Taiwan is facing serious challenges in emotional education. Issues like declining birth rates and the rise of the Me Too movement reveal a growing disconnect among younger generations when it comes to love, with many becoming part of a "love-disabled" generation. To address this, the Taiwan Association of Sex Education and the Chinese Association for Emotional Education Development have jointly selected the "Top Ten Sex and Emotional Education News Events in Taiwan" for four consecutive years. This initiative aims to identify gaps in Taiwan's education system and propose constructive solutions.
In 2023, the top three selected news events were:
- "56% of Unmarried Individuals Want to Marry and Have Children"
- "Harsher Penalties under the Three Gender Equality Laws"
- "The Me Too Movement Reveals Gaps in Gender Equality Awareness"
Emotional Challenges: The Missing Link in Healthy Intimate Relationships
Behind these news events lies a deeper issue: a lack of understanding of healthy intimate relationships in Taiwan. According to Kao Song-Ching, Executive Director of the Hsing-Ling Medical Foundation, hesitation toward marriage is not just about financial pressures. It also stems from a lack of trust in stable and healthy relationships. Many young people are unsure how to love or nurture relationships, making them reluctant to enter marriage.
Even though modern society emphasizes personal freedom and emotional compatibility, love and communication are essential foundations for lasting relationships. Without these, the concept of "free love" cannot sustain itself. Kao further highlights that issues like sexual harassment and the Me Too movement are tied to a lack of understanding of healthy emotions and relationships. This underscores the critical importance of early sex and emotional education.
Learning to Love: Three Key Approaches to Rebuild Emotional Understanding
To help young people understand love, Kao proposes three strategies to transform love from a fleeting experience into a lifelong lesson.
- Introduce Love Education as a Core Curriculum
Fast-paced "convenience love" has become a mainstream trend where breakups are often the first response to relationship issues. This mindset prevents the development of long-term relationships. Kao emphasizes that healthy emotional relationships require effort, and problem-solving skills are essential. Introducing "love education" as a mandatory course during students’ academic years can teach young people how to approach relationships while enhancing their emotional literacy and resilience. - Families as the Cradle of Emotional Education: Actions Speak Louder Than Words
Emotional education should not rely solely on school lessons but should be integrated into family life. Parents play an irreplaceable role in shaping their children’s understanding of love. Families should be a source of love and demonstrate healthy relationships. For example, parents should avoid intense arguments in front of children and frequently express affection for one another. This natural exposure helps children learn what a healthy emotional relationship looks like. - Emotional Literacy for High School Students: Guided by Teachers
For high school students, while physiological development matures, the prefrontal cortex — the part of the brain related to emotional regulation — is still developing. Experienced teachers can play a critical role by guiding students through challenges in gender interactions during daily interactions. Kao suggests that teachers should help students understand emotional boundaries in real-life situations, such as recognizing their rights, responding appropriately to harassment, and respecting others’ boundaries.
It is recommended that teachers or mentors with more mature psychological development guide students in facing and learning about relationships between genders through daily interactions and real-life scenarios. (Image/Source: Pixabay)
Healthy Intimate Relationships as the Foundation of Happiness
At the heart of emotional and sex education is learning how to love and build healthy intimate relationships. This not only impacts an individual's lifelong happiness but also forms the foundation of a harmonious society.
Learning to love is not an innate ability but a process that requires education and practice. From schools to families and society, emotional education should be omnipresent. Whether at home or school, children should be nurtured with emotional education to develop an understanding and practice of love from a young age.
This holistic approach will enable them to form stable and healthy relationships, love others, and be loved. These seemingly ordinary lessons are, in fact, the cornerstones of a happy and fulfilling life.
