Major Australian retailer Big W has pulled the children’s book “Welcome to Sex” from its shelves after it was lambasted for its graphic content.
Aimed at children aged 10 to 15, the book features detailed illustrations and instructions on how to engage in both heterosexual and homosexual intercourse, as well as information on masturbation, male and female genitalia, and gender identity (including transgenderism) while downplaying virginity.
“Welcome to Sex: Your no-silly-questions guide to sexuality, pleasure and figuring it out” is stocked in major Australian retailer Big W, bookseller Dymocks, and Target, and is authored by Dr. Melissa Kang and Yumi Stynes, who hosts the ABC Radio podcast “Ladies, We Need to Talk.”
It is the fourth book in their “Welcome to” series, which has covered topics such as sexual consent and puberty.
Yet Rachael Wong, CEO of Women’s Forum Australia, was critical of the latest edition being made available to children.
In another Twitter post, she uploaded a video showing that the book was available in the children’s section of retailer Dymocks, despite claims the title was only available to parents.
Victorian Senator Ralph Babet called the book “sickening.”
“It’s important that we push back against this type of garbage content. Otherwise, it will never end!”
Big W Claims Staff Experienced Abuse Over Book
In response to the pushback, a spokesperson from Woolworths, Big W’s parent company, said the title had been removed from its parenting range.“We know there has been a wide range of views about the book; however, it’s disappointing that there have been multiple incidents of abuse directed at our store team members in the past 24 hours,” the spokesperson said in a statement to The Epoch Times.
“To keep our team and customers safe, the book will be available to customers online only from later today.”
The publisher, Hardie Grant Publishing, said it was “proud” to support “Welcome to Sex,” calling it “an educational and age-appropriate guide for tweens and teens and their parents about sex and sexuality.”
“Welcome to Sex was developed in response to genuine questions about sex from adolescents to [online teen magazine] Dolly Doctor over a 20-year period, as well as comprehensive interviews with young people and adolescent experts about issues they are facing, particularly in an online world,” said Kate Brown, managing director of Hardie Grant, in a statement to The Epoch Times.
“'Every young person develops at their own rate, and parents and caregivers are encouraged to make their own decisions about what is appropriate to share with their family.”
The Epoch Times has also contacted Australian bookseller Dymocks for comment.
