76% of students at IIT-Bombay feel need for induction of formal sex education in college curriculum: Study

These are some of the findings of a very out-of-the-box survey conducted by Insight, which is the official student media body of the premier technology institute from the city, for their special edition on the topic of sex-education.

While educational institutions across many states have preferred to stay away from the topic which is generally considered a taboo, the Insight edition, which is a compilation of findings of the survey and interviews on campus by the team of writers; talks about various important aspects of sex education – from consent to contraceptives, sexually transmitted diseases, masturbation, pornography and even sexual assault.

The team spent close to 11 months collating information whereas a survey was conducted in January 2024 where a little over 1,000 students participated, providing a peek into the overall notions about ‘sex’ on campus.

As per the survey findings, only 28 per cent of respondents have received their first formal sex education in respective schools. But only a little over 12 per cent are aware of STDs or STIs. While 38 percent have absolutely no awareness about them, a significant 49 per cent have knowledge about it to some extent but not entirely. On one hand, when there is overall awareness of use of contraceptives, more than 25 per cent of respondents are unaware of use of contraceptives during oral sex.

Out of 1,028 respondents, over 85 per cent stated that they indulge in masturbation. While the highest 38.7 percent of males expressed that they engage in masturbation few times a week; among females, the highest (over 35 percent) said they never indulge in self-pleasure whereas 33.3 per cent expressed that they indulge in self-pleasure on select occasions.

The article mentioned that the survey shows that pornographic content can be a stimulus for masturbation to quite a few people. “It often serves as an individual’s initial exposure to sex..” reads the article which also mentions that a significant portion of students are aware of the unreal nature of pornographic content.

From the 1,028 responses received for the question of what is your view on porn, 661 students expressed concern about the potential of porn-addiction. The second highest response at 521 indicated a significant portion of individuals accepting to watching porn as long as it was consumed in moderation.

One of the important findings of the survey shows that female students in comparison to males are less likely to approach IIT Bombay hospital for sex-related medical assistance. When there are over 61 percent of male respondents giving positive responses to questions on whether they will consider institute hospitals to take such assistance, 61 per cent of female respondents have responded negatively. According to the reason surfacing in the survey, 33.8 per cent think that their sexual medical history would be reported to the administration in case they approach the institute hospital.

Explaining their objective behind the survey and subsequent edition of their magazine, the editors of the student-magazine note, “The IIT Bombay has more male students on campus. And single-sided opinions dominated by men shape most conversation. Most of us rarely hear about diverse opinions on such topics and continue to live in our under-informed bubbles. This created a skewed perception of sex and has far-reaching implications for our life on campus. In the era where open conversations about these topics are paramount, Insight’s special edition aims to break down barriers, foster understanding and encourage a healthy dialogue surrounding matters of sex, relationship and consent.”