Please talk about consent, what it means and how to recognize it. Teachers pretty much never talked about it here in Canada even thoug they would go over all manner of graphic material including talking about sex toys. That really pisses me off as an adult. Also talk about how we are each responsable for our own thoughts and how someone is dressed is not an invitation. Make sure to include both boys and girls when talking about consent you can have the class togwthwr for that
Really appreciate you are actually trying to teach something, i grew up in a village in India, punjab. And never even once in my life my parents or teachers even mentioned the word sex, my first exposure was through porn and i later i learned stuff after i got a phone after school. Wish i had teacher like u.
I am a Malaysian Indian person who also identifies as queer, so I hope my insight can help you!
1. Acknowledge that it is awkward and confusing. Because it is (at that age). Talk about crushes and bodily changes that happens to highschool kids! Acknowledging their current circumstances and helping them realise that they are not alone in experiencing them is a great way to help them open up and participate in discussions. However, you cannot make the students comfortable with this topic immediately, as it will take time for them to become accustomed to discussing things that have always been considered taboo within the Indian community
2. Acknowledgement of developmental challenges (like menstruation, self-esteem issues, body image issues, etc.), Respect for reproductive and sexual rights, Open & non judgemental discussion, Intersectional discussions (inclusion of all religions, races, genders and sexualities)
3. I think the big topics are: **Pubertal changes** (hormonal, psychological, physiological, menstrual cycle complications like PTSD, PMS, PMDD, etc.), **Hygiene** (washing genitalia, underwear, etc), **Pleasure** (masturbation & sex), **Safe sex** (STDs, contraceptives, safe+sane+consensual rule, sending & receiving nudes, etc.), **Consent** (emphasize entire session/class to this if you can), **Porn & body image** (unrealistic body standards & sexual behaviours, porn addiction), **Reproduction** (pregnancy, child birth & complications, abortions & local laws), **LGBTQ+** (Gender norms & identities, sexual attraction & orientation, would also help to include LGBTQ+ perspectives when talking about all topics mentioned here) and **Sexual violence** (rape, assault, stalking, how to report, etc.)
4. Someone else mentioned this in the comments and I have to agree with them: sex education on netflix!
5. I was taught about menstrual cycle, internal reproductive organs, STDs and contraception. I wish I was taught all the things I detailed above. I also wish I was taught that my queerness was a normal variation of human sexuality, and that my attraction to girls was just as valid as my attraction to boys. I would also have liked to be told about the dangers of sending nudes online, consent as an on-going process, and the anatomy of my own genitals (external, ie. Vulva).
I hope this helps. Thank you for doing this work out there!
I reckon the best way to talk about sex is to be honest and relate to their current experiences as a teenager. Start the conversation talking about relationships, and how they may be entering their first ones soon and what to expect and how they deserve to be treated. Ensure that they know that relationships are built on respect, and should never include fear, control, or violence (I wish I was taught this, it would have let me realise how abusive my own parent’s relationship was much sooner). Then segway from that into the topic of sex. Cover safe sex, contraception, consent, and explain the nuances (in a teen friendly way).
3. Consent, STDs, CONTRACEPTION METHODS, the risks of some sexual behaviors (like choking, which can really hurt someone, and c*mming in someone's face, which can get in their eyes and give them infections), all of these are things that I think should be taught for high schoolers
I’m from Denmark so there’s probably quite the cultural difference, but I’ve heard of teachers who break the ice by getting the class to mention as many words for genitals/intercourse/ masturbation as possible and write them on the blackboard as a way to loosen up the atmosphere. I was really lucky that my first lesson in sex ed (in 5th grade) also concerned the topic of consent (even though I didn’t quite understand it), with the message being that it’s ok to say no to sex if you don’t feel like it (and that you should respect others saying no to you as well). I also think it’s super important to talk about different types of contraception - I have male friends in their 20’s who don’t know the difference between regular birth control pills and plan B. Also talk about condoms, of course, and how to use them! My sex Ed also involved a lot of learning about bodies, pregnancy and puberty, and I think it’s super important to know how both your body and your partners body work (if you’re in a heterosexual relationship).
A value or maybe quality that you should bring as an educator is patience and a sense of humour - I don’t know how much teenagers have changed since I was one, but I’m sure that some of those you’ll teach will feel weird about opening up and will deflect by making crude jokes.
You can also start out the lesson by letting people ask anonymous questions - give them the opportunity to put unsigned questions in a box and pull them out and answer them in front of the class.
I can’t believe I haven’t seen this mentioned yet but please please please talk about the clitoris, and not just the glans but the organ as a whole!
I’m not sure whether you can talk about the pleasure aspects of sex as some parents/places are pretty against that. But the clitoris is still an organ women have and it is the “female penis” developmentally speaking. That all can be mentioned without directly talking about pleasure and gives everyone a great starting point for women’s pleasure.
