Tuesday, August 26, 2008
A Great Story
I encourage you to go to one of our sister blogs and read the fun story about an experience at a campus outreach effort last weekend. Go to www.okvoiceofreason.blogspot.com.
Friday, August 8, 2008
The Public Needs It, Too
Sometimes I focus so much on providing accurate sexuality education and doing effective outreach that I forget there are people out there who don't understand the need.
Today, a volunteer came to the office to help label and package a case of new female condoms. After a couple hours of handling hundreds of female condom packages, her boyfriend called on her cell phone. She told him what she was doing. His response? That giving that stuff (condoms)just pushes kids into having more sex.
When she shared this with me, I regretted that he was not here in person. I would let him know that all research shows better access to condoms leads to more condom use, but it does not lead to more sex. (In fact, some studies have shown a decrease in sex when condoms are free and easy to get.) Even if it did lead to more sex, why is that such a bad thing? Is it really any of our business, as long as it is consensual, informed, and safer?
I would let him know that people of all ages benefit from free condoms, not just young kids. The most hospitable response I get toward female condoms is from single moms in their late twenties or older. The sexually active of those women say they are tired of conflicts concerning male condom use and are interested in something they have control over.
I would say that some of the most difficult behaviors to change or control are risky sexual behaviors. Denying access to condoms, or putting up barriers to condom use, doesn't keep people from having sex anyway.
And finally, I would thank him for reminding me that we can't lose sight of the fact that there's still a lot of educating to do so that more people understand the necessity of GETTING R.E.A.L.
If there's a next time I'll get his phone number so the learning can begin....
Today, a volunteer came to the office to help label and package a case of new female condoms. After a couple hours of handling hundreds of female condom packages, her boyfriend called on her cell phone. She told him what she was doing. His response? That giving that stuff (condoms)just pushes kids into having more sex.
When she shared this with me, I regretted that he was not here in person. I would let him know that all research shows better access to condoms leads to more condom use, but it does not lead to more sex. (In fact, some studies have shown a decrease in sex when condoms are free and easy to get.) Even if it did lead to more sex, why is that such a bad thing? Is it really any of our business, as long as it is consensual, informed, and safer?
I would let him know that people of all ages benefit from free condoms, not just young kids. The most hospitable response I get toward female condoms is from single moms in their late twenties or older. The sexually active of those women say they are tired of conflicts concerning male condom use and are interested in something they have control over.
I would say that some of the most difficult behaviors to change or control are risky sexual behaviors. Denying access to condoms, or putting up barriers to condom use, doesn't keep people from having sex anyway.
And finally, I would thank him for reminding me that we can't lose sight of the fact that there's still a lot of educating to do so that more people understand the necessity of GETTING R.E.A.L.
If there's a next time I'll get his phone number so the learning can begin....
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