Workshop on Sexuality Education

by Lydia Pelot-Hobbs and Betty Jeanne Rueters-Ward
Originally published in Synapse, available at www.uua.org/yruu

Time Needed: 1½ to 2 hours, plus preparation time – lead it at a youth group meeting!

Note: Before you start this workshop, let participants know they will be asked to reflect on and share messages they've received about sex and sexuality throughout their lifetime. It is very important to give folks with different comfort levels options: Encourage them to say "pass" for any question they don't want to answer, or to reflect privately rather than discussing with others if they so choose. If possible, prepare an alternate activity for people who would like to opt out of the workshop altogether. Also, make sure at least one or two adults (youth advisors, etc.) know what will happen in the workshop so that they can help handle any issues that may come up. Now get to it!

Preparation work for the workshop:

1. Get supplies: paper, pens, butcher paper, markers, tape, Sex Ed quiz questions.
2. Set up chairs for the "Pinwheel Activity."
3. Identify a scribe who will write notes on the butcher paper.
4. Gather resources (books, Web sites, organizations, etc.) for participants to do follow-up work.

Introductions (10 minutes)
Purpose: For participants and workshop leaders to get to know each other, if they don't already. Any quick get-to-know-you activity will do, or you can use one of these activities from the Youth Office publication Deep Fun .

"Syllable"
Have each member of the group clap out a beat corresponding to the number of syllables in their first name. Niall claps once. Linda claps two times. Then have people with the same number of syllables in their names find each other without speaking, by walking around the room clapping out their names. Once the group is divided into subgroups, have them introduce themselves to each other and then to the rest of the group. Variation: Shake hands in a rhythm corresponding to the number of syllables in your name.

"Hog Call"
Have the group split up into pairs and come up with a matching set of words or sounds (i.e., "hic-cup," "peanut-butter," or "honey-bee"). Have each person choose one of the words as their own. Then have each person announce their word to the group, so that there are no repeats. Then instruct the group to close their eyes and start milling around the space with the goal of getting as far away from their partner as possible. Once the pairs are well-separated, announce that they are to find their partners without opening their eyes, by shouting their word. (If all goes well, peanut will meet up with butter.)

Reading (15 minutes)
Purpose: To provide reflection time for the group to begin to think about sexuality and education.
Read: A Call to Action: An Argument for Comprehensive Sexuality Education by Sarah Gibb. Ask participants to reflect silently on the following questions (give them paper/pens to write down or draw thoughts if they'd like):

• What struck you most about this article?
• This article was written over 10 years ago. What has or has not changed since then?
• Do you agree with this argument for comprehensive sexuality education? Why or why not?

Pinwheel Activity (25-30 minutes, plus 10-15 minutes for discussion)

Purpose: For participants to share and reflect on their own experiences, opinions, and understandings of sexuality education. This activity, which can be done in a number of settings, came to us through the Anti-Racism Trainer-Organizer Program.

Set up two concentric circles of chairs, with one chair for each participant*. Have participants sit in pairs facing each other (the inside circle faces out, the outside circle faces in). Let the participants know that you are about to ask them several questions about their experiences, opinions, and understandings of sexuality education. Tell them there are no right or wrong answers.

The facilitator will ask the questions one at a time and is responsible for keeping track of time. After a question is asked, the person in the outside circle will have 2 minutes to respond to the question. (Facilitator yells "Switch!") Then, the person in the inside circle will have 2 minutes to respond. (Facilitator yells "Discuss!") Then, both will have 1 minute to discuss the topic together.

After you're done with the first question, participants in the inside circle will remain seated, while participants in the outside circle will move one chair clockwise. Continue the activity until all questions have been asked and responded to. (Participants will get to be a part of 5 different pairs.)

Questions to Ask:

• What has your education (public school, private school, home schooling, unschooling, etc.) taught you about sex and sexuality?
• What has your family (however you define it – parents, guardians, relatives, people you live with, etc.) taught you about sex and sexuality?
• What has your religion/church taught you about sex and sexuality?
• What have your peers (friends, classmates, people your age) taught you about sexuality?
• What is one of the most important things you've learned about sex and sexuality?

Discussion: Invite participants to form a big circle and discuss the following questions as a big group (remember to draw out quieter voices in the discussion – be aware of people who are speaking a lot, etc.). Ask participants not to name names or share specific stories, but talk about general themes, commonalities, etc.

• What were some of the things you had in common with folks you talked to?
• Where did you get the strongest/most intentional messages about sex and sexuality: education/school, family, religion/church, friends?
• What are other ways you received messages about sex and sexuality (i.e., television, movies, Internet, books)? What were those messages?
• At what age do you remember first being aware of messages you were receiving about sex and sexuality?

*Note: If you don't have enough room to use chairs for this activity, you could ask participants to stand, but it's best to be inclusive of differently-abled people who may find standing difficult. Have at least a few chairs available for those that may need them.

Taking the Test (20 minutes)
Purpose: To identify what participants know and don't know about trends in sexuality education.

Give participants 5 minutes to guess the answers to a variety of fact-based questions on sexuality education. Tell them their results will not be collected or shared with others; this is merely a tool to get them thinking.

Once participants have completed the test, announce the answers to each question and write them up on butcher paper. Be sure to list the source of the information you found. Ask participants, "Is there anything about this answer that surprised you? Why?"

Making an Action Plan (20-30 minutes)
Purpose: To empower participants to think further about their thoughts on sexuality education and how to advocate for better resources and information in their communities.

Break participants up into small groups of 4-5 people. Have them brainstorm for 8-10 minutes on what their ideal sexuality education program/resources would be like. For another 8-10minutes, have them brainstorm plans/actions to get these ideals implemented. Then come back together as a large group and have each group report back the plans/actions they made for implementing change in their communities.

Evaluations (5 minutes)
Purpose: To find out what parts of the workshop participants found useful or could use more work so future workshops can be better.

Draw two columns on a piece of butcher paper, one column for positives and one column for deltas (things that could change). Ask participants for feedback and write the positive and delta feedback in their respective columns.