I recently completed my certification to be a Certified Sexuality Educator. I have had some people give me weird looks when I say this and so I thought it was worth a discussion. Firstly, when I talk about teaching Sex Ed I am not simply talking about anatomy. While that is a big part of a complete Sex Ed program it is only the tip of the iceberg. Sexual education also includes instruction on:
- Developing healthy relationships
- Setting boundaries
- Advocating for yourself
- Getting consent
- Communication skills
- Conflict resolution
- Dealing with rejection
- How to respond to sexually explicit material
- Sexual Development
- How hormones impact behaviors
- Concepts of public/private
- Hygiene skills
- Gender identify/sexual identify
And that is not an inclusive list. What you should know about a Certified Sexuality Educator is that it is a credential through an accredited organization. I had to demonstrate competencies in a variety of areas before I could even quality for the certification.
One of the biggest things I learned in my program is that everyone has different values, especially around love/romance/sex. My values are not the same as your values and will not try to push my values onto you. If you want services from me, it revolves entirely around your personal goals and values.
To read the whole article by Rebekah Rollston click here: https://info.primarycare.hms.harvard.edu/review/sex-ed-isnt-about-sex