Certified sex educator, Gigi Engle, teamed up with Vivastreet to answer your questions on sex education. From the benefits of sex ed to addressing misconceptions about sexual health, Gigi has it all.

This is part 1 of a 2 part series.

What are the benefits of sex education for people?

This is a great question – and one that is difficult to answer only because of the sheer number of benefits that exist. Good sex education is paramount to our understanding of ourselves, our feelings of personal autonomy, to creating strong and long-lasting partnerships, and general well-being. If this feels vague and far-reaching, that’s because it kind of is. Sex education has the power to infiltrate nearly every facet of our lives. Its importance can’t be understated.

But let’s attempt to break some of this down into digestible bites. Namely, that good sex ed: Decreases shame while increasing autonomy, improves self-understanding, and allows us to create strong sexual values.

Understanding sex – which includes what it is, what it isn’t, that it’s natural, that there are ways to have it safely, that being queer is normal, that sex is enjoyable and pleasurable – allows people to make informed, educated choices about their sexuality. When we increase information around sex, we decrease shame around sex. Shame inflicts a ton of damage on our sense of self, so we should aim to reduce it as much as possible.

When we don’t have good sex ed, we aren’t equipped to make good sexual health choices. This means that STIs spread and there are more unplanned pregnancies. Studies consistently show that when teens and young people are equipped with comprehensive sex ed, STI and teen pregnancy rates drop. It has even been shown to delay young people’s first sexual experiences. This is contrary to what Christian fundamentalists want us to think, but it is the truth.

What’s more, good sex ed helps us form strong sexual values. Your sexual values are linked to your personal feelings about what is acceptable and desirable behaviour. We can’t even begin to suss out what our values are if we don’t have sex ed. How can you know what is important to you sexually if you don’t know anything about sex? Each person is unique. We are not a one-size-fits-all bunch. We all want and need different things from sex. Creating sexual values can help people to develop a roadmap for making decisions about their sexual health and well-being in ways that work for them.

Good sex education aims to rid us of fear-based narratives and begins to focus on our autonomy and sexual pleasure. This education covers everything from exploring consent, masturbation, communicating with partners, how to advocate for your desires and needs, and how to understand and communicate your boundaries. These are all vital in being a sexually healthy and happy human being. Sexual values are vital in enjoying our lives to the fullest extent. Sex is a normal part of human life and should be treated as such.

Through good sex ed, we can create a better, more understanding, more loving world. It may sound like I’m exaggerating, but this is something I truly believe. The misinformation (or lack of information) around sex is dangerous and causes damage. A lack of comprehensive, pleasure-inclusive, sex ed damages society as a whole. It’s time to give comprehensive sex ed the space it deserves. It has immense value to everyone. It is a source of power and self-actualization.