Charlene Cameron’s Post

What in the world is happening. . . This is NOT good for our children. "A 2007 study evaluating federally-funded abstinence-only education programs found that the teens who participated in the programs were no more likely to abstain from sex than students who did not participate. It also showed that among the teens who did have sex, the mean age when they became sexually active was the same between participants and non-participants. Other studies have found that states with abstinence-only sex education programs have higher rates of teen pregnancy, while comprehensive sex education — which is now banned in Florida — has been found to reduce instances of pregnancy, HIV, and other STDs in teens." https://lnkd.in/gRbRHqd5

Empowering Women through Comprehensive Sex Education Sex education is a vital component of overall health and well-being, yet it remains a topic often shrouded in stigma and misinformation. For females, in particular, understanding their bodies and their health can lead to empowered decision-making and a better quality of life. Key Points to Consider: Understanding Reproductive Health: Knowledge about menstrual cycles, contraception options, and reproductive rights is essential. It allows women to make informed choices about their health and family planning. Consent and Communication: Teaching the importance of consent and open communication in relationships fosters respect and mutual understanding. It's crucial for creating safe and healthy relationships. Preventive Health Measures: Regular gynecological check-ups, HPV vaccinations, and understanding the signs of common health issues can prevent more serious conditions. Early detection and prevention are key. Mental and Emotional Well-being: Sex education isn't just about physical health; it also encompasses mental and emotional aspects. Addressing topics like body image, self-esteem, and relationship dynamics contributes to overall well-being. Access to Resources: Providing information about where to find reliable health resources, support services, and professional advice ensures that women have the help they need when they need it. By fostering an environment where women feel comfortable seeking information and asking questions, we can help break down the barriers that prevent many from receiving the education and care they deserve. Let's work together to ensure that every woman has the knowledge and tools to live a healthy, empowered life. #SexEducation #WomensHealth #Empowerment #HealthEducation #LinkedInLearning

Today is GCSE results day and last week young people all over the UK received their A Level results. At Eve we're keen to see young people empowered to look after their reproductive health. The Department for Education issued new draft RHSE (Relationships, Health & Sex Education) guidelines in May this year (that's sex education for those not in the know!) and consultation on these closed in July. Our summary on the guidelines would be: there’s room for improvement. We’re looking to the Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities, to ensure the gynaecological health and cancer prevention is revised in four key areas: 1. Anatomy – starting from age 7 and the correct words for reproductive anatomy being part of this teaching. Knowing the right names and parts of your body stops embarrassment and will help young people talk about their bodies to a doctor in the future. 2. Menstrual health – making talking about periods normal is a must: that the most important thing for looking after your menstrual health throughout life is understanding what a ‘normal’ period is and getting rid of the stigma and taboo around talking about menstruation. Knowing what’s normal for you and understanding when something isn’t and you need to seek medical advice is vital. 3. HPV - understanding that HPV is a risk factor in cancer development, that it is a virus that can be largely prevented through vaccination and that affects everyone (boys and girls) is essential. 4. Banning topics and imposing strict age restrictions won’t make difficult subjects go away. Supporting teachers to deliver high quality sex education on health and reproductive health and ensuring that guidelines take into account the content that children may be accessing online and experiencing in their lives is vital. As a charity, our ambition is to prevent every single case of cancer that we can. This focus on prevention needs to start with high quality, evidence-based health and sex education. We would like to see the guidance revised to reflect the evidence that we have about long term investment in looking after gynaecological health. #SexEducation #GynaeHealth

What are some myths around adolescents' sexual and reproductive health? What is your opinion about these myths and their truths? 1. Myth: Adolescents don't need comprehensive sex education; abstinence-only education is sufficient. Truth: Comprehensive sex education is crucial for adolescents. It provides information on contraception, STIs, consent, and healthy relationships, empowering them to make informed choices. 2. Myth: Talking about sex with adolescents encourages them to become sexually active. Truth: Open and honest communication about sex actually helps adolescents make responsible choices and delay sexual activity. Lack of communication can lead to misinformation and risky behavior. 3. Myth: Contraception use leads to risky behavior. Truth: Contraception use is a responsible decision that can prevent unintended pregnancies and reduce the risk of STIs when used correctly and consistently. 4. Myth: Only females need to be responsible for contraception. Truth: Both males and females are responsible for contraception and preventing unintended pregnancies. Involving males in discussions about contraception and safe sex practices is important. 5. Myth: Emergency contraception (EC) causes abortion. Truth: EC prevents pregnancy by delaying ovulation or fertilization and is not the same as abortion. It is most effective when taken soon after unprotected intercourse. #sexualhealth #adolescentsexualhealth #mythsvstruth

