ATTENTION!!!!! EDUCSXPTNS IS NOW A WEBSITE!!!!!!

Hello friends!!!

Educationsexpectations is now a WEBSITE!!! HOOOORAAAHHH!!!

Please go HERE where all your education sexpectations will be met!

Once Upon a Condom: A contraceptive’s tale

So I read this article on social change and the sexual revolution and discovered SO much about the origin of contraceptives. I have decided to write this in the form of a fairytale… as we all know condoms are like enchanted fairies in that they protect us and bestow majesty onto our lives.

Ahem: Once upon a condom…

Once upon a time, in 1900 to be exact, premarital sex was frowned upon. If one was to frolic in the bed with another, approximately “71% of females would have gotten pregnant (had they engaged in sex for a year at normal frequencies)” (Greenwood & Guner, 2010, p. 905). Good Lord, the townsfolk said. Let us change this so that by 2002, these odds will drop to 28%.

Thus, the “contraception revolution” began!

Once upon a condom, venereal diseases were the main concern in regards to premarital, unprotected sex (Beck & Earl, 2003; Greenwood & Guner, 2010). Back in the day, condoms were used for STI purposes rather than for pregnancy. HOWEVER, condoms were damn pricey in the 1900’s being around “$34 a dozen relative to today’s real wages” (Greenwood & Guner, 2010, p. p. 905). JESUS a townswoman screamed. I KNOW another townsperson shrieked, agog at this craziness. Bitch please.

In the 1930’s, a miracle occurred: this miracle was named the latex condom.

This miracle greatly reduced cost and greatly increased quality. Hmmm… BIRTH CONTROL, WHAT A GOOD IDEA!!!!

All of a sudden, other methods of birth control started POURING out of the sky!!!

In 1960, “The Food and Drug Administration approved the use of [the pill], which was a remarkable scientific achievement involving the synthesis of a hormone designed to fool the reproductive system” (Greenwood & Guner, 2010, p. 906). BWAHAHAHAHA reproductive system, screamed the pill. You just got PUNKED!!

The townspeople, and the rest of the world, soon discovered the power of knowledge and how knowledge about reproduction and contraception is super important and VITAL in safe sexual practices and sexuality in general.

In 1914, the modern birth control movement began with a badass named Margaret Sanger who published a pamphlet on birth control and opened the first birth control clinic in 1919 (the first operational birth control clinic was in 1923). Sanger promoted birth control even though the police got super pissed at her for being all liberal and prosecuted her for her awesome innovation. Assholes.

The birth control movement was HUGE, making information about contraception incredibly available and easily accessible. Eventually, the condom became super popular and now it is the most popular method of birth control; its use actually increasing over time!! The role of the condom in safe sex SIGNIFICANTLY impacted pregnancy rates, “declining pregnancies among teenagers during the 1990’s” (Greenwood & Guner, 2010, p. 906).

The increase in condom usage was ALSO influenced by formal reproductive health education!!!!!! Claps. GOOD JOB CONDOM!! Way to educate people. I’m so proud of you. Sex ed continued to expand during the 1990s into the beauty it is today. It continues to expand. EXPAND MORE!!!!

So the moral of the story is condom failure rates have declined from 45-14.5% due to technological advancements and increased knowledge about its appropriate use (Greenwood & Guner, 2010). Also, the pill rose to become the most effective form of contraception when it was introduced in the 1960’s, showing the importance of education.

Together, condom and pill are a power team of unbeatable awesomeness…aka neither of them are 100% effective, but the reliability has increased with awareness and innovation.

Well done team safe sex.

Fin.

References:

* Greenwood, J. & Guner, N. (2010, November). Social change: The sexual revolution. International Economic Review, 51(4): 893-923.

Key issues in secondary education (2003). In Beck J., Earl M. (Eds.), (2^nd ed.). London: Continuum.

*Math and sex ed? Love it. For the quantitative in you!! Most of my information came from this source. Thanks fellow sexual health promoters!

Stay safe, with condoms

Kids, sex, sex, kids.

So I'm writing my thesis and I keep coming across the same preachings:
Talk to us about sex!!!
We speak, we listen, we hear, we know, we see, we deserve!!!

People of the internet, I just don't get it. For why?!?! For why people are dismissing sex education to youth?!?!

