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What One 18-Year-Old Really Thinks About Sex Education

(BlackDoctor.org) -- Have you ever had that conversation with your parents or an older person about sex? Don’t you hate it when they come up to you and they are just like we want you to be safe and make good decisions, but we also really want you to wait to have sex…? I feel that this is a huge problem today, because you know we are all out there having sex or are thinking about sex. I think that we as young people need to somehow make the older people with power aware that we are educated and that we can make good decisions. I think that we need to take more control of our sexual health situation and take the reins and go.

For example, when we are taught sex-ed in health class, it is usually covered quickly and brushed over and then we are moved onto another topic. In my opinion, the sex-ed part of the curriculum is the most important part of a health class. In my experience, many girls do not even know how to put on a condom correctly. I, for one, have taken it upon myself to educate others on how to use a condom correctly. One needs to take the condom out of its wrapper, inspect it, and then proceed to make sure the condom is right side up and slide it down the shaft of the penis leaving just enough space at the tip of the penis. Some common errors are: not inspecting the condom, and sliding the condom on without leaving any space at the tip of it.

I feel bad because a lot of us think that we are doing the right thing by using condoms, however, we are using them incorrectly. We should be taught how to put a condom on correctly in class. Being taught this will not promote intercourse. It will promote healthy individuals who are ready and prepared for the future when they decide that it’s their time to engage in sexual relations.

By Kathleen Adams, BlackDoctor.org Teen Health Writer

Kathleen Adams is an 18-year-old feminist, pro-choice advocate, leader/intern with Planned Parenthood, and national spokesperson for GLSEN.