COMPREHENSIVE SEXUAL EDUCATION . I just saw a Facebook video where a content creator posted a video of two same-sex minors who had naively engaged in sexual activities with other. As much as I felt really heartbroken about the negative influence that actually promoted the kids behavior, I still think the case would have been better handled rather than setting up a camera and forcefully interrogating these children. And the father,whom I’m sure has little knowledge of the effects this might have on his children watches with satisfaction as these minors were being threatened for confession. The peak of it is the Content Creator posting such a video online🤦♀️for viewers profits or what??? He even got a cane at a point just to frighten the children so that they can confess. Such a case could have been referred to a police station, an NGO or a rehabilitation center. Ignorance kills faster than anything. We are living in an era where different information flies around and it takes an high level of discernment to know what is right and wrong. But we really need to ensure that our children are safe! Teach them what is right from their early stages and they will not forget it easily. They are meant to be protected not to be exposed irrationally. More so,bringing this to social media can descourage other sexually abused victims from speaking out. No one wishes to spread his/her dirty linens publicly. I truly wish this case can be further looked into and those boys are well protected and corrected. Comprehensive Sex Education (CSE) is an educational approach that aims to provide young people with accurate, age-appropriate, and culturally relevant information about sexual and reproductive health, as well as the social and emotional aspects of Sexuality It is important for all ages and developmental stage of students,we owe them the right information always.! #detutuwrites #thegirlfromthesource Photo Credit:Google

Inclusive sex education IS a human right 👏 and folks, of all genders, sexualities, race & faith deserve access to RSHE that reflects & represents them. As a sex educator I can see why these individuals fall for scams like this - because they aren’t provided with the knowledge needed to challenge these scams, and if professionals are telling you something a you’re more likely going to believe them & trust them. And you should be able to trust your doctor - but it’s vital to have your own information & so your own resource. But how can you when these resources aren’t made available, or you don’t have internet access, or you don’t even know how to begin the conversation. These poor individuals who are being scammed by these pregnancy scams would be better protected if they have access to inclusive RSHE. Of course, inclusive RSHE isn’t the only answer - we need to fight for reproductive rights alongside providing young people with sex education that will give them the tools to protect themselves from scams like this. RSHE saves lives. This is proof.

🗞️ In the news: OnlyFans’ empty promises to protect children; the need for sex education to combat rising teen pregnancy; and the latest research on porn’s exceptional grip on the human brain. 🟦 Despite OnlyFans’ promises that their platform is well monitored and strictly adults-only, it is fraught with child sexual abuse material. Read the article from Reuters reviewing 30 complaints: https://buff.ly/3AtpBMG 🟦 Teen pregnancy is on the rise in the U.S., exacerbated by earlier puberty and limited access to contraception and sex education in the post-Roe era. The effects are particularly acute for racial minorities. Read more about the Dobbs-Era Policy in TIME: https://buff.ly/4dsfZAm 🟦 Newly published research shows that pornographic stimuli have a stronger reward response in the brain than either online gaming or money, demonstrating the extraordinary conditioning effects of pornography on the brain’s reward circuitry. Read more in PsyPost https://buff.ly/46NnnDS

