The goal of my work is to create a informational, illustrated introductory sex education manual and guide to puberty. A book is an appropriate choice for my project because it as an object that can be easily handed to kids from their caretakers, it can be referred to at will, and can be digested per the reader’s preference. This project calls for imagery that is both informative and entertaining, as it is speaking to kids 9-16 years old. I believe it is fundamental for individuals to have an understanding of their own and others’ bodies. This would be beneficial because it would lead to a society with a deeper understanding and respect for one another.
I feel that abstinence only sex education stems from a flawed mentality and is harmful to American youth. The project idea came to me when I was with friends one day, and one of them had mentioned that they had never been taught about sexually transmitted diseases or even how to use a condom. This same individual spoke about how they had contracted an STD and had to google search to figure out what it was. Coming from a liberal public school, I on the other hand, had been taught the symptoms of each STD, how to use a condom, how not to use one, and beyond. In fact, from the ages of 10 to 15 I was in a mandatory health classes that discussed contraception and its risks. Unlike my friend who lacked this fundamental information, I would have known right away what was happening to me and I could have taken care of it. It can not be expected that every parent will educate their children on the matter, even if the parent doesn’t have religiously affiliated beliefs about contraception, there is still a barrier of comfort that prevents these conversations from happening. That is why it must fall on the hands of a third party.
Another benefit of sex education’s demystifying of the body, besides knowledge of your physical health, is the respect for difference. Sexual harassment begins at a young age, whether kids realize it’s happening or not. The arrival of secondary sex traits gives youth the responsibility of recognizing and managing their personal emotional and physiological changes and impulses. This especially important to recognize in order to manage sexual impulses toward members of the opposite and/or same sex who are becoming more attractive.
This illustrated text will be gender and sexual orientation inclusive. Today, society is more accepting and aware of homosexuality and transgendered individuals than ever before. However, even today there is a lack of inclusion of this topic. My goal is to inform a broad audience as well as demystify the experience of those who do not fit into the heteronormativity to those who do. I am a cisgender, heteronormative person, so I have sought out individuals who can speak from another perspective about what they wish to have seen in a sex education about this.
Due to the fact that sex education in a school comes down the their religious and political affiliation, I understand the culture that upholds abstinence only sex-education would not accept this kind of illustrated text. I am still in the process of figuring out how it is these individuals would obtain it. I feel that a guide to puberty, where all kids have the opportunity to freely read about the experience of all people, will demystify the taboo of each others bodies.