Mei Mei* knew something was wrong when she didn't get her period.
At the time, she was only 19 and had just graduated from junior high school, so she panicked when her pregnancy test came back positive. She immediately informed her boyfriend, but the two were so nervous about her family's reaction that they did not reveal her pregnancy until she was five months old.
Meimei, now in her mid-20s, explained through an interpreter: “I grew up in a traditional household, and my parents never talked about dating, sex, or even periods.”
Thankfully, she has a good relationship with her mother and father, and they took the news better than she expected.
“They weren't angry. They asked me calmly if I was ready to take on the responsibility of raising a child at such a young age,” she says, adding that her boyfriend's family was also scared. He added that they had cooperated.
Students create a safe space for Hong Kong teens to discuss sex and LGBTQ issues
Although Meimei was still nervous, she felt more encouraged and decided to postpone her plans to pursue a career in marketing. She married her boyfriend, who took a full-time job, and moved in with his family in preparation for her birth.
She recalled that adjusting to motherhood, living in a separate home, and feeling isolated from friends who supported her but could not empathize with her experience was difficult.
Of course, there were happy moments too. “Seeing a child grow up…seeing a child smile and say 'mommy' and 'daddy' is so rewarding,” she said.
Looking back on the incident, Meimei said she wished she had known more about contraception. She did not have much knowledge about this subject as she had only taken classes on this topic two or three times in junior high school.
She further added, “These classes were organized by external NGOs that came to campus.”
The organization taught the basics of contraception, but not where students could access it. Her school did not have a dedicated teacher or staff member to answer students' questions about sex education.
Current status of sex education in Hong Kong
It's not unusual for Meimei to be ignorant about sex education. It's par for the course in Hong Kong.
a 2022 report A study by the Equal Opportunities Commission found that almost one in seven secondary schools in Hong Kong do not teach sex education in the classroom. About half of the schools that cover this topic only devote about five hours per grade.
Many do so during science or biology classes, focusing on anatomy instead of giving a comprehensive overview of sex. More than 80 per cent of schools said they struggled to find time to tackle the subject because the curriculum was “crammed”, the report said.
Ansley Li, a teacher and counselor at Jiangsu Chekiang University, agreed that it is difficult to make time for sex education.
“School time is packed with various syllabus, remedial classes and other experiential activities. Sex education probably gets the least attention and is never the top priority for most schools in Hong Kong,” she said. said.
“Teachers rarely understand that sex education is divided into different themes…ranging from knowledge of sexual health to awareness of the values that motivate healthy sexual decisions. ”
Showdown: Should sex education be made compulsory in Hong Kong schools?
Family Planning Association 2021 Youth sexuality survey report It was revealed that students' knowledge of sex was “insufficient.” The results showed that students in Forms 3 to 6 answered an average of eight correctly out of 12 questions about pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Rachel Chow, head of resource development at Teens Key, an NGO that supports the sexual and reproductive health of Hong Kong's youth, agreed that a more comprehensive approach is needed.
“The link between lack of sex education and teenage pregnancy is absolutely clear,” Chou said. While NGOs like Teens Key can provide sexual health support, Chow stressed that schools also need to play a role.
She added that when teens “don't receive proper sex education, they remain in the dark about important things like sexual health.” [and] Birth control…they are more likely to take risks and have unprotected sex. ”
The charity explained that a lack of comprehensive sex education is setting young people up for failure, saying: “Teenagers are playing games without knowing the rules. “It's not a good idea when it comes to the equally important issue of preventing abuse.”
This has far-reaching implications for teenagers who have children before they are ready, making it “much harder for them to complete their education, pursue a career, and become financially stable.” '' said Chow.
Rachel Chow is the Director of Resource Development at Teen's Key.Photo: Handout
A new beginning
That's why Teen's Key, founded in 2012, offers preventative sexuality education, as well as free anonymous STD testing, a 24-hour emergency helpline, crisis support, and counseling.
“They need the knowledge and tools to make informed decisions about their bodies and their futures,” Chow explains, adding that truly comprehensive sex education is something that is currently offered in schools. He added that it far exceeds that.
Teens need to learn about topics such as “body image, relationships, boundaries of intimacy, discussions about consent and sexual violence,” she noted.
Teen's Key also offers programs to support young mothers, helping them feel less alone and plan for the future.
Sex education in Hong Kong: Things you should know but were too scared to ask
Today, Meimei's son is school-age and works part-time as an administrative assistant at Teens Quay. She also works as an ambassador and shares her own story with her school and company.
Meanwhile, the charity recently launched an initiative called 'Unlocking New Beginnings' to raise awareness about young people's health and consent through interactive workshops for schools.
“By promoting dialogue and understanding, we empower young people, debunk myths about sex and relationships, and empower them to make informed decisions about their bodies and relationships. “We can do that,” Chow said.
This is an important message for Meimei, who takes to heart her mission: “Every young woman should have the right and knowledge to protect herself.”
*Names will be withheld at the request of the interviewee.