Question: why is it important to spend money on sex education videos

Dan Taylor answered on 4 Mar 2019:

Thanks for this fab question!
Unfortunately the sex education received in schools is very basic and often very focus on things like reproduction, which means that LGBT+ youth aren’t getting sex education that’s useful for them! At school I was taught about stopping pregnancy, but never about sexual transmitted infections or anything that may be more relevant to someone who isn’t straight, this can cause quite a few issues!
Also, information that can be found online can be quite inaccurate if the websites are not from reliable sources (like the NHS or a LBGT+/sexual health charity). This can be a problem especially when these sometimes bizzare facts get brought back into class, I remember countless bizarre rumours around school such as “You can’t get pregnant if you have sex in a swimming pool” or “If you are gay and have sex you get an STI by default”. Clearly these are ridiculous, but some people would believe them, which can be really damaging to people’s wellbeing.
Sex education in the UK is definitely improving, but can still be a little bit behind the times. Sexually explicit media (porn) can be found incredibly easily, and now with things like smartphones issues with young people sharing sexual images of themselves (either by choice or unfortunately through coercion), are becoming more prevalent. Alongside this, #metoo has brought sexual consent into the spotlight, and these issues aren’t being addressed in schools.
I hope that creating content that is based in good science allows young people to understand sex as more than just a way to reproduce, giving young people an insight into how sex may effect things like their identity or wellbeing. Helping young people to understand that their body is no one else’s business and that if someone is trying to make you do something you don’t want to then you absolutely do not have to! If they have an issue, it’s their problems not yours! Alongside this, helping young people to navigate things like porn which often creates unrealistic standards for both men and women in a way that doesn’t demonise it or glorify such things. Humans generally (but especially young people) are naturally curious, and they will seek out these things to try and make sense of their thoughts and feelings, but being able to view and understand these things with a critical eye means they can be used in a healthy way. Being able to highlight the spectrum of sexuality and the modern day issues affect young people is really important to help break down stigma and help them improve both their mental and physical health.
For many, sex becomes part of their everyday lives, so why shouldn’t young people be prepared for the ups and downs that may wait for them?