Strengthening Sex Education to Prevent Sexual Violence in Islamic Boarding Schools: Lessons from Ummi on Lombok Island, Indonesia
Keywords:
sex education; sexual violence; Ummi; woman ulama; pesantrenAbstract
Sexual violence is a critical issue in Indonesia, with 7,842 reported cases from January to June 2024, including 5,552 female and 1,930 male victims, highlighting the urgent need for preventive measures, especially within educational institutions like Islamic boarding schools (pesantren). This study examines the strategy for strengthening sex education as proposed by Ummi—a title traditionally used to refer to the wife of a Tuan Guru, a respected Islamic scholar who has completed the Hajj pilgrimage and typically leads a pesantren on Lombok Island, Indonesia. Using a qualitative case study design, data were collected through in-depth interviews, field observations, and documentation. The findings highlight a new culturally sensitive framework for delivering sex education in Islamic boarding schools, referred to as the Pesantren-Based Holistic Sex Education Strategy (PBHSE Strategy). By integrating seven interconnected components—contextualising within Islamic teachings, preventing sexual violence, embedding moral values, engaging families, empowering female leadership, promoting responsible use of technology, and collaborating with healthcare practitioners—the framework offers a thorough value-based approach aligned with Islamic principles and local cultural practices. This study contributes to developing an Islamic sex education framework that aligns with local cultural and moral values, focusing on the perspectives and roles of Ummi. Its novelty lies in mapping female-centered approaches to strengthening sex education, offering a timely response to the pressing issue of child sexual violence in Indonesia.
https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.24.5.10
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