I cop a lot of jokes about the fact that I’m a sexual health educator.
You get the comments about banana condoms and “are you just teaching sex positions?”.
I laugh them off and join in the fun at times but I’m coming to realise that this is a part of the reason why sexual health isn’t endorsed more in education, because people think it’s all about pregnancy and STI avoidance, and while it is, it’s also a heck of a lot more than just that.
So here’s a list of why I teach sex ed;
I teach sex ed to empower youth to know their bodies and know their worth
I teach to encourage kids to know their right to discussion and consent
I teach because 1 in 4 girls, and 1 in 10 boys will be sexually abused in their childhood
I teach so that kids have power in their voice and trust in their network
I teach to encourage sexual pleasure, because let’s face it, everyone know there’s a reason people do it!
I teach because feelings are valid and important to be explored
I teach because everyone has the right to show emotion so it’s not forced to be buried and come out in mental health effects, violence or internal struggle
I teach to preach the beauty and worthiness of all sexual orientations
I teach that no matter what your gender, you are precious and important in this world
I teach that there is always someone who will listen
I teach because 1 in 4 women will experience intimate partner violence in Australia and that is not okay
I teach so that students understand themselves and seek to understand each other
And yes, I teach how to use condoms.