Excellent sex educators are so important for reducing stigma around sexuality. We look in detail at this fascinating field.
Here at Hot Octopuss, we’re passionate about sex ed. We aim never to stop learning and having intelligent conversations about sex.
However, we believe that as a society we need a culture change in the way we talk about sexual behaviour – with less stigma, shame, and embarrassment around specific topics. For example, BDSM and kink are often misunderstood and, sadly, not part of basic sex education.
So, we need excellent sex educators to help us learn and challenge our thinking. Especially those who work outside of the mainstream areas – disability, sex in later life, LGBTQ+. The Edge is one resource, dedicated to the delicious pursuit of sex and wellness, and a platform for different voices. It’s shown us how diverse sex education is – definitely not one-size-fits-all! Let’s find out more about this fascinating field of study.
## What is a sex educator?
A sex educator helps others to learn about sexuality and challenges us to broaden our perceptions of what ‘sex’ is.
Our first role models around sex are usually our parents – how they communicate with each other, attitudes towards nudity, how they talk about their bodies – teaches us a lot that we take into our adult lives. As we get older, doctors, nurses, teachers at school, friends and later our sexual partners, also pass on messages and information about sex. Some of which helps, some of which perhaps doesn’t.
Sex education includes the topics of sexual health and wellness, reproductive anatomy, sexually transmitted infections, and practical sex tips and techniques. It also explores the psychological and emotional side of relationships – fantasies, desires, consent, and crucially, how to talk about sex. Challenging at any age! Being a sex educator can be as simple as a conversation with friends and family, it can involve running a sex blog in your spare time, or you can train to become a certified sex therapist to teach others professionally.