Dear parents,
You know how your daughter went to that sleepover? You think she's watching Snow White?! Bitch please. *
You know how your son likes to take long showers? You think he's washing behind his ears?! Twice?!?! Bitch please.

You know condoms? You think kids think they are balloons?! Bitch please.

You know puberty? You think it's a synonym for anatomy?! Bitch please.

You know how school is JUST what they [teachers] teach and not what happens anywhere else?! It isn't! Bitch please.

You know how ignorance is bliss?! Bitch please.

Knowledge saves lives!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Educate youth. Educate them now. EDUCATE DAMN IT!!!!

Educate, and then celebrate, with chocolate cake, (and a condom).


Stay safe, sexually speaking

*I'm not suggesting that she is watching porn, but possibly something rated PG13, 14A? Restricted even? Sexually explicit material? Your ass knows it.

I am the best option!!! Options for Sexual Health news

The greatest thing to ever happen ever has JUST happened. I just received a phone call from the president of OPT saying:

"Congratulations Sarah, you have been awarded the title of Options for Sexual Health volunteer of the YEAR!"

CHEERING!!!!!!!!!!

WICKEDDDD!!!! So on Saturday, October 22nd, there will be an annual general meeting and an awards ceremony where I will be praised for my efforts and additions to sexual health education!

DREAM ACHIEVED!!!!!!

I'm SUPER psyched and honoured to be awarded this delicious award; however, buses and prices pending, I may or may not go...
I will get the certificate regardless, but I am unsure of my status next weekend...

Nevertheless, WICKED, no?!??!!

Stay tuned for a picture of my certificate, condom demonstrations, and some details about how OPT's community events have been going in the town I currently reside.

SO EXCITED!!!!

Stay tuned, sexually speaking
--Sarah Award-worthy Bryant

The MEDIA and its all-consuming, disturbingly influential power

Teen Mom: A popular show on MTV that I frequently watch for entertainment and research purposes.
Jersey Shore: A popular show on MTV that I am ashamed to say I frequently watch… for entertainment and “what not to do” purposes. 





When I first caught an episode of Teen Mom (the second season), I was on the fence as to whether it a) glorified teenage motherhood by putting ill-informed decision making on television and essentially making parenting look easier than it is, or b) depicted the reality of the challenges and struggles of growing up as a kid raising a kid. I was leaning more towards (a) at the beginning of my watching, but now that I have seen a season and a half, and watched the episodes with Dr. Drew and the “16 and Pregnant” series, I do believe that shows like Teen Mom could be seen as multimedia presentations of sexual health education.

Here’s the thing that bugs me about it:

On the show, the girls say things like “well, at least my child loves me”, etc. Having a baby is not a good way to have love in your life. First of all, don’t you love yourself? Second of all, if you want something that loves you, get a dog. Dogs love everyone! If you don’t think you can handle a dog, get a fish.













Here’s the thing that I like about it:

The show’s cast is a group of girls who all fall under similar categories: They misused birth control, they are struggling to complete and pay for college, they have lacking or unhealthy relationships with the fathers of their children, and they are essentially stressed out. I mean, we all get stressed, but imagine being 17 or 18 years old and stressing about yourself, your finances, your education, AND your child and all the business that is involved with him/her! I admire women who can raise children at a young age, but we should not be advocating for this. None of these teen mothers have said (at least not in the episodes I have seen), “oh I planned to have this child at 16 years old”. I couldn’t imagine it, to be honest. As much as I love babies for very short periods of time when they aren’t screaming, hellllll no. At 18 years old, I could barely take care of myself! Quite some time has passed and I feel the same way!!
On Teen Mom, there is also a couple who gave their child up for adoption. When comparing this teen mother to the ones that opted to keep their children, one can see that there are options that can positively influence your life, such as adoption.

So Teen Mom is an interesting show that talks about teen pregnancy and the realities of raising a child as a young adolescent. At the end of each episode, a website is shown that gives facts and tips on how to be in control of your sex life: www.itsyoursexlife.org! <3 Also, while I’m praising websites, let me throw down my favourite www.sexualityandu.ca ! Both websites are great and I strongly encourage you to go here, regardless of who you are. YOU are a sexual being; therefore, YOU need to know how to control your sex life!

