Paper long abstract:

Sex, love and relationships are considered essential for a fulfilled life and a necessary condition for psychological wellbeing in modern societies. Contrary to common belief, far from being an intimate and private matter, sexuality is an issue of great social and political concern. Various social and political actors, including state structures, nationalist and religious groups, 'expert communities' and human rights defenders take part in a struggle for the right to define the norms of the sexual lives of Kyrgyz citizens. Public discourse on sexuality in the Kyrgyz Republic has evolved from its discussions exclusively in the context of marriage ('the marital duty') in early 1990s to the view of sexual activity as risky behavior in late 1990s and early 2000s (Moldosheva 2012). Both of these discourses, despite their seeming difference, normalize heterosexuality, idealize the institution of marriage and romantic love, while justifying unequal gender roles.

This study seeks to determine to what extent the actors engaged in sex education work in Kyrgyzstan today take into consideration the needs and specificities of non-normative bodies, genders and sexualities. Through critical discourse analysis of various texts, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions of both the sex educators and vulnerable groups' representatives (LGBTQ people and people with disabilities), we will identify what an inclusive sex education in Kyrgyzstan could look like.