This week, The Washington Post profiled the findings of a survey performed by D.C.’s Young Sexual Health Project, saying students were not satisfied with the sex education being received in D.C. schools. Of the students that were surveyed, it seemed most students (predominantly female) were reporting their discomfort communicating their questions or problems to school nurses and health educators in the building, and were not pleased with the brand of condoms being distributed.

(While this is certainly a brief summary of the story, there is much to be said.)

In my analysis of this subject, per usual, the paradoxes are overwhelming my thought process.

On one hand…
My initial reaction is something along the lines of: “Wow, what spoiled brats!” When there are still youth all over the country falling victim to abstinence-only education, with no opportunities or resources revolving around contraception and protection once they, inevitably, begin having sex, it feels just a little snobby to be so picky about who’s giving out the information, or what brand of condoms we are so lucky to have provided in the first place.

Until something is totally and equally accessible by all people, those who have access to whatever this may be are in a privileged demographic. While it’s true that this thing (in this situation, comprehensive sex education) should be a right that is had by all, this is still not the case in our country, and many countries throughout the world. It is also true that many privileged groups tend to ignore, or forget, or remain oblivious to their privilege and the work that was done in order for them to receive it. This may be an example of a group of privileged individuals remaining oblivious, and not realizing just how lucky they are to have that comprehensive sex education in the first place.

On the other hand…
While the students in a sex education classroom are youth, the people in charge of sex education are not. Sex education curriculums, policy, and even condom purchasing are all done by adults, and let’s face it, adults have a tendency to get a little behind on the times. Shouldn’t students have a say in what information and resources they receive in their classroom? Shouldn’t their opinions be heard about something that is ultimately going to be affecting them the most strongly?

Comments from the students surveyed said that the condoms their school was providing were “lame”, and didn’t prove to be as reliable as other brands. Students had experienced these condoms breaking and popping more often than other brands they had used. Well, if several students are reporting similar experiences with this brand, shouldn’t this be acknowledged?



Plus, let’s face it, I don’t know many people that would say they’re totally comfortable with the idea of unloading their sexual past, present, and future on to their school nurse. Generally speaking, school nurses hold a similar rank (in the bureaucracy that is traditional education) to teachers, staff, and other administrators. Because of the hierarchy that is created between staff and student, it is made incredibly difficult to build a line of genuine communication between the two, especially about issues as intimate and persynal as sex. Herein lies the beauty of peer education! Peer educators (like the fabulous peer educators at Advocates for Youth’s own YouthResource and MySistahs!) are equipped with the facts and the strategies to answer questions and provide useful resources to youth with issues all the way from coming out to partner communication to contraception options, all the while keeping things casual and comfortable. Without the additional stress of hierarchy, all that’s left to worry about is finding the right persyn to answer your question.

Thoughts?