Period
I grew up chubby and this lead to so many insecurities when I was too young to know better. Thankfully, that chubbiness turned into womanly curves with some time, moderation, and Bikram yoga. Not being a thin girl seemed like the end of the world when I was younger, but now it makes me who I am. The first chapter of “Red” is incredibly revealing and leaves the reader feeling enlightened and like we are not alone in our human struggle to come to terms with our selves in a challenging environment that pervades our minds with constructed and mostly unattainable expectations of living, acting, looking, and even feeling.
Even attitudes toward bodily functions are influenced by the way the media depicts it. The way to make ourselves comfortable with natural things is to be open about them. It is through text like “Red” and articles exploring sensory influence that progression is possible. Once we are aware of the impact of our actions and words then we can begin to be open to positive affect.
Not until we allow our children the uncensored truth about their bodies can any progression be possible. The programs our school systems are promulgating are a joke! “Abstinence only” has only lead to the senseless spread of sexually transmitted diseases, millions of unwanted pregnancies, abortions, and sexual violence. Scare tactics are only irresponsible adult reactions to threatening situations, such as their children becoming sexually active. We do not have the right to keep knowledge as important as this from our children. If we educate them then we can be empowered, and it instead of innocence safeguarded and lost against will, it can lead to happy children becoming well-adjusted and secure adults.
Take the Dutch sex ed program for example. With constant exposure to sex exploitation, the Dutch are some of the most successful in preventing teen pregnancy. The Netherlands has the lowest teenage pregnancy rate in the West, the lowest rates of sexually transmitted diseases among young people, and the lowest rate of abortion in Europe (Thomson, 2008).
These incredible figures can be attributed to the honest and thorough sexual education program allowed in the Netherlands. Children are introduced to their bodies and sex, as well as contraceptives, at an early age. Through videos and school programs their school system instructs children in an honest manner about everything, from masturbation to condom application. So let’s get our head out of our asses and learn from example! We owe it to our children and ourselves!
Check out this article for more info:
Thomson, Alice. “Sex education: Why the British should go Dutch.” The Times 24 November 2008. http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/the_way_we_live/article5208865.ece.
Even attitudes toward bodily functions are influenced by the way the media depicts it. The way to make ourselves comfortable with natural things is to be open about them. It is through text like “Red” and articles exploring sensory influence that progression is possible. Once we are aware of the impact of our actions and words then we can begin to be open to positive affect.
Not until we allow our children the uncensored truth about their bodies can any progression be possible. The programs our school systems are promulgating are a joke! “Abstinence only” has only lead to the senseless spread of sexually transmitted diseases, millions of unwanted pregnancies, abortions, and sexual violence. Scare tactics are only irresponsible adult reactions to threatening situations, such as their children becoming sexually active. We do not have the right to keep knowledge as important as this from our children. If we educate them then we can be empowered, and it instead of innocence safeguarded and lost against will, it can lead to happy children becoming well-adjusted and secure adults.
Take the Dutch sex ed program for example. With constant exposure to sex exploitation, the Dutch are some of the most successful in preventing teen pregnancy. The Netherlands has the lowest teenage pregnancy rate in the West, the lowest rates of sexually transmitted diseases among young people, and the lowest rate of abortion in Europe (Thomson, 2008).
These incredible figures can be attributed to the honest and thorough sexual education program allowed in the Netherlands. Children are introduced to their bodies and sex, as well as contraceptives, at an early age. Through videos and school programs their school system instructs children in an honest manner about everything, from masturbation to condom application. So let’s get our head out of our asses and learn from example! We owe it to our children and ourselves!
Check out this article for more info:
Thomson, Alice. “Sex education: Why the British should go Dutch.” The Times 24 November 2008. http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/the_way_we_live/article5208865.ece.
Comments
What a good way to put it. Simply because adults choose to skirt an issue does not mean it doesn't exist, a concept that I'm not sure is understood in school systems as well as other areas that our youth is educated. Many a mistake has been made for the sake of exploration without education. Our kids are grasping for air when it comes to information about their bodies and that's not right. Part of the problem, too, is an unwillingness of kids to talk with their parents. The origins of such relationships go way beyond the 'body talk' and is why adult role models from outside the family are needed at times. How about body talk support groups where young men and women can ask the questions they want to without having to feel embarrassed? It's a stretch the way things are now but I think it would be interesting to see how our youth respond to that.