| The Up and Coming Source for Sex Ed |
| Written by Tara Tainton | |||||||||
| Sunday, 02 October 2005 23:00 | |||||||||
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In many schools around the globe, the physiology and health concerns of sex
aren't even part of the educational curriculum anymore. Counselors can't
offer condoms and the only organization truly on the forefront of unbiased
education and support for sexually active individuals, Planned Parenthood,
is continually under attack. Inside and outside of the US, the internet is
the growing source for obtaining the sex ed that adolescents need for
knowing their choices and making the right decisions for themselves and that
all adults can benefit from. Wired News recently posted an article on this very phenomenon. The information superhighway is definitely reaching far into the recesses of sex, and it's managing to fill the gaps that formal and offline education have left. Regina Lynn writes of the "Swelling Demand for Sex Ed Online" and cites sex educator Jamye Waxman as one of the forerunners heading the movement to meet that demand.
And why should you know Jamye Waxman's name if you don't already? Because she writes the sex ed column for Playgirl magazine. Yep, I can confirm there's some very good stuff in there. Jamye's column impresses me with each new issue because she's very straightforward, unlike some women writing as "sexperts" or even relationship gurus who still insist on sugar coating all those fine and sticky lines involved in the interaction and intimacy of two different people. Jamye spells them out, talks bluntly about them, and can tell a woman just why she shouldn't be afraid of anal sex. As Regina points out, "Online, you not only discover that you're no weirder than anyone else, you get the chance to talk to people who share your questions, concerns and desires." Jamye's experience in leading sex-themed workshops has revealed just how large a role the internet plays in human sexuality today. "More and more, the internet is coming up in class discussions as a source of information, a place to meet like-minded people and a safe forum for sexual discourse of any kind. And if the questions Waxman gets for her advice column are any indication, people are welcoming the internet into their sex lives in a big way... Often, she compliments her answers with suggested websites for more in-depth research... Online, you not only discover that you're no weirder than anyone else, you get the chance to talk to people who share your questions, concerns and desires." Regina continues: "It's nice to know that despite the Bush administration's heavy-handed attempts to keep accurate sexual information away from teenagers and to control the kind of sexual content that adults can produce or consume, individuals are taking their sex lives into their own hands. (And mouths. And ... well, you get the idea.) It wasn't always like this. Waxman credits Bill Clinton with promoting a certain openness toward sexual discussion in the years when AOL and the web brought the internet into the mainstream.
'The internet has changed how we view sex, but also having a president who shoved a cigar up his intern's pussy helped people overcome some of their fears," [Jamye] says, laughing. 'We're all of us sexual creatures.'" We're all a part of this ongoing demand for more and greater quality sex education and information. The internet enables us to share with more people than we can offline, to teach, exchange, learn, and realize in ways we can't any other way. And that is the honest and comprehensive approach to sex education that we so desperately need. I'm a part of it, and you can be too. The world benefits from learning each of our perspectives and hearing our own stories. Don't be afraid to share yours and give that much needed support to those who aren't able to voice their own needs and desires. Everyone is always looking for answers in our changing lives and needs. And someone else always has the answer. The internet serves to bridge the gap and connect the two. With an increasing army of open individuals, honest bloggers, bold writers, and experienced sex professionals teaching the realities of sex, we can help to ensure everyone's given the opportunity to live happier, healthier, and more fulfilling sexual lives.
Check out Jamye Waxman's site and blog.
3.23 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."
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