Subscribe now to Sex, Etc. magazine!
Sex in the States
LGBTQ Safe Space
 

Your voice can make a difference. You have the right to honest, accurate sex ed. Speak up for the kind of education that you want, need and deserve in your school. Your Voice, Your Rights.

Profile...
Alex
Alex
Alex
Female
20 years old
Nebraska

Favorite Quote
"We're all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars."
- Oscar Wilde

I love this quote. We all hit points where we feel a little down, but a great deal of the time, negative emotions are what you make of them. You can be in a nasty situation, but keep looking forward, and you'll come out of it a-ok.
My Experience with sex ed...

I get my information about sex from:

MagazinesInternet

Please tell us where else you get information about sex.

Informational articles on websites and magazines aimed for teens and teen health

In one sentence, tell us what your first time talking with your parent(s)/guardian(s) about sex was like? Who started the conversation?

I'm practically an adult, and I was never approached by either parent and talked to about puberty, sex, and the feelings, changes, and responsibilities that come with it. The closest my mother ever got to the subject was pointing out that if I ever got an STD or pregnant out of wedlock, I was in big trouble.

What do YOU think sex ed classes for teens should talk about? What was covered in your sex ed class? What do you wish was covered in your sex ed class?


WAS covered in my sex ed: SHOULD BE covered in my sex ed:

• Menstruation • Abstinence • STDs • Rape and sexual assault • How to know if your body is developing in a normal way

• Masturbation • Wet dreams • Different kinds of sex • Issues faced by gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, or questioning people • How to figure out your sexual feelings for someone of your same gender • Fingering and hand jobs • Pregnancy options • How to talk to your partner about sex • How to decide if you're ready for sex • How to talk to your parents about sex • How to talk to your partner about birth control or safer sex • How to figure out if your relationship is healthy or not • How to manage online flirting and dating • How to find a clinic

The most important...
Sex and sexuality is ALL individualized. No one should tell you when you're ready to have sex, what your orientation should be, or anything other than how to protect yourself. The most important thing to remember is sex can bring on many physical and emotional changes and you need to be certain you're ready to take on these various changes and responsibilities.

Do you have a story that you think should be on Sex, Etc. because it would help other teens? Write it here, and you and your story may be featured on the Web site.

My parents never talked about puberty with me, let alone sex, and coming from an independent, private school with a PTA opposed to teaching Sex Ed, I and many other students were not exposed to the information we needed, and I've seen a fair number of classmates suffer because of that. I was smart enough to explore and ask questions, but many teens and preteens are not. If you come from a similar situation, turn towards helpful internet sites such as Sex, Etc. and other teen health organizations. The best thing you can do is get all of the accurate information you need to remain healthy and safe, whether you decide to have sex or not.

If Sex, Etc. gave you $1,000 dollars to help teens get access to honest, medically accurate and balanced information about human sexuality and to help teens make responsible choices about sexual health, what would YOU do?

I would campaign to revamp sex education within American school systems. Nowadays, the information is so stilted, one-sided, and outdated, that it's really not worth teaching. Kids need to learn what's relevant in today's society in order to remain safe in this day and age, and the most accessible way to promote that information is in the schools.