#Adult Sex Education

[harperenchantrix]

Hey, I have a live ADULT Sex Education Podcast that airs every Sunday night at 11 pm Eastern (GMT +4)!

On March 24th I talked about Astrology, Synchronicity, Cults, and Dangerous Thinking. Why would I talk about that stuff on a sex ed podcast? Easy, a lot of adults get into trouble by forgetting that we're ALL vulnerable to failures of rationality and are susceptible to wooly thinking that leads straight to high control groups that offer us certainty about the future.

There's a foray into astrophysics as I discuss retrograde motion and how eclipses happen, the age of astrological practices, the most likely use of Stonehenge, and then delve into how a deeply personal experience of a Synchronicity can develop into myth, folklore, spiritual practice, and religion over time. We explore cults, and how high control groups are not simply one end of the political/social/cultural spectrum, but can occur all along the entire range of human expression!

I finish up the hour by reminding us all that we're all vulnerable to the errors of rational thought that can lead to involvement in high control groups. The cure? To pause and check yourself from time to time to make sure that you are not fully deep throating the cultic cock. You gotta pull off and breathe some non-cult air from time to time, check with rational logic, and cross check your facts before you accidentally find yourself living in a commune and signing over your life savings.

NB: a belief in some weird ass fringe stuff is perfectly fine! I studied astrology intensely for 18 months (thank you, hyperfixation, that was very edifying), and I read tarot non-ironically! Just check from time to time that your beliefs aren't leading you into behavior that harms yourself or others. It's easier than you think to wind up with some Deeply Problematic Beliefs!

[jane-not-rizzoli]

Sometimes I think the only authentic and positive representations of autism are written by accident. In this essay I will…

[beth-march]

I’m sad about the way Maeve and Otis’s story ended, but I’m also deeply moved by it. In her goodbye letter, she admitted that knowing him opened her up to love, connection, possibility and self-worth, and she promised him not to close in on herself again. She said that he cracked her heart open, that she’ll always carry a part of him with her. Letting a love story be that - we changed each other for the better, you were so good to me, I love you, even if we can’t be together - is really beautiful.

[bisexual-slime]

call me an absolute ignoramus but the idea of adults watching tv shows that revolve around teenagers shagging is extremely weird and creepy. watch something else tf

[elderberries-and-honey]

Lawrence continued to wake long before the house began to stir, when the moon and sun hung simultaneously, vying for dominance in the sky. That was, if he managed to sleep at all.

He had moments in-between his darkened moods, mostly during the precious few moments that he actually got to spend with his family, that the clouds in his mind parted but for the most part, he remained unhappy. His wife noticed his exhaustion of course, worrying silently much of the time, trying to remind him to slow down every once in awhile. However they both understood it simply wasn't within in their means for Lawrence to not have to work so damn hard.

That didn't keep Winifred from trying to brighten up his days whenever they got lucky and their children remaining asleep a few extra hours in the morning. And that morning in particular, it seemed they had been blessed with good fortune.

"Good morning," She whispered, her voice velvety and almost melodic, a tone she saved only for her husband, while her digits began dancing along the woolen fabric of his trousers.

Lawrence tried to slow his thoughts, to stop thinking about his seemingly never ending to-do list.

He thought of the drunk he'd had to kick out the night before, the pesticide that wasn't working to remove the bugs, the chickens that needed more feed, and the soil that needed tilling. Around and around the thoughts circled, unable to slow them long enough to concentrate on the warmth of his wife's delicate hand slowly beginning to move downwards.

As she slipped her hand into his trousers, Lawrence's heart began to race. Her gentle hands were more than welcome, and her supple lips kissing his chest through his shirt would have normally been all it took to bring him closer to that euphoric place he so often craved to be at with her.

It wasn't that he didn't want to go there, truly, he did! But it seemed nothing was happening, his body simply not responding to the movements of Winifred's softened hands inside his slacks. He laid back, staring at the ceiling while his mind didn't allow him any grace, even at an intimate moment such as this, and continued to fire at a rapid pace.

Once Winifred realized what was happening, or what wasn't happening rather, she withdrew her hand immediately. "Is everything alright?" She asked sheepishly.

Lawrence sighed, closing his eyes as he settled back into the pillows, a masculine attempt to mask his embarrassment, he simply nodded in response.

This had never happened in their three years of marriage, and she hardly knew what to think, only that she felt guilty for not realizing sooner that he hadn't been in the mood. "I'm sorry, Lawrence, I wouldn't have if I'd known that you didn't want to." She clarified.

"It isn't that I don't to, I just can't right now...I suppose I'm still rather tired." That was the understatement of the century. He was far past tired, beyond exhausted even and this was proof that his body couldn't keep going like this for much longer.

Nonetheless, with Lawrence continuing to put on a courageous face day after day, Winifred could not have realized how much he was suffering inside. Consequently, she started coming up with an explanation for his rejection the way she knew best - by blaming herself.