Here’s the thing that bugs me more:

MTV, I love you. You are good for a laugh and you play some stupid shows that I just can’t get enough of. You do, however, play a show that goes out of its way to show me everything I shouldn’t teach someone about sexual health education. How do you do this? With an eccentric gem of a show called Jersey Shore. Despite the fact that I watch this show, I follow the complete opposite of what they preach (guys: sleep with everything that moves; girls: drink a lot and put out). The reason I think it is okay for ME to watch this show is because I am an adult who is educated and aware of her sexual rights and responsibilities. Younger individuals, however, are heavily influenced by the media, and so when I hear that a 13 year old watches Jersey Shore, I cry tears of blood and fear.

SOLUTION:
Do I think MTV needs to get rid of Jersey Shore? Not necessarily. I like my mindless television programming. What I do think needs to be done about Jersey Shore is to give it a rating of at LEAST 14A. 18+ even.
There is way too much careless drinking and sexing on this show to make it okay for children to be influenced by it.
I just hope they use condoms.


ANOTHER SOLUTION:

Here’s a better idea. How about the cast of Jersey Shore advocates for LifeStyle condoms? Every person in the world would use a condom if players like the guys on Jersey Shore used them! I think all celebrities should advocate for birth control. You bitches have so much power; use it wisely! Much like charity fundraising and the like, MTV stars should advocate for birth control and not drinking and driving. That’s ONE thing Jersey Shore does right: I never see them drink and drive. They always hop in a cab. Thanks friends.





Arrive alive,
don’t drink and drive!!



So Teen Mom is awesome for educating about birth control by promoting www.itsyoursexlife.org at the end of the show, and Jersey Shore is not so awesome because of sexualized gender stereotyping that COULD negatively influence our youth.

Sarah’s words of wisdom: The things you see on television are meant to entertain you. Don’t let the media guide all of your decisions, especially if they revolve around sex. Let educated sources and credible experts help you make your own. Also, use condoms. And spermicide.

Menstruation is still a sensation!

The Museum of Menstruation and Women's Health is a website about the history of menstruation and focuses on topics surrounding women's health and positivity in the inevitable experiences in a woman's life.

I am on the Museum of Menstruation and Women’s Health website!!!

I recently submitted my article about the beauty of periods to a website that embraces menstruation. The website editor evidently enjoys my writing and published me on the site!
My name will be known!!! There is also a link to my blog at the bottom of my essay. Brill. Thanks dude. I appreciate the publication.


Summary: Periods are inevitable. Enjoy them.

The purpose of my article is to address growth and development in a sex positive way. My thesis encourages advocating the positivity of sexuality, so I thought this was relevant. Also, I can’t get enough of the period. .___. I mean...



Stay safe, sexually speaking.
--Sarah Always ultra pads Bryant

Masturbation: The MASTER(s thesis) of self-love

Greetings friends. So I recently made a pretty solid decision that after I preach the wonders of sex-positive comprehensive sexual health education via my Masters of Arts in Education thesis, I would like to continue my changing the world at the hand of research and try for a Masters in Sexuality Studies at San Fran State University! I looked up the program, and it's like looking in a mirror.

Anyway, I was pondering what to focus on, and the only logical conclusion I could draw was to focus on autonomous sex and safe sexual practices. Aka, masturbation and its glory.
So is it just me, or is this not a perfect cover letter to send to SFSU? *see below for the majesty*

Dear SFSU,
I am a current graduate student at UBC Okanagan. Please allow me to come to your school and sit in the library happily researching the happiness of safe sex. Here is a snippet of my passion:

WHY is masturbation frowned upon? WHY! WHYYYYY!?!?!?!?! WHHYYYYY?!?!?!

Amidst my glorious research on the taboos and challenges within sexual health education, I have drafted a series of questions that I, as I am sure you also, ponder.

If masturbation is a safe sexual practice that poses no threat to the individual (threat in this case being unwanted pregnancy or an STI), then why is it something that schools are so afraid to teach?

If masturbation is a healthy way to explore one’s body, then why is it seen as shameful?

If men are wasting their seed, what are women doing that is ‘wrong’?

Shouldn’t everyone have the right to touch his/her own body?

What’s so ‘bad’ about masturbation?

What’s so bad about teaching, informing, and exploring issues surrounding autonomous safe sex (masturbation, cybersex, fantasy)?

In short, masturbation is fantastic. You want kids to avoid STIs and unwanted pregnancy? Encourage, embrace, educate about, and enjoy MASTURBATION!