February 2nd is International Sex Education Day. Did you know that according to the UN, understanding your body is a human right?! I want to take this opportunity to YELL TO THE MOUNTAIN TOPS TJAT ALL YOUNG PEOPLE (all people, really) NEED AND DESERVE MEDICALLY ACCURATE, COMPLETE, AND INCLUSIVE SEX EDUCATION!
You may have filled out my anonymous Sex Ed survey. A lot of young people tell me that they have abstinence only sex ed, or want to know more about gender identity and LGBTQ topics. Some of you learn about sexting and porn in class. Basically, you can see that there is a wide range of sex ed content and quality. And these are generally determined by politicians and not doctors; clearly this is a problem!!!
There are so many reasons why this is important, and it frustrates me that adults oppose this important component of health education and at the same time, do not educate their own kids with the complete information they need to keep themselves safe and healthy. Here are 10 reasons why I think that access to comprehensive (meaning a lot of information and topics) and inclusive (meaning all gender, social, sexual, and cultural expressions) Sex Ed is important:
You may have filled out my anonymous Sex Ed survey. A lot of young people tell me that they have abstinence only sex ed, or want to know more about gender identity and LGBTQ topics. Some of you learn about sexting and porn in class. Basically, you can see that there is a wide range of sex ed content and quality. And these are generally determined by politicians and not doctors; clearly this is a problem!!!
There are so many reasons why this is important, and it frustrates me that adults oppose this important component of health education and at the same time, do not educate their own kids with the complete information they need to keep themselves safe and healthy. Here are 10 reasons why I think that access to comprehensive (meaning a lot of information and topics) and inclusive (meaning all gender, social, sexual, and cultural expressions) Sex Ed is important:
- Lack of understanding about your body is scary. Life is scary enough without worrying about what is and what is not normal about your body!
- Children and young people do not ask questions about topics that they are not ready to hear the honest answers to. Parents – not sure how to answer? Start with the answer to the specific question. If you aren’t sure, that’s OK – you can look it up and get back to them! No need to give a huge lesson – if they want to know more, they will ask for more! You know, short and sweet, like a tweet.
- If young people do not get accurate sexual health information from trusted adults, they will look elsewhere (aka friends, google and porn) for this information.
- Teaching children the correct names of their body parts, that they are in charge of their bodies and the difference between safe and unsafe touch help prevent sexual abuse by giving them the tools to know when to ask for help.
- When students receive sex ed that includes gay, lesbian, and transgender issues, they say their school environment is safer school, with less bullying and harassment.
- Pornography is fantasy (for some), not reality (for anyone!). Young men and women learn many harmful messages about sex from porn, such as what “should” be desirable and feel good. But, what is depicted often teaches young women to expect that sex is painful and young men that aggressive sex is what is desirable.
- Sex in entertainment, porn and advertising depicts gender stereotypes that support a rape culture. For instance, young men absorb messages that to be a “man” they must pursue even after a “no”, or that stalking types of behaviors are romantic.
- Comprehensive education about sex, sexual illness, and birth control decreases early sexual activity and decreases unplanned pregnancy and illness.
- Teaching the characteristics of healthy sexual and romantic relationships of all types, helps to decrease intimate partner violence and dating abuse.
- And, finally, it’s all just part of our body!!! Seriously, our reproductive system is as important as our digestive system or nervous system or respiratory system. There should be no shame about health issues related to this very normal part of what it means to be a human. I mean, why do we say “I’ve got a runny nose” so much easier than “I’ve got vaginal discharge”? Both are discharge, both are body holes, but, wow, don’t we think of those so differently?!?!
