Gender Differences in Sex Education in China: A Structural Topic Modeling Analysis Based on Online Knowledge Community Zhihu

Considering the traditional concept of sex in China’s official discourse and lack of social support system for sex education in China, burgeoning Internet knowledge community serves as an important forum for unprepared Chinese young parents to discuss and improve sex education. In this study, we con...

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Main Authors: Wen Shi, Yuxuan Lin, Zihan Zhang, Jing Su
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-04-01
Series:Children
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/9/5/615
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author Wen Shi
Yuxuan Lin
Zihan Zhang
Jing Su
author_facet Wen Shi
Yuxuan Lin
Zihan Zhang
Jing Su
author_sort Wen Shi
collection DOAJ
description Considering the traditional concept of sex in China’s official discourse and lack of social support system for sex education in China, burgeoning Internet knowledge community serves as an important forum for unprepared Chinese young parents to discuss and improve sex education. In this study, we conducted a structural topic modeling analysis of sex education discussions on Zhihu, the biggest online knowledge community in China. We found attention towards sex education are biased in China, where basic sexual terminologies are mentioned, but other important topics such as reproductive health, emotional attachment, and gender identity are insufficient or even absent, failing to fulfill the goal of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE). This study paid special attention to gender differences in discussants, expected educators, and expected receivers of sex education. Findings show that boys are not considered as important sex education objects as girls, although many of them suffered from sexual assault and sexual diseases. They are always mentioned as roles that offend women rather than promoting or protecting themselves through sexual knowledge. Most discussants and expected educators of sex education are women, reflecting men’s lack of attention to sex education issues as both individuals and fathers.
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spelling doaj.art-e771eeacf5434922864349e4c1247e402023-11-23T10:29:54ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672022-04-019561510.3390/children9050615Gender Differences in Sex Education in China: A Structural Topic Modeling Analysis Based on Online Knowledge Community ZhihuWen Shi0Yuxuan Lin1Zihan Zhang2Jing Su3School of Journalism and Communication, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, ChinaSchool of Journalism and Communication, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, ChinaSchool of Journalism and Communication, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, ChinaSchool of Humanities, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, ChinaConsidering the traditional concept of sex in China’s official discourse and lack of social support system for sex education in China, burgeoning Internet knowledge community serves as an important forum for unprepared Chinese young parents to discuss and improve sex education. In this study, we conducted a structural topic modeling analysis of sex education discussions on Zhihu, the biggest online knowledge community in China. We found attention towards sex education are biased in China, where basic sexual terminologies are mentioned, but other important topics such as reproductive health, emotional attachment, and gender identity are insufficient or even absent, failing to fulfill the goal of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE). This study paid special attention to gender differences in discussants, expected educators, and expected receivers of sex education. Findings show that boys are not considered as important sex education objects as girls, although many of them suffered from sexual assault and sexual diseases. They are always mentioned as roles that offend women rather than promoting or protecting themselves through sexual knowledge. Most discussants and expected educators of sex education are women, reflecting men’s lack of attention to sex education issues as both individuals and fathers.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/9/5/615sex educationhealth communicationonline knowledge communitystructural topic modeling
spellingShingle Wen Shi
Yuxuan Lin
Zihan Zhang
Jing Su
Gender Differences in Sex Education in China: A Structural Topic Modeling Analysis Based on Online Knowledge Community Zhihu
Children
sex education
health communication
online knowledge community
structural topic modeling
title Gender Differences in Sex Education in China: A Structural Topic Modeling Analysis Based on Online Knowledge Community Zhihu
title_full Gender Differences in Sex Education in China: A Structural Topic Modeling Analysis Based on Online Knowledge Community Zhihu
title_fullStr Gender Differences in Sex Education in China: A Structural Topic Modeling Analysis Based on Online Knowledge Community Zhihu
title_full_unstemmed Gender Differences in Sex Education in China: A Structural Topic Modeling Analysis Based on Online Knowledge Community Zhihu
title_short Gender Differences in Sex Education in China: A Structural Topic Modeling Analysis Based on Online Knowledge Community Zhihu
title_sort gender differences in sex education in china a structural topic modeling analysis based on online knowledge community zhihu
topic sex education
health communication
online knowledge community
structural topic modeling
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/9/5/615
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AT yuxuanlin genderdifferencesinsexeducationinchinaastructuraltopicmodelinganalysisbasedononlineknowledgecommunityzhihu
AT zihanzhang genderdifferencesinsexeducationinchinaastructuraltopicmodelinganalysisbasedononlineknowledgecommunityzhihu
AT jingsu genderdifferencesinsexeducationinchinaastructuraltopicmodelinganalysisbasedononlineknowledgecommunityzhihu