Audience Comprehension

The rapid spread of sexual-related issues such as teenage pregnancy and sexual-transmitted diseases have increased the urgency of implementing preventive methods such as sex education. It is important not to delay providing information to young people. Although one must consider the physical, emotional, and intellectual development of young people, effective sex education must start before teenagers have developed established patterns of behavior. The problem arises: How to talk about sex issues to teenagers?

Scenario:

The school psychologist prepares a two-day sex-education seminar for high school students.

Audience:

Teenager students between the ages of 15-17.

Expertise and points of view:

Teenagers usually acquire basic knowledge about sex-related issues from informal conversations with parents and friends, as well as from the media. Also, normally schools include in their curriculums a small discussion about sex education as part of a general course, such as a biology class. Frequently, teenagers are familiar with certain sex-related topics such us the physiological differences between men and women, the reproductive system, birth control methods, abortion, and sexual transmitted diseases.

Teenagers can be confused about sex and their sexuality because they are continuously exposed to a wide range of attitudes and beliefs in relation to this topic. They are constantly receiving different, usually contradictory, messages regarding sex. They may receive messages that emphasize the risks and dangers associated with sexual activity and, simultaneously, they may be exposed to some media coverage that promotes the idea that being sexually active makes a person more attractive.

Teenagers between the ages of 15-17 are usually less ashamed of talking about sex-related issues because they have had more exposure to this type of information and they are more mature than younger teens. Teenagers are curious, therefore, they are often willing to talk and share their points of view about controversial issues, like abortion, sex before marriage, lesbian and gay issues and contraception and birth control.

Nonetheless, one must consider that this topic might make young people uncomfortable, which may cause reluctance to participate in the discussions, especially at the beginning.

Content:

It is important to cover education about all elements of sexuality, including information about both the physical (reproduction, fertilization, conception, development, substance-abuse consequences in fetal development, childbirth, birth control, and sexual transmitted diseases) and psychological (body image, sexual orientation, sexual pleasure, values, decision making, peer pressure, and communication) aspects of sex.

Since the seminar has to cover such a large amount of material, it is a good idea to divide the discussion in two parts: 1) The physical aspects of sex and 2) The psychological elements of sexuality.

Duration of presentation:

Young people tend to lose interest very fast. Even if the discussion can catch their attention for a while, they lose their concentration very fast. If they get bored, they will start interfering with the presentation by talking to their peers and making jokes. Therefore, each presentation should last a maximum of 1 to 2 hours (equal to the amount of time a regular school-class takes). It would be a good idea to start the seminar first thing in the morning when students are fresh and well-fed.

Type of language:

Teenagers are usually not acquainted with scientific names, terms, or definitions.