Let’s Talk About Sex (Education!) Baby
A wise person once said, “At your age, you're going to have a lot of urges. You're going to want to take off your clothes, and touch each other. But if you do touch each other, you will get chlamydia... and die”. Okay, so it was actually Coach Carr in Mean Girls, and it was actually not wise at all. He was right about the first part, almost everyone gets urges and wants to have sex; it’s natural! The second part is where Coach Carr and I disagree. Chlamydia is preventable, and if you do get it, it will not kill you. While Coach Carr is just a character in a movie, this kind of sexual education might be reflective of your own experience. Sexual education that includes fear-mongering practices that may not be based in science is taught in order to prevent you from even considering having sex. In reality, studies show that scare tactics do not work for sexual education. So what works? Comprehensive, fact-based sexual education! Giving young people medically accurate information in a safe and healthy environment leads to better outcomes. Sex is not something that will go away if we do not talk about it… so let’s talk!
What is comprehensive sex education? Is it understanding how babies are made, or is it understanding how to use contraception? Maybe it’s being able to explain what happens to bodies during puberty? Comprehensive sex education is all those things, and so much more. According to Felicia Gisondi, the founder and president of Sex and Self, “Comprehensive sexual education is a system that provides learners with inclusive, comprehensive pleasure-based education. It empowers students with psychology and science, in order for individuals to make educated, and safe decisions regarding their bodies”. Comprehensive sex education covers an array of topics that can be divided roughly into four main categories.
One of its main goals is body autonomy. It is important to understand what your body is going through, whether it be your first period, or menopause. These topics are crucial for vulva owners, yet are often glanced over. Comprehensive sex education works to fight the stigma around topics that have been deemed inappropriate by those they do not affect . Understanding your bodily anatomy, for both vulva owners and penis owners, and what is happening during puberty, is the first step to being able to make informed decisions.
Another topic is sexual health. It aims to educate about family planning and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Studies have shown that teaching safe sex practices, like condom use and birth control, as well as discussing risky behaviours is the most effective way to prevent STI transmision and control your family planning. It is important that people know how STIs are spread in order to prevent transmission. Sorry, Coach Carr - scaring people into not having sex is not going to prevent STIs, but proper condom use will! Also, family planning is most effective when people understand how birth control works and which methods are best for them - check out Sex and Self’s guide to birth control here! Sexual health also focuses on undoing stigma around masturbation, and discussing the myth of virginity.
A third goal focuses on mental and physical health. Comprehensive sex education aims to address health past just understanding the physiology of bodies and sex; it takes a holistic view. It gives people tools and resources in order to cope with sexual violence, as well as any mental health problems. These are not things to be ashamed of, and people experiencing these deserve love, respect and any help they may require.
The last topic is sexuality and relationships. 2SLGBTQIA+ history and sexualities are taught to unlearn stigmas, as well as to give people a chance to see their own sexuality reflected. Themes of Indigenous history and colonialism in sexuality are taught in order to learn to be anti-racist. Colonialism and racism has historically informed our sexual education and practice; unlearning this is crucial. People are also taught about healthy relationships and how to communicate effectively, and in the time of COVID, how to online date!
Comprehensive sex education allows people to enter adulthood with all the tools they need to make informed sexual decisions. It works! UNESCO looked at 77 studies and 22 reviews throughout the world and found that comprehensive sex education increased knowledge about sexuality, as well as risks of pregnancy, HIV and other STIs. Another study found that it led to an increase in sexual empowerment elements including better attitudes about women, and a general increase in sexual health and resource knowledge.
So, we know what it is and we know that it works. All is good, right? Well, in reality, it is not always implemented in Canada. One study in Ontario showed that despite having done the required sexual education requirements in school, students did not have the knowledge they should have been provided. For example, 27% of students in the study believed pregnancy could be a result of oral or anal sex, and 38% thought the condom method was more effective than it is. This shows that we still have work to do… and Sex and Self is doing it! Bodies A-Z is an amazing initiative that provides comprehensive sex education to high schools in and around Montreal. In fact, this article you just read briefly outlines their lesson plans! Furthermore, Sex and Self provides educational content to older audiences in order to continue the lifelong commitment to learning about yourself, as well as unlearning and fighting harmful stigmas that exist.
If you are interested in fun, educational events, you’re in luck! The Sexcessful fundraiser, presented by Sex and Self, is a month of events and giveaways in May that you will not want to miss. All proceeds will go to further developing, advancing and expanding the scope of Sex and Self. Some of the events include: ABCs of Online Dating with Luna Matatas, Bodies A-Z workshop on Mental Health for Teens, In Conversation: The Transgender Experience, and more. I hope to see you there!
Edits and Contributions by: Amrita Sandhu
