Seeing Cuba Through Cuban Eyes: Education and Body Image
By Bria Harper
The most inspiring events during my visit in Cuba were our visits to the Women’s Magazine and to CENESEX. Both offices served as examples of the perseverance of the people to eliminate bias and oppression. Both the Women’s Magazine and CENESEX, the Cuban National Center for Sex Education, grew out of the cuban Revolution and the need to create safe spaces for women and Cubans of all sexual orientations to feel safe to talk about their experiences. The women’s magazine is responsible for the rebirth of female self-esteem because the first edition published after the revolution included images of women of all shades on the cover. Allow me to pause here and explain that although Cuba is a culture of body acceptance, there are still racial politics that govern society. Before the revolution, the only images of Cubans that were circulated through the world were an eroticized, more European version of what Cubans looked like. Therefore, the stigma still exists that there are no Black people in Cuba.
Through our talk with members of the Ministry of Culture, we learned that there are three major categories of race: white Cubans, mestizas, and Afro Cubans. There is a significant difference between the economic treatment of white Cubans and Afro Cubans. Afro Cubans are typically disadvantaged economically and have a harder time getting better paying jobs in the private sector. They also have a harder time completing their education at the University of Havana. We encountered many Afro Cubans who worked trade jobs or tourist jobs while going to school. The Women’s Magazine worked to change the image of the magazine into one that promoted female and community empowerment and education. The magazine holds many seminars that educate different groups on intersectionality and inclusivity.
CENESEX, the Cuban National Center for Sex Education, is part of the Ministry of Education. I greatly admire the sex education program because it begins in the fourth grade by teaching children to accept themselves and to disregard the traditional definitions of masculinity and femininity. Children are taught to respect each other and their bodies. As they progress, they are introduced to puberty and body changes. They are also educated on different methods of contraception and ways to prevent pregnancies. Most importantly, they are taught body awareness and the dangers of sexual and domestic violence. Sexual Education is offered from fourth grade until college although it is only mandatory through high school. CENESEX shows videos, books, and other educational materials that children can learn lessons from, not just for themselves, but also lessons they can take home and discuss with their parents. During our visit to the Women’s Magazine, I was struck by the assertion that the rate of rape and sexual assault in significantly lower in Cuba than in other countries and they believe that it is directly connected to sex education programs and the lessons of self-esteem that are taught at an early age.
This was surprising because the exact opposite is occurring in the US. Parents object to sex education and opt for abstinence only programs for their children for fear that teaching children about protecting themselves during sex will encourage them to have sex. The truth is that people will have sex whether they know about contraceptives or not. It would be better to have children who are equipped with knowledge about how to protect themselves than to leave them blind. Instead of teaching children to respect each other, education in the US often reinforces gender roles that assert that men are more powerful than women, and instead of teaching young girls that they are beautiful despite their difference, media glorifies plastic surgery and unrealistic beauty standards for young girls.
Clearly, the Unites States has continued to get it wrong when it comes to sex education and self-esteem education. Even more telling, the US blockade also restricts Cuban’s access to contraceptives, especially condoms, thus indirectly jeopardizing the sexual health of Cubans. In an article by Beatriz Olson, entitled "Mass Health Education On Sex And Sexuality And Its Impact On Cuba" states that “contraceptives such as condoms are not used as much as they would hope because the US blockade severely hinders the importation of condoms. The news is troubling because not only has the US not allowed itself to learn from the example that Cuba has set for sex education but we are also playing a huge part in preventing Cubans from protecting themselves.
One of the most touching moments on my trip to Cuba was my talk with Community ESPIRAL. In our Closing remarks, Rodriguez stated that the only way that changes can take place between Cuba and the United States is if we continue to share the lessons that we learn from each other. Being able to experience life in Cuba had not only taught me about different techniques that can be used to advance the state of women and Americans. I also learned a lot about myself. Even though I was only there for about 12 days, I learned to be confident in myself, my abilities, and everything that I hold sacred. I must try to trust my instincts. I also learned to trust that my beauty is sacred and holds no reason to be compared to that of anyone else. I am grateful that I was able to see myself through Cuban eyes.
