the concerns of this community. As such, this Implementation & formula, it serves as a foundation to guide those taking toolkit cannot do justice to addressing all of the complex Evaluation In the past three years, HEART Women & Girls has had on the great challenge of designing a sexual health issues pertaining