Breast development was discussed, but nipple pain, asymmetry, or the urge to bind breasts (for comfort or modesty) were not. Girls were taught to buy a bra at Inno or Galeria Inno department stores. No mention of body image or eating disorders, despite rising cases in early 1990s Europe.
By 1991, most Belgian girls received some form of period education. Typically, a female teacher or school nurse separated the girls from the boys in 5th or 6th grade primary already. They watched a film called "Une Fille Devient Femme" (A Girl Becomes Woman) or the Flemish "Van Meisje tot Vrouw." The message: periods are natural, not shameful. But many girls recall being told "don't tell the boys." puberty sexual education for boys and girls 1991 belgiumrarl
A diagram of the penis, testes, and vas deferens. The word ejaculatie (Dutch) / éjaculation (French) was mentioned, often with a snicker. Nocturnal emissions ("wet dreams") were explained as "involuntary seminal release." Teachers rarely addressed the anxiety around penis size or spontaneous erections in class. By 1991, most Belgian girls received some form