Sources
Olson, Beatriz R., and Richard A. Dickey. "Mass Health Education On Sex And Sexuality And Its Impact On Cuba" , Journal Of Women's Health (15409996) 11.9 (2002): 767. A
CENESEX, Havana, Cuba, Summer 2014
Women’s Magazine, havana, Cuba, Summer 2014
By Bria Harper
The most inspiring events during my visit in Cuba were our visits to the Women’s Magazine and to CENESEX. Both offices served as examples of the perseverance of the people to eliminate bias and oppression. Both the Women’s Magazine and CENESEX, the Cuban National Center for Sex Education, grew out of the cuban Revolution and the need to create safe spaces for women and Cubans of all sexual orientations to feel safe to talk about their experiences. The women’s magazine is responsible for the rebirth of female self-esteem because the first edition published after the revolution included images of women of all shades on the cover. Allow me to pause here and explain that although Cuba is a culture of body acceptance, there are still racial politics that govern society. Before the revolution, the only images of Cubans that were circulated through the world were an eroticized, more European version of what Cubans looked like. Therefore, the stigma still exists that there are no Black people in Cuba.
Through our talk with members of the Ministry of Culture, we learned that there are three major categories of race: white Cubans, mestizas, and Afro Cubans. There is a significant difference between the economic treatment of white Cubans and Afro Cubans. Afro Cubans are typically disadvantaged economically and have a harder time getting better paying jobs in the private sector. They also have a harder time completing their education at the University of Havana. We encountered many Afro Cubans who worked trade jobs or tourist jobs while going to school. The Women’s Magazine worked to change the image of the magazine into one that promoted female and community empowerment and education. The magazine holds many seminars that educate different groups on intersectionality and inclusivity.
CENESEX, the Cuban National Center for Sex Education, is part of the Ministry of Education. I greatly admire the sex education program because it begins in the fourth grade by teaching children to accept themselves and to disregard the traditional definitions of masculinity and femininity. Children are taught to respect each other and their bodies. As they progress, they are introduced to puberty and body changes. They are also educated on different methods of contraception and ways to prevent pregnancies. Most importantly, they are taught body awareness and the dangers of sexual and domestic violence. Sexual Education is offered from fourth grade until college although it is only mandatory through high school. CENESEX shows videos, books, and other educational materials that children can learn lessons from, not just for themselves, but also lessons they can take home and discuss with their parents. During our visit to the Women’s Magazine, I was struck by the assertion that the rate of rape and sexual assault in significantly lower in Cuba than in other countries and they believe that it is directly connected to sex education programs and the lessons of self-esteem that are taught at an early age.
This was surprising because the exact opposite is occurring in the US. Parents object to sex education and opt for abstinence only programs for their children for fear that teaching children about protecting themselves during sex will encourage them to have sex. The truth is that people will have sex whether they know about contraceptives or not. It would be better to have children who are equipped with knowledge about how to protect themselves than to leave them blind. Instead of teaching children to respect each other, education in the US often reinforces gender roles that assert that men are more powerful than women, and instead of teaching young girls that they are beautiful despite their difference, media glorifies plastic surgery and unrealistic beauty standards for young girls.
Clearly, the Unites States has continued to get it wrong when it comes to sex education and self-esteem education. Even more telling, the US blockade also restricts Cuban’s access to contraceptives, especially condoms, thus indirectly jeopardizing the sexual health of Cubans. In an article by Beatriz Olson, entitled "Mass Health Education On Sex And Sexuality And Its Impact On Cuba" states that “contraceptives such as condoms are not used as much as they would hope because the US blockade severely hinders the importation of condoms. The news is troubling because not only has the US not allowed itself to learn from the example that Cuba has set for sex education but we are also playing a huge part in preventing Cubans from protecting themselves.
One of the most touching moments on my trip to Cuba was my talk with Community ESPIRAL. In our Closing remarks, Rodriguez stated that the only way that changes can take place between Cuba and the United States is if we continue to share the lessons that we learn from each other. Being able to experience life in Cuba had not only taught me about different techniques that can be used to advance the state of women and Americans. I also learned a lot about myself. Even though I was only there for about 12 days, I learned to be confident in myself, my abilities, and everything that I hold sacred. I must try to trust my instincts. I also learned to trust that my beauty is sacred and holds no reason to be compared to that of anyone else. I am grateful that I was able to see myself through Cuban eyes.
Sources
Olson, Beatriz R., and Richard A. Dickey. "Mass Health Education On Sex And Sexuality And Its Impact On Cuba" , Journal Of Women's Health (15409996) 11.9 (2002): 767. A
CENESEX, Havana, Cuba, Summer 2014
Women’s Magazine, havana, Cuba, Summer 2014