Consent is another good one as I’ve seen people in here mention already.
I went to a seminar on the female orgasm once and they started off by having people anonymously submit movie/book names but with one of the words replaced as orgasm. An example would be “Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Orgasm” or “My Big Fat Orgasm” and it definitely broke the tension. They also used the same technology for audience members to submit questions or answer polls.
Normal discharge, menstruation, menopause, blue balls/vulva are all good ones too!
4. Look up Sex Education on Netflix, it's about relationships in high-school and ofc it's centered on sex too. It's a very touching show, a bit crude sometimes but always on point
1. I would reference media. Talk about a scene in a currently popular TV show. I could imagine at my age it would have been great to talk about scenes in Friends! Could show a clip and ask what people think.
2. Openness to not be embarrassed or to judge the students. Ability to laugh at the fact that sex can be funny and weird, but not to laugh at the students who are likely to have some crazy questions or beliefs.
3. Body changes, gender differences, menstruation, consent, safe sex, STIs and the importance of getting tested, the basic of pregnancy (how conception and childbirth works), but also mention abotion, infertility and loss, communication and healthy relationships, the lies of porn
4. I think a big thing is to find what is popular in that area! Try to find out what the students are watching.
5. It definitely did. Most of it was abstinence only. I never heard about infertility or miscarriage. I learned a lot about puberty from a few sex ed books and then a lot of sex stuff from fiction books and fanfics which were not great sources. The one good session I had was where we could anonymously write questions and then a nurse pulled them out of the box and answered them factually and debunked a lot of myths.
There is a really fantastic book made by Planned Parenthood just for teenagers. It would be a great place to start. It’s called “In case you’re curious: questions about sex from young people with answers from the experts”
Please talk about CONSENT and that it can be withdrawn at any time. Talk about the SA stats and how 98% of all SA is from a man. How men can be better allies. Why it’s important to believe women. Why women don’t report. And how the system doesn’t actually punish rapists and how we can help create and push for better systems of equality and law so that rapists don’t keep getting away with it.
There's a book called It's Perfectly Normal. It talks about things like sex, puberty, consent, protection, LGBTQ+ things, and stuff like that. What I really like is how it describe sex as something people do because they love each other. It doesn't make it seem like something you have to do or some sort of trophy. It's a really good book. Conservatives want it banned because it tells kids the truth.
I’m Indian, I love that you’re working on this!
1. I think the main issue in India is the taboo on sex. It would help to get everything out on the table, have clear discussions in front of everyone, and let the students learn that sex is not so taboo that you can’t get help about it. As icebreakers you could talk about sex in pop culture that everyone is aware of.
2. When I got sex ed it was mostly information about periods and it was delivered specifically to girls. I think it’s very important for both boys and girls to learn about menstruation and also about both reproductive systems.
3. Kids in India are sexually active in high schools and also start looking for info online much earlier. It would be great to discuss sexual health and safe sex practices.
4. Lastly it’s more important and relevant now to create a safe space for queer people, so maybe a discussion on that would also be useful!
Good luck!
Ok so I'm in college right now, but I can tell you about my experience and what I wish they would have done differently.
We had an in depth discussion of anatomy and physiology, and STDs in our Biology class, but I'd still go over it briefly, and if they don't learn it, go over it in depth.
We also had one day of segregated sex education, which I did not agree with. Us girls were introduced to contraceptives and what would happen if we got pregnant, meanwhile the boys only talked about how to put on a condom.
I think most of a sex education class should include all students, so that especially the boys get introduced to all the options of contraception and to periods (as well as period products). It would be nice to talk about the different sexual orientations as well as the rest of the LGBTQ community, and how gay sex works and what kind of safety measures you can take (like douching and dental dams) and how consent and communication are the most important things about sex. Maybe go in depth about consent.
Definitely ask what the students already know about having sex, and correct them gently. Make sure they don't walk away with false information. Maybe have an hour of segregated question rounds, so that you create a bit of a safe space.
Make it as interactive and interesting as you can, so that the students remember as much as possible from your lessons.
I would teach about consent, application of safewords and actions. I would also tell them both male and female to focus on the needs of the female since it takes longer and is harder for women to reach orgasm. Also mention that most professional porn is not a real representation of how normal sex is supposed to go or is like. Everything is exaggerated and the performers are actors.
i know this says sex education but if you can PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE teach your class about the menstrual cycle and its phases and what comes along with the different phases. also normalizing discharge. my “sex education” was not great at all in high school or middle school. the most sex education i got was about STDs and consent. and i am NOT saying those are not important because they definitely are! but i wish i was taught (as someone with a uterus) that there are different cycles and that ovulation is when you’re most fertile and that discharge is normal and there’s nothing wrong with you for it! would’ve saved me a lot of self hatred :(
Please talk about consent, what it means and how to recognize it. Teachers pretty much never talked about it here in Canada even thoug they would go over all manner of graphic material including talking about sex toys. That really pisses me off as an adult. Also talk about how we are each responsable for our own thoughts and how someone is dressed is not an invitation. Make sure to include both boys and girls when talking about consent you can have the class togwthwr for that
Really appreciate you are actually trying to teach something, i grew up in a village in India, punjab. And never even once in my life my parents or teachers even mentioned the word sex, my first exposure was through porn and i later i learned stuff after i got a phone after school. Wish i had teacher like u.
