Mistakes made in sex education

Concerns have been raised regarding past sex education practices in Icelandic primary schools, specifically focusing on advice given about applying a "safe chokehold." Guðný S. Bjarnadóttir, chairwoman of Vitund – an association against gender-based violence, stated that an educator previously suggested that a chokehold could be used safely if boundaries were respected. Bjarnadóttir argued that the educator should have instead emphasized the seriousness of applying a chokehold, its potential harm, and unequivocally labeled it as violence.

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It has come up before in education in schools and there was a lot of fuss about it. Then there was a specific educator who talked about how safe chokings could somehow be applied. It was about boundaries and communication. But it would have been much better to talk about the seriousness of a chokehold and try to get people not to practice it.

Vitund is one of several organizations and institutions participating in a social media campaign, "Með lífið í lúkunum" (With Life in Hand), which aims to highlight the gravity of using chokeholds, both in contexts of broader violence and sexual activity. Bjarnadóttir, who was a guest on the mbl.is program Dagmál, suggested that education about the dangers of chokeholds could be introduced into primary schools to raise awareness of their harmful effects.

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When it comes to educating children, it is very important that we have educators in schools who have solid knowledge, are based on science and research, and thus make sense.

Bjarnadóttir recalled a previous instance where similar discussions about chokeholds in schools caused significant controversy. She reiterated that the focus should be on the severe risks associated with chokeholds, rather than suggesting any form of "safe" application. While acknowledging that differing opinions exist, she stressed the critical importance of accuracy and clarity when educating children. "When it comes to educating children, it is very important that we have educators in schools who have solid knowledge, are based on science and research, and thus make sense," she stated, directly refuting the idea that reduced pressure equates to reduced harm.

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Saying that less pressure causes less harm is simply wrong.