On Wednesday, February 19, the exhibition Sexualitats i infàncies: construint sabers was inaugurated. This space invites reflection on sexuality from the perspective of childhood and has been funded by the UAB Department of Culture.
The presentation featured the participation of Laura Santamaría, Vice-Rector for Culture and Linguistic Policy at UAB; Diana Marre, Director of the AFIN Group; and Hugo Valenzuela, Director of the Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology. In their speeches, the speakers emphasized the importance of making sexuality a topic that can be openly discussed within families and educational settings, moving away from the taboos that still persist in society. They also highlighted the role of affective-sexual education in childhood and adolescence as a fundamental tool for fostering equitable relationships and individual well-being.
The exhibition is structured around seven dimensions that address different aspects of childhood sexuality, ranging from body awareness to identity diversity, puberty changes, and the role of technology in shaping knowledge about sexuality. Each of these dimensions explores how children perceive, express, and construct their understanding of sexuality through their experiences and narratives.
The exhibition features forty-seven drawings created by children aged six to twelve, illustrating their representations and questions on these topics. It also includes a section with educational resources in book format and a collection of crocheted genital models by artist Elisabet Pérez Méndez—an initiative aimed at challenging stereotypes and expanding knowledge about bodily diversity. Additionally, the exhibition includes a screening of the documentary (Re)pensant l’educació sexual, directed by Dr. Estel Malgosa, which provides a critical perspective on sex education and its current challenges.
The inauguration was attended by faculty members from the UAB Department of Anthropology, AFIN members, students, and individuals interested in the topic. After the welcoming remarks, the coordinators of the SexAFIN project, Dr. Bruna Álvarez, Dr. Estel Malgosa, and MSc. Zenaida Andreica, led a guided tour of the exhibition. During the tour, they linked the children’s drawings to their research findings and encouraged attendees to interact with the exhibition using QR codes that allowed them to answer questions or share reflections on the displayed illustrations.
The exhibition will remain open until March 7 at the Sala d’Exposicions UAB, located in the Library of Communication and General Newspaper Archive building in Plaça Cívica. It can be visited Monday to Thursday from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM and on Fridays from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.