Puberty Sexual Education For Boys And Girls 1991 Belgiumrarl
For a girl the same age:
The Menstruation Mandate:
By 1991, most Belgian girls received some form of period education. Typically, a female teacher or school nurse separated the girls from the boys in 5th or 6th grade primary already. They watched a film called "Une Fille Devient Femme" (A Girl Becomes Woman) or the Flemish "Van Meisje tot Vrouw." The message: periods are natural, not shameful. But many girls recall being told "don't tell the boys."
The Bra and Body Talk:
Breast development was discussed, but nipple pain, asymmetry, or the urge to bind breasts (for comfort or modesty) were not. Girls were taught to buy a bra at Inno or Galeria Inno department stores. No mention of body image or eating disorders, despite rising cases in early 1990s Europe. puberty sexual education for boys and girls 1991 belgiumrarl
Sexual Intercourse and Consent – Almost Absent:
While girls learned about ovulation and pregnancy, the idea that they might desire sex was barely mentioned. The word pleasure (plaisir / genot) did not appear in any official 1991 textbook. Instead, the focus was on "saying no" to boys' pressure. This created a generation of girls who understood pregnancy mechanics but not their own clitoris or the concept of enthusiastic consent.
It is important to note that Belgium is divided into distinct linguistic communities. In 1991: For a girl the same age: The Menstruation
Just before 1991, the French Community issued a circular (n° 2004, revised 1989-1990) stating that sexual education should be "integrated into life sciences and moral education." In practice, this meant one or two hours per year, taught by a biology teacher who might skip the chapter on erections.
The Flemish Community had the Besluit van de Vlaamse Executieve (Decree 1991) mandating that secondary schools offer "relationship and sexuality education" (relatie- en seksualiteitsvorming) as part of cross-curricular goals. However, no central exam tested it. Flemish boys read comic magazines like Suske en
Flemish boys read comic magazines like Suske en Wiske where lovers kissed but didn't go further. French-speaking boys had Spirou or Tintin – chaste adventures. Real sex education came from:
