CATEGORIES: Abstinence Only Bloggers Book Tour Sexual Language Sexuality Education
November 12, 2007
Say it Ain’t So
Hmmm...looks like abstinence only programs don’t work. Oh, have I said that before? Sounds familiar, but now there is a new study that is saying the same thing. Last week, the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy released a study confirming that ab-only programs don’t delay sex. Even more exciting, the review of teenage sexual behavior also concluded that comprehensive sexuality education does delay the initiation of sex, reduces a teen’s number of sex partners, and increases condom and contraceptive usage. Hurray!
Needless to say, this is terrific news. So I ask you all this: Why have we spent over $1.5 billion in the last ten years on abstinence only? And why is Congress even considering a bill to spend another $141 million on it?
What do you think? Comments: (0)
CATEGORIES: Bloggers Book Tour Sexual Language Sexuality Education
November 03, 2007
Vajajay? I Think Not.
If you read last week’s New York Times article you know that our pop culture icons are talking about vaginas...or are they? No, they are talking about vajajays and if you know anything about me, you know that I don’t like it one bit. In fact, as soon as I read the article I started my Letter to the Editor campaign, which I am pleased to say, has resulted in my first published Letter.
Not that this should be a surprise, but I am completely dismayed by the idea that we have to have a more "palatable" term for vagina (and BTW, most of the time that word is really describing the vulva - so how confusing is that?). What message does that send to girls and women - are our parts so dirty that we have to use an alternative term for them? What do you think?
In more positive news, Denise over at Fast Times at Club Mom has posted a review of Third Base Ain’t What it Used to Be, and has posed a great question to her readers. Check it out. What do you have to say?
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CATEGORIES: Bloggers Book Tour Graduate Programs Sexuality Education
October 29, 2007
A Little History Lesson…
After a super (yet seriously short) trip to San Francisco at the end of last week, I came back to see that Nancy over at The Centre for Emotional Wellbeing has reviewed my book. It’s always nice to see what people in related fields have to say.
In the meantime, a reader, Inness, has asked me to talk about how I started my career in sexology and sexuality education. For those of you who already know, you can skip this part, but if you don’t know, here is your chance to find out. When I was in high school, I was offered an opportunity to be part of a Peer HIV/AIDS Education pilot program at North Shore University Hospital. (With the support of my parents) I jumped at the chance. At the time, I had no idea that this experience would foreshadow my future. Needless to say, at the age of 15 I became incredibly comfortable talking about sexuality, more specifically safer sex. And when I went to college, I found myself providing the same types of information to my peers. I served as a member of FLASH, a sexual health education group on campus, wrote the anonymous sex advice column for the paper, and wrote articles about female sexuality for the campus women’s magazine.
Though I had once assumed that I would be an investment banker or an attorney, it was clear that the field/industry for me was sexuality (education in particular). Once I realized that, everything was a bit easier. I matriculated into the Human Sexuality Education program at The University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education (most of the program is now being conducted at Widener University) and fell in love with what I was learning. And that is where it all began.
For those of you who may be looking to join the field, there are many resources out there.
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CATEGORIES: Abstinence Only Bloggers Sexuality Education Television
October 21, 2007
Portland, Maine, Birth Control, & Me
So by now you’ve probably heard that the King County school district in Portland, Maine has decided to allow its student health center to provide reproductive health services (including contraceptives, exams, and condoms) to its middle school students. I say, if middle schoolers are having sex, at least someone is taking care of the sexual health of our youth.
Now, this is by no means an endorsement for middle school sexual activity. If this isn’t clear enough, let me make it clear to the numerous bloggers who have incorrectly quoted me recently - I do NOT believe that 11 year olds should be having sex. And at no point during my appearance on Good Morning America last Wednesday did I suggest otherwise. However, I do believe that if there are middle schoolers having sex, they desperately need to be protected. I for one would rather schools provide those reproductive and sexual health services than sacrifice our youth because we are too squeamish to deal with issues pertaining to sex.
Let us not forget that the King County school health center is NOT passing around birth control like candy. For those students who may be sexually active, the health center will conduct a gynecological exam, counsel, and educate them about the responsibilities of sex. It is not a free for all. Nor it is encouragement for kids to have sex. If you’ve ever worked with children (which I do all the time), you know that the idea of sex is inconceivable (and sometimes “gross") for many their age; just because condoms and contraceptives are available hardly makes it more appealing. When are we going to realize that demonizing sex only makes it more titillating? It’s education (specifically, comprehensive sexuality education) that ensures we raise sexually healthy individuals (and by sexually healthy, I don’t mean that they are simply having protected sex - I mean that they feel good about themselves, feel empowered by information, know how and when to make decisions about sex, and of course, know how to protect themselves both emotionally and physically, when they are ready).
In the end, if we were all better sexuality educators, then we wouldn’t be in this position. It is evident that the current means of handling sexuality (abstinence only education and scare tactics) has not worked. Let’s do better for our future generations! The time is now.