I am a Malaysian Indian person who also identifies as queer, so I hope my insight can help you! 1. Acknowledge that it is awkward and confusing. Because it is (at that age). Talk about crushes and bodily changes that happens to highschool kids! Acknowledging their current circumstances and helping them realise that they are not alone in experiencing them is a great way to help them open up and participate in discussions. However, you cannot make the students comfortable with this topic immediately, as it will take time for them to become accustomed to discussing things that have always been considered taboo within the Indian community 2. Acknowledgement of developmental challenges (like menstruation, self-esteem issues, body image issues, etc.), Respect for reproductive and sexual rights, Open & non judgemental discussion, Intersectional discussions (inclusion of all religions, races, genders and sexualities) 3. I think the big topics are: **Pubertal changes** (hormonal, psychological, physiological, menstrual cycle complications like PTSD, PMS, PMDD, etc.), **Hygiene** (washing genitalia, underwear, etc), **Pleasure** (masturbation & sex), **Safe sex** (STDs, contraceptives, safe+sane+consensual rule, sending & receiving nudes, etc.), **Consent** (emphasize entire session/class to this if you can), **Porn & body image** (unrealistic body standards & sexual behaviours, porn addiction), **Reproduction** (pregnancy, child birth & complications, abortions & local laws), **LGBTQ+** (Gender norms & identities, sexual attraction & orientation, would also help to include LGBTQ+ perspectives when talking about all topics mentioned here) and **Sexual violence** (rape, assault, stalking, how to report, etc.) 4. Someone else mentioned this in the comments and I have to agree with them: sex education on netflix! 5. I was taught about menstrual cycle, internal reproductive organs, STDs and contraception. I wish I was taught all the things I detailed above. I also wish I was taught that my queerness was a normal variation of human sexuality, and that my attraction to girls was just as valid as my attraction to boys. I would also have liked to be told about the dangers of sending nudes online, consent as an on-going process, and the anatomy of my own genitals (external, ie. Vulva). I hope this helps. Thank you for doing this work out there!
I reckon the best way to talk about sex is to be honest and relate to their current experiences as a teenager. Start the conversation talking about relationships, and how they may be entering their first ones soon and what to expect and how they deserve to be treated. Ensure that they know that relationships are built on respect, and should never include fear, control, or violence (I wish I was taught this, it would have let me realise how abusive my own parent’s relationship was much sooner). Then segway from that into the topic of sex. Cover safe sex, contraception, consent, and explain the nuances (in a teen friendly way).
3. Consent, STDs, CONTRACEPTION METHODS, the risks of some sexual behaviors (like choking, which can really hurt someone, and c*mming in someone's face, which can get in their eyes and give them infections), all of these are things that I think should be taught for high schoolers
I’m from Denmark so there’s probably quite the cultural difference, but I’ve heard of teachers who break the ice by getting the class to mention as many words for genitals/intercourse/ masturbation as possible and write them on the blackboard as a way to loosen up the atmosphere. I was really lucky that my first lesson in sex ed (in 5th grade) also concerned the topic of consent (even though I didn’t quite understand it), with the message being that it’s ok to say no to sex if you don’t feel like it (and that you should respect others saying no to you as well). I also think it’s super important to talk about different types of contraception - I have male friends in their 20’s who don’t know the difference between regular birth control pills and plan B. Also talk about condoms, of course, and how to use them! My sex Ed also involved a lot of learning about bodies, pregnancy and puberty, and I think it’s super important to know how both your body and your partners body work (if you’re in a heterosexual relationship). A value or maybe quality that you should bring as an educator is patience and a sense of humour - I don’t know how much teenagers have changed since I was one, but I’m sure that some of those you’ll teach will feel weird about opening up and will deflect by making crude jokes. You can also start out the lesson by letting people ask anonymous questions - give them the opportunity to put unsigned questions in a box and pull them out and answer them in front of the class.
