THE INFLUENCE OF THE USE OF SEXUAL RAW LEXEMES ON THE MORAL VALUES OF SELECTED ILORIN SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of the use of sexual raw lexemes on the moral values of Nigerian secondary school students, with a focus on selected schools in Ilorin metropolis. Drawing on Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory, the research examines how the use of explicit sexual vocabulary, such as penis, vagina, intercourse, masturbation, orgasm, and condom, in classroom discourse affects students’ attitudes towards sex, relationships, and moral reasoning. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining structured questionnaires administered to 500 students and semi-structured interviews with 20 teachers, including those teaching Biology, Agricultural Science, Islamic Religious Studies (IRS), and Christian Religious Studies (CRS). Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, while qualitative data were subjected to thematic analysis. Findings reveal that While the use of  raw lexemes enhances clarity and reduces stigma around sexual health, their unmoderated use can provoke moral confusion, desensitisation, and premature sexual curiosity. Cultural and religious backgrounds significantly mediate how students interpret these lexemes, with many teachers adopting euphemisms such as manhood, marital intimacy, or protective device to maintain moral decorum. The study concludes that language in sex education is not ideologically neutral and must be used with pedagogical sensitivity. It recommends interdisciplinary collaboration, teacher training, and culturally responsive curriculum reform to ensure that sex education promotes both knowledge and moral responsibility among adolescents.