Abstract
Objective: Local legislators affect local educational administration. The purpose of this study is to clarify the association between their attitudes towards sexuality education and their gender sensitivity through their views about gender roles.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted to collect information about attitudes towards sexuality education at school and traditional gender roles among all eligible 2,731 legislators in Hokkaido (a prefecture in Japan) using structured questionnaires. To ascertain gender sensitivity, their views about traditional gender roles were scored using such statements as “the husband should go out to work and the wife should look after the home”, “men as well as women should do housework” and “there can be a negative effect if a mother works before her child has entered elementary school”.
Results: The response rate was 55.9%. Of valid responders, 82.3% (men 81.0%, women 92.7%) showed their interest in sexuality education and HIV/AIDS prevention activities in Hokkaido. Male legislators who had high gender sensitivity (as compared with those who had low gender sensitivity) tended to ask about youth health issues in assemblies and also showed support for more practical sexuality education activities such as condom distribution and promotion.
Conclusion: Legislators' gender sensitivity affected their interest in sexuality education and was related to their raising of issues about youth health in assemblies.
