How can comprehensive sex ed advance racial justice?
As we reflect on the impressive call for racial justice of the past few weeks, it has been important to show up. Show up in big, loud ways, silent non-centering ways, self-reflective educational ways and in ways that amplify the voices that need to be heard most. Listening, amplifying and learning have become paramount for many of us who stand tip to toe in privilege, like me. As I listened, learned and activated toward personally dismantling my white privilege, I began to wonder what direction I should point my small business. I will continue to learn and as I do I will also run hard to resist in the lane that I know best. Sex education.
Did you know that non-inclusive abstinence-only programming disproportionally hurts marginalized youth? Did you know that most sex ed curricula center white youth and often dismiss the experiences of Black students? When we don't give a full picture on sexuality, rooted in an understanding of lived experiences, options for safer sex and education about how to make informed decisions about our bodies are lost. This is disproportionately dangerous to our Black and brown youth. See this detailed more clearly in this piece by SIECUS released in February.
"Socioeconomic, educational, criminal justice, and health disparities, coupled with historical traumas, create unique sexual health needs for Black young people. Providing sex education curricula that reflect their experiences is key. According to research published in the Washington University Law Review, Black students nationwide are far more likely than white students to receive abstinence-only instruction. On average, Black young people start being sexually active earlier when compared to white youth. Therefore, it is absolutely imperative that we prioritize efforts to ensure Black students receive culturally proficient, age-appropriate sex education early on. We need to affirm the right to bodily autonomy and make sure Black youth have access to the information and services needed to ensure their health and well-being."
(Doyle & Doe, 2020) From https://siecus.org/black-history-month-sex-ed-and-racial-justice/
Here is a reproductive justice policy report written by Jeannette Robinson Flint that also outlines how comprehensive sex ed is imperative in creating healthier black communities.
Comprehensive Sex Education for Young Black Women by Jeannette Robinson Flint
The State of Black Women and Reproductive Justice Policy Report
As you look for your own concrete steps to dismantle white supremacy, I urge you to support comprehensive sex ed in your own school system. (Do you know what they teach in your school system? I know what they teach here in Texas and it's not certainly not making the cut.)
There is hope for change and it starts with us, especially if we own the privilege of being white. Demand and participate in coalitions of students, teachers and sex educators who are creating a new model curriculum that is evidence-based and culturally competent. Fund the organizations that do this hard work at https://futureofsexed.org/ and use their curriculum as an example in your own public school system.
Finally, if you are unsure about how to teach comprehensive sex ed to your kiddos, you are in luck. There are many amazing women doing this work in the field of sex ed. Here is a woman that I want you to support, today. And when I say support, I mean specifically with your spendable dollars and your good loud voice.
Melisa Pintor Carnagey
Sexpositive Families
https://sexpositivefamilies.com/about-spf/
Insta: @sexpositive_families
Melissa is a social worker, sexuality educator and parent of three. The resources she has created for parents include PDF's about how to raise sexually healthy kids and webinars about how to talk to children about important subjects like pleasure and porn. I refer to her quite a bit because she has one of the most comprehensive and inclusive content surrounding adolescents and sex. You can even schedule quick advice coaching sessions with her for $25 or longer more in depth coaching for $75. If you would just like to support her amazing work, there is a donate button at the bottom of her website. I'll continue to amplify a BIWOC each week in this newsletter.
Photos From https://sexpositivefamilies.com/
With love and earnestness,
Celeste