Starting in September, students in France will be taught sex education, including topics like gender stereotypes, consent, and sexual health. This marks the fulfillment of a long-delayed law passed nearly 25 years ago that mandated sex education for every student, though it was never implemented until now. The French government has finally approved a curriculum, teacher training programs, and course materials to bring the law into action.
“We have been waiting for this for 25 years,” said Sarah Durocher, president of Le Planning Familial, a French organization similar to Planned Parenthood. The group, along with two other nonprofits, filed a lawsuit against the government in 2023 for failing to implement the law.
While the lawsuit remains unresolved, the French government has moved ahead with the new curriculum, despite criticism from opponents who argue that the program promotes “ideological brainwashing” and could harm children’s development.
Over 100 senators from the conservative Les Républicains party published an op-ed in Le Figaro, opposing the curriculum and calling for the removal of any references to “gender identity,” which they considered part of a “woke ideology.”
However, Education Minister Elisabeth Borne defended the program, calling it “absolutely essential.” She emphasized the findings of an independent commission that revealed one child in France is sexually abused every three minutes, often by a male family member. Borne also noted that many young people today learn about sex through online pornography, highlighting the need for proper education.
Despite the curriculum’s approval, opposition continues. A coalition of groups has filed a lawsuit, aiming to stop the program before it starts in September.
Supporters of the curriculum say its development is a result of shifting public attitudes, particularly after the #MeToo movement. “Public opinion now understands the importance of discussing these issues with children, as silence can lead to harmful consequences,” said Yves Verneuil, a professor at the University of Lyon.
The highly publicized trial last year of men convicted of raping a woman named Gisèle Pelicot also played a role in changing perceptions about consent and sexual violence. “How could those men claim consent when the woman was unconscious?” Durocher asked. “It raised the issue of how we teach consent.”
While sex education has been offered in France since 1973, the courses were voluntary, and parents could withdraw their children from them. In 2001, a law was introduced to require three annual sessions of sex education for every student. However, no specific curriculum or budget was put in place, and teachers received little training.
As a result, many schools struggled to deliver the required lessons. Audrey Chanonat, a principal at a middle school in Cognac, noted that these lessons often required more than 100 hours of staff time. “We just don’t have the personnel for it,” she said, though some topics were covered in ninth-grade biology.
A 2021 report from the Ministry of Education confirmed that only 15 to 20 percent of students received the full three lessons per year. “It is clear that many students go through their entire schooling without a single lesson,” the report stated.
French feminist philosopher Camille Froidevaux-Metterie explained that the lack of sex education reflects deep social conservatism in the country. “Sex education is about teaching respect for others and understanding gender and sexuality differences,” she said. “But this goes against a long-standing conservative tradition in France.”
Despite multiple attempts by the government to implement the law, resistance has been strong. In 2014, after the government piloted a program to detect and address gender stereotypes, some parents organized boycotts, and activists opposed to gay marriage claimed the program would harm traditional family values. After a teacher received personal threats, the pilot program was canceled.
Opposition has continued, with some groups warning that the new curriculum promotes gender transitions. Ludovine de la Rochère, a prominent figure in France’s anti-gay marriage movement, has warned that the program would encourage children to consider gender transition. Her group is part of the coalition suing to prevent the introduction of sex education in schools this fall.
The new curriculum, published last month by the Ministry of Education, focuses on gender equality, combating discrimination, promoting consent, and preventing sexism and sexual violence. Although many activists celebrate the progress, they remain concerned about the lack of funding for the program. One estimate suggests it could cost up to 620 million euros annually, or about 52 euros per student.
So far, the Ministry of Education has not committed any funds. “We know the implementation will be difficult,” Durocher said. “This will be a new feminist battle.”