The Department for Education issued new draft RHSE (sex ed) guidelines in May. Let’s be clear – RHSE (sex education as most people call it and remember it from their days at school) – is a safeguarding tool. Vital for healthy relationships with your own body and with others, and packed with vital knowledge about keeping yourself safe, protected and healthy. High-quality sex education improves safeguarding, helps children understand their bodies as they grow and makes sense of the multitude of issues that surround ‘sex’ – from consent, through to FGM, sexual violence and abuse and so much more. The current guidance that schools are using was issued in 2019, and time (as well as TikTok and Pornhub) have moved on in the last 5 years. A review of the current evidence-based guidance was needed to identify the gaps and misinformation that have grown since 2019. Misinformation around reproductive health has exploded online, and we know that children are exposed to it from a young age. Without similar bans on all online access to reproductive health education – it’s really hard to understand how children will be better protected to look after their gynaecological health. We know that even adults are confused by the information they find online. As a charity focusing on gynaecological health, we know that this proposed new guidance raises questions at best and could potentially embed harmful shame, stigma and misinformation at worst. Unfortunately, the draft guidance published last month doesn’t move body and reproductive health knowledge forward for children and young people in four key areas where Eve have expertise and experience- anatomy, menstrual health, HPV and FGM. What’s important is that sex and health education is ‘timely’ – which means children learning about something before they experience it (for example the onset of periods or their HPV vaccination) so they better understand it and feel less scared when it happens. Banning topics and upping age bands is not the answer. Developing guidance that supports schools, training teachers and taking an evidence-based approach is what’s needed to empower and protect children and young people – and, in the long term, keep them healthy. Read our thoughts in full on our blog: https://bit.ly/3yHdHOx #RSHE #Education #MenstrualHealth #HPV #EveAppeal #TheEveAppeal #SexEd #SexEducation

The American Academy of Pediatrics’ statement about “The Importnace of Access to Comprehensive Sex Education.” Notice they stress the importance of consent, healthy development, sexual identity, sexual responsibility, sexual pleasure, and sexual responsibility. Unfortuantely only 25 States are mandated to teach Sex Ed, 15 of which do not require sex education or HIV/STI instruction to be any of the following: age-appropriate, medically accurate, culturally responsive, or evidence-based/evidence-informed.To make things worse, NO ONE is teaching about the “50 billion shades of intimacy.” And we wonder why we have SO many issues around sexual violence and dysfunction in the U.S. If you want to learn more about the ‘what’ and ‘why’ I do the work I do, please check out my website, heartandsoulrecovery.org. The journey continues!

Period Positive Statement on today’s Relationships and Sex Education Draft Guidance: We are extremely proud to see that some aspects of the draft RSE guidance published today in England have met some of the Period Positive movement’s key campaign goals. The draft guidance instructs schools to use shame-free language such as menstrual products instead of ‘sanitary products’ or ‘feminine hygiene’. It now makes a clear connection between menstrual health-related conditions and empowering young people to seek medical support, something we practice in training sessions. It also makes a very strong link between education and product provision, something which has helped our young contributors become better advocates for themselves, which they have shared in consultation sessions with the Department for Education. And the menopause is still included, which was a big issue for us in our last consultation response in 2019. Our aims and their evidence have been incorporated, and we hope these points will remain in the final guidance publication. However, we are utterly heartbroken to see that this update does not acknowledge trans and non-binary young people - not in their experiences of menstruation, puberty, nor sexual health, and that it seems to go as far as stopping teachers from acknowledging their existence at all, when evidence from young people, young adults, sexual health and LGBTQIA+ charities, and best practice in many schools says otherwise. Banning the talk of anyone or anything perpetuates shame and stigma, and through our work on period taboos, we have seen the enormous harm this causes. We reject this approach in the strongest possible terms. We are also very concerned and disappointed to see age limits applied to topics crucial to menstrual literacy, which could leave young people confused and frightened. We have a lot more to say about this. And we will, because this is only a draft. Schools do not need to follow it - it is simply out for public consultation, and we know that ministers are listening. We are calling on our friends, colleagues, supporters, teachers, parents and pupils, Period Positive network partners - and those who wish to join our network - to respond to this RSE consultation both together and individually and speak up because they believe in and work within our shared values of shame-free inclusion and literacy through the Period Positive Pledge. Please reach out, sign up to our mailing list, and get in touch with evidence. We know that while the menstrual cycle is a foundational aspect of RSE, it's not the only aspect, and we also want to take this opportunity to refer you to our colleagues at Sex Education Forum and Brook who have produced wider statements and will be collecting evidence on the wider aspects of this draft. Tomorrow is #IDAHOBiT and next week is our annual #PeriodPositiveWeek in the run-up to #WorldMenstrualDay - we will be sharing more throughout this time and would be grateful for reposts.