Since her second pregnancy, she had put on more weight, and while she tried her best to view it as an act of love rather than something superficial, she had become quite self conscious about her slightly pudgy tummy and stretch marks. "Is it, is it me?" She asked out loud. Once the question left her lips though, she couldn't even look in her husband's direction anymore, dreading to hear the answer.

Having nearly gone mute with humiliation, Lawrence hid his face in his hand, trying to keep Winifred from noticing the way his cheeks now flushed.

Eventually, Lawrence rose from their bed with a heavy sigh. He wanted to reassure her, explain that it wasn't her fault in the least, that she was the most stunning woman he'd ever seen. But he couldn't find the right words, and so instead of saying much of anything at all, he mumbled a vague apology and headed towards the door to go find his work gloves and begin another day.

Winifred couldn't keep from feeling embarrassed, her chest rising and falling with the threat of tears until they eventually spilled over. However, the sound of her baby crying in the next room kept her from disappearing into the feeling. She simply wiped her eyes, ready to put on a happy face for her children and try to pretend this hadn't happened.

That very same afternoon, Millie and Winifred had been out shopping already at the markets when Winifred suggested they go into the secondhand store nearby. Nearly everyone they knew bought their fabrics from there, and it was much cleaner than the others in town, with hardly any stale odor or dust lingering in the air.

"What do you think of this?" Winifred asked, trying to choose between the white and pink spools of linen fabric.

"For who? Beth?" Millie asked, raising an eyebrow.

Winifred shook her head in response, dropping the fabric. "No! It's for me. My blouses are snug these days, and my skirts even tighter in the waist." She paused, turning to look at Millie's face who was still gazing at the linen. "I've been thinking maybe I need to add a little color into my wardrobe and try to be...a little more sophisticated?"

Millie furrowed her eyebrows, scrunching up her face. It was a gorgeous fabric, and it would make a striking gown for whoever decided to purchase it, but it still wasn't very 'Winifred'.

There were things that had changed about her best friend in the years that passed between them not speaking, but Millie was reasonably confident that her fondness for rich, dark colors hadn't. Or at least, she hoped not. It was one of the things that made Winifred who she was and Millie adored her allure to all things moody and macabre.

Millie and Winifred had been friends for so long that they could recall when they both wore ribbons and pigtails in their hair, since before they'd realized that someday boys were meant to cease their teasing and you were supposed to kiss them. It was a remarkable thing to keep a friendship for that many years and they both treasured it equally. Even more remarkable still, Millie could easily tell when she had something on her mind.

After a series of questions, Winifred finally told Millie what happened that morning, mortified by it all over again.

Millie responded with 'oh my', 'oh, honey' and 'you poor thing' throughout the entirety of the story. Still feeling rather troubled about it, Winifred found herself tearing up again during the retelling, but she knew that she could trust Millie.

After listening, Millie offered what she could of advice, finishing her thoughts on the matter by saying, "I've never seen anyone look at a person the way he looks at you. You move Heaven and Earth for that man, Winnie, I can promise you that."

As Millie had done for her so many times throughout their childhood, Winifred found herself feeling a bit better near the end of their conversation. She didn't know what she was going to do when Millie returned to London, but she couldn't worry herself with that thought today too.

She pulled Millie in for a hug, thanking her for the comfort, holding her for a long while before they interrupted by the sound of someone clearing their throat. When they pulled away, they noticed the shopkeeper was looming over them.

"I wasn't try to eavesdrop on you ladies, but I couldn't help overhearing your predicament." She bit her lip nervously before continuing. "I have a garment I think might be of interest to you...will you wait a moment longer so I can retrieve it from upstairs?" She asked.

After exchanging a single glance, they both turned back to her, giving an enthusiastic 'yes!' at the same time.

next / previous / first

[sexwithsophie]

29/30 - Ace/Aro Exclusion

I only just recently learned that the A in 2SLGBTQIA+ does NOT stand for Ally, but the Asexuality / Aromantic (Ace/Aro) and Agender Spectrum. Not only are these orientations and identities real, valid, and permanent, but there may be Aspec people who don't even know that they are due to lack of information.

That's why I've launched a @Kickstarter to bring my Inclusive Adult S–x Education Courses into the world! Lesson 1: The Sexual Mind will include an in-depth lesson on the beautiful diaspora of s–x, gender, and orientation.

Click here to be notified when my Asexuality podcast episode drops: withsophie.co/podcast

Watch all 30 Reasons from my telethon in support of the With Sophie, LLC campaign to bring Wholesome Adult Education Courses to the world: youtube.com/live/iEkzgwh1gN4

🛑 Make a pledge on Kickstarter before it's too late: bit.ly/SWSKSYT

[earfgoddesss]

feