Sex education

{{sex}}{{expand}}{{update}}

{{cquote|And now that you know how it's done...<b>don't do it.</b>|||Troy McClure in a sex education video shown to Bart's class by instructor Edna Krabappel in <i>Bart's Friend Falls in Love</i>, the 23rd episode in Season 3 of <i>The Simpsons</i>.}} 

'''Sex education''' is the process of teaching someone about the basic functioning and [[Sexual intercourse|safe operation]] of the human reproductive system. Most [[West]]ernized countries have pretty good Sex Ed, but the [[George W. Bush|Bush administration]] didn't, because he liked "[[abstinence programs]]" because they were more [[moral]] and stuff. Eventually sex ed had finally become more comprehensive during the Obama administration.

Europe, especially the more developed parts of it, have government mandated sex education, and the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe was involved in writing the guidelines for sex education.<ref>World Health Organization. 20 October 2010. [http://www.euro.who.int/en/media-centre/sections/press-releases/2010/10/new-european-guidelines-on-sexuality-education-experts-say-sexuality-education-should-start-from-birth New European guidelines on sexuality education: experts say sexuality education should start from birth] Retrieved December 7, 2014.</ref> According to the WHO, it has been stressed that "[[sexuality]] education should start from a child’s birth". They emphasize the importance of comprehensive sex education to address issues including teen pregnancies, sexual violence, and sexually transmitted infections. [[Switzerland]] is notable for its acceptance and even encouragement of sexual behavior.<ref>Agnvall, E. May 16, 2006. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/15/AR2006051500809.html In Western Europe]. Retrieved December 7, 2014.</ref> The religious groups in those parts of Europe are also more tolerant, as the Catholic Church intervened little in Switzerland's AIDS prevention program. In France, teens are required to get 30 to 40 hours of comprehensive sex education, and there are even handouts of [[condom]]s. Of course, compared to the U.S., Europe has higher... wait, ''lower'' instances of teen pregnancies, and HIV (data is limited for sexually transmitted infections in Europe).<ref>[http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/publications/419-adolescent-sexual-health-in-europe-and-the-us Adolescent Sexual Health in Europe and the US] Retrieved December 7, 2014.</ref>

If you have the unfortunate case to live in the wrong country or if you're just curious, for a real sex education, consult a few or all of the following authors, all of whom have a great deal to say on the subject that doesn't call it dirty or [[porn]]ify it:

*Dr. Alex Comfort -- ''The Joy of Sex'', etc.  Opened a wide world to healthy, fun sexuality.
*Tracey Cox<ref>[http://www.traceycox.com/ http://www.traceycox.com/]</ref> -- Author of ''Hot Sex'' and ''Hot Relationships''.
*Betty Dodson<ref>[http://dodsonandross.com/ http://dodsonandross.com/]</ref> -- Author of ''Sex for One'' and promoter of [[masturbation]], both solo and mutual.  Now professionally partnered with Carlin Ross, a [[lawyer]] and [[feminist]] sex activist.
*Robie Harris<ref>[http://www.robieharris.com/ http://www.robieharris.com/]</ref> and Michael Emberley<ref>[http://www.michaelemberley.com/ http://www.michaelemberley.com/]</ref> -- Authors of a series of kid's books on sex and the body, including the wildly popular and controversial ''It's Perfectly Normal''.
*[[Laci Green]]<ref>[http://lacigreen.tv/ http://lacigreen.tv/]</ref> -- Online sex educator, creator and host of weekly Youtube show Sex+<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/user/lacigreen http://www.youtube.com/user/lacigreen]</ref> directed towards teens and young adults. The show focuses on topics such as body image, [[gender]], [[sexual orientation]] and [[sex-positivity]], with an informal approach. As of 2017, her material began to pander to the alt-right and she's dabbled in too much transphobia to be comfortable with, but most of her old videos are still relevant.
*Nina Hartley<ref>[http://www.nina.com/ http://www.nina.com/]</ref> -- Porn star, registered nurse<ref group=note>As if foreshadowing her future career, she graduated 
magna [[orgasm|cum loud]]
 ''magna cum laude'' from the [[San Francisco]] State University nursing program.  (Stop snickering!  That wasn't a joke!  No, really!  It's true!)</ref> and producer of sex instruction videos.
*Anne Hooper<ref>[http://www.annehooper.com/intro/intro.html http://www.annehooper.com/]</ref> -- Author of numerous glossy sex guides published by Dorling-Kindersley.
*Paul Joannides -- Author of ''The Guide To Getting It On'', an exhaustive doorstop of a book that should be required reading for anyone considering sexual activity.
*[[Dan Savage]] -- Author of the syndicated "Savage Love"<ref>http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/SavageLove - collected columns are also available as "books"</ref> sex advice column, [[liberal]] political activist (remember [[Santorum]]?) and alt-weekly newspaper editor.
*Annie Sprinkle<ref>http://anniesprinkle.org</ref> -- Former porn star and sex education researcher and advocate.
*Tristan Taormino<ref>http://puckerup.com</ref> -- Sex educator and feminist pornographer. Her "Sex Out Loud" radio show is available as a podcast on iTunes.
*Dr. Ruth Westheimer<ref>http://drruth.com/</ref> -- You've heard of Dr. Ruth. Everyone has heard of Dr. Ruth. ''Sex For Dummies'' is actually really good.
*Scarleteen.com<ref>http://www.scarleteen.com</ref> and Go Ask Alice<ref>http://goaskalice.columbia.edu</ref> - online sex-ed resources for teens/young adults.

These writers are all likely to give you a better perspective on sex than some Federally-mandated, quasi-religious "don't do it" program. Otherwise, look at this: 


<div class="center" style="width:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;">{{#ev:youtube|L0jQz6jqQS0}}</div>

==See also==
*[[Alfred Kinsey]]
*[[Birth control]]
*[[Abstinence programs]]

==External links==
*[http://www.cracked.com/article_21708_the-5-most-important-things-they-never-taught-you-in-sex-ed.html The 5 Most Important Things They Never Taught You in Sex Ed] - from ''[[Cracked]]'' (November 4, 2014)

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}
==References==
<center>'''''References may include "entertainment," "happy endings," "pr0n," or any other [[euphemism]] you like.'''''</center>
{{Reflist|2}}
__NOTOC__

[[Category:Education]]

Categories: Education