Exploring understandings of sexual consent amongst Life Orientation student-teachers through intergroup dialogue

In this article, the author reports on how intergroup dialogue was used amongst Life Orientation (LO) student-teachers to deconstruct the heteropatriarchal notions of sexual consent, in the context of gender-based violence (GBV). Three sessions of intergroup dialogue were arranged between third-year student-teachers and female survivors of GBV from a local Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) in exploring the perceptions of sexual consent, to deepen their understanding regarding the concepts of shaming, blaming and silencing that perpetuate GBV in communities. Third-year LO student-teachers engaged in dialogue with four youth survivors of GBV from a local NPO who shared their experiences of GBV and sexual consent. The heteropatriarchal views to GBV held by student-teachers were disrupted through the dialogues between the two groups thus enabling a greater understanding of sexual consent and the role played by shaming, blaming and silencing of victims in perpetuating GBV. The findings highlighted that intergroup dialogue could be a useful tool in creating norm-critical and sex-positive schools and communities.

The Biopsychosocial Model and the Sex-Positive Approach: an Integrative Perspective for Sexology and General Health Care

Introduction The Biopsychosocial model (BPS) represents a comprehensive paradigm of consolidated practices. Although it has been outlined as the gold standard in sexology, its implementation is often challenging. The sex-positive approach is a ground-breaking movement that is gaining popularity all over and is focused on the recognition of different sexual expressions as valid, consensual, healthy, and meaningful. However, a pragmatic implementation of this approach is still missing. Methods A critical review was conducted based on bibliographic research on Medline, PubMed, EBSCO, Cochrane Library, Scopus and Web of Science on relevant articles published from January 2011 to July 2021. Results A total of 116 papers were included in the following review, indicating an increasing body of research about BPS and sex-positive frameworks during the last 10 years. One of the main limitations in the BPS is the scarce attention paid to socio-cultural factors involved in sexual expressions, such as the role of negative attitudes towards sexuality that may affect health care professionals’ work. An application of the sex-positive approach to the BPS model may bring greater attention to the needs, values and desires of the individual, as well as allow a new knowledge and understanding of sexuality within a broader spectrum, including diversities and pleasures. Conclusions The sex-positive approach represents a viable path that entails the willingness of health care professionals to get involved actively; criticize their personal attitudes, beliefs, and knowledge about sex and work hard to improve their practice in sexology. Policy Implications A discussion of the possible fruitful integration between the BPS and the sex-positive approach is presented, highlighting practical applications in research, clinical practice, training and sex education and giving possible directions for future studies and policies.

The Effects of Pornography on Youth

Historically, moral panics have often centered the possible impact of media on youth. It is not easy to disentangle the effects of sexual media in general from the effects of sexually explicit media on youth. However, this chapter argues that the bulk of the evidence on the influence of mainstream online pornography on youth suggests that there is, on average, a negative effect and that there may be particular reasons for concern in the absence of comprehensive sex education. The chapter provides statistical information on the prevalence of pornography use by youth, the age of first exposure, and sexting, as well as evidence-based information about risk factors for, and consequences of, use. The chapter argues that public health professionals need to safeguard underage youth from the potential harms of pornography while pushing back on nonscientific claims about its effects and promoting a sex-positive perspective on sex simultaneously.

Pain and pleasure in the birthing room: understanding the phenomenon of orgasmic birth

The significance of the physiological connection between sexuality and birth is widely overlooked and understated within maternity care. Despite some researchers acknowledging the possibility of orgasmic birth, most literature on the topic is anecdotal. Qualitative research surrounding women who report having ecstatic and orgasmic births demonstrates the positive effect engaging with the psychosexual elements of birth has on the maternal birthing experience. A private environment, careful choice of analgesia, sex-positive birth attendants and effective antenatal education are all suggested as key contributing factors towards its possibility. By recognising the sexual dimensions of birth, midwives are able to facilitate sensitive, empowering environments, encourage healthy sexual relationships and break down cultural stigma to increase the likelihood of pleasurable birth. The evidence highlights a need for the incorporation of the relationship between sexuality and birth into midwifery education, as well as within antenatal education for prospective parents.

Sexting can be sexy…if it's consensual: challenging victim blaming and heteronormativity in sext education

Young people's sexting is an area of concern amongst parents, policymakers, and educators.1 Much education around the topic of sexting focuses on risk and shame. My creative work, Sexting Scenes – what do you think?, is a film script intended as a sext education resource. It highlights the various reasons for and consequences of sexting, using an intersectional and sex-positive approach not rooted in risk or shame. I address issues of victim blaming and heteronormativity in sext education resources Tagged and Exposed. I utilise the theories of feminist scholars Amy Shields Dobson and Jessica Ringrose and applied theatre scholar Katherine Low. My previous placement at the School of Sexuality Education, my current PhD Practice-as-Research, and my experience as an applied theatre practitioner all informed the script content. The script incorporates multiple storylines, diverse characters, and reflective questions to challenge and question victim blaming and heteronormativity in relation to sexting. Keywords: sexting, sext education, victim blaming, heteronormativity, applied theatre

Sex-Positive Feminism’s Values in Search of the Law of Pleasure

In challenging traditional stereotypes of female sexualities centered on passivity, subordination, harm, and repronormativity, proponents of sex-positive feminism criticize legal feminism generally for undervaluing women’s pleasure, which they celebrate. Yet these proponents often struggle with charting a supportive and affirmative course for law and legal institutions, which have long fostered sex negativity. Part I of this article identifies sex positivity as a thread that runs through multiple feminisms and that offers a potential answer to criticisms and problems. Along the way, this part demonstrates the importance of power and power disparities in sex-positive feminism and of the role of gender. Part II turns to the place of law and legal institutions in sex-positive feminism, juxtaposing prevailing critiques of law’s sex negativity with promising opportunities for change. Part III continues on this note of optimism, consulting popular culture for possibilities to support a more fully developed sex-positive and feminist legal regime.