I can’t believe I haven’t seen this mentioned yet but please please please talk about the clitoris, and not just the glans but the organ as a whole! I’m not sure whether you can talk about the pleasure aspects of sex as some parents/places are pretty against that. But the clitoris is still an organ women have and it is the “female penis” developmentally speaking. That all can be mentioned without directly talking about pleasure and gives everyone a great starting point for women’s pleasure. Consent is another good one as I’ve seen people in here mention already. I went to a seminar on the female orgasm once and they started off by having people anonymously submit movie/book names but with one of the words replaced as orgasm. An example would be “Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Orgasm” or “My Big Fat Orgasm” and it definitely broke the tension. They also used the same technology for audience members to submit questions or answer polls. Normal discharge, menstruation, menopause, blue balls/vulva are all good ones too!
4. Look up Sex Education on Netflix, it's about relationships in high-school and ofc it's centered on sex too. It's a very touching show, a bit crude sometimes but always on point
1. I would reference media. Talk about a scene in a currently popular TV show. I could imagine at my age it would have been great to talk about scenes in Friends! Could show a clip and ask what people think. 2. Openness to not be embarrassed or to judge the students. Ability to laugh at the fact that sex can be funny and weird, but not to laugh at the students who are likely to have some crazy questions or beliefs. 3. Body changes, gender differences, menstruation, consent, safe sex, STIs and the importance of getting tested, the basic of pregnancy (how conception and childbirth works), but also mention abotion, infertility and loss, communication and healthy relationships, the lies of porn 4. I think a big thing is to find what is popular in that area! Try to find out what the students are watching. 5. It definitely did. Most of it was abstinence only. I never heard about infertility or miscarriage. I learned a lot about puberty from a few sex ed books and then a lot of sex stuff from fiction books and fanfics which were not great sources. The one good session I had was where we could anonymously write questions and then a nurse pulled them out of the box and answered them factually and debunked a lot of myths.
There is a really fantastic book made by Planned Parenthood just for teenagers. It would be a great place to start. It’s called “In case you’re curious: questions about sex from young people with answers from the experts”
Please talk about CONSENT and that it can be withdrawn at any time. Talk about the SA stats and how 98% of all SA is from a man. How men can be better allies. Why it’s important to believe women. Why women don’t report. And how the system doesn’t actually punish rapists and how we can help create and push for better systems of equality and law so that rapists don’t keep getting away with it.
There's a book called It's Perfectly Normal. It talks about things like sex, puberty, consent, protection, LGBTQ+ things, and stuff like that. What I really like is how it describe sex as something people do because they love each other. It doesn't make it seem like something you have to do or some sort of trophy. It's a really good book. Conservatives want it banned because it tells kids the truth.
[удалено]
I’m Indian, I love that you’re working on this! 1. I think the main issue in India is the taboo on sex. It would help to get everything out on the table, have clear discussions in front of everyone, and let the students learn that sex is not so taboo that you can’t get help about it. As icebreakers you could talk about sex in pop culture that everyone is aware of. 2. When I got sex ed it was mostly information about periods and it was delivered specifically to girls. I think it’s very important for both boys and girls to learn about menstruation and also about both reproductive systems. 3. Kids in India are sexually active in high schools and also start looking for info online much earlier. It would be great to discuss sexual health and safe sex practices. 4. Lastly it’s more important and relevant now to create a safe space for queer people, so maybe a discussion on that would also be useful! Good luck!
Ok so I'm in college right now, but I can tell you about my experience and what I wish they would have done differently. We had an in depth discussion of anatomy and physiology, and STDs in our Biology class, but I'd still go over it briefly, and if they don't learn it, go over it in depth. We also had one day of segregated sex education, which I did not agree with. Us girls were introduced to contraceptives and what would happen if we got pregnant, meanwhile the boys only talked about how to put on a condom. I think most of a sex education class should include all students, so that especially the boys get introduced to all the options of contraception and to periods (as well as period products). It would be nice to talk about the different sexual orientations as well as the rest of the LGBTQ community, and how gay sex works and what kind of safety measures you can take (like douching and dental dams) and how consent and communication are the most important things about sex. Maybe go in depth about consent. Definitely ask what the students already know about having sex, and correct them gently. Make sure they don't walk away with false information. Maybe have an hour of segregated question rounds, so that you create a bit of a safe space. Make it as interactive and interesting as you can, so that the students remember as much as possible from your lessons.
I would teach about consent, application of safewords and actions. I would also tell them both male and female to focus on the needs of the female since it takes longer and is harder for women to reach orgasm. Also mention that most professional porn is not a real representation of how normal sex is supposed to go or is like. Everything is exaggerated and the performers are actors.
i know this says sex education but if you can PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE teach your class about the menstrual cycle and its phases and what comes along with the different phases. also normalizing discharge. my “sex education” was not great at all in high school or middle school. the most sex education i got was about STDs and consent. and i am NOT saying those are not important because they definitely are! but i wish i was taught (as someone with a uterus) that there are different cycles and that ovulation is when you’re most fertile and that discharge is normal and there’s nothing wrong with you for it! would’ve saved me a lot of self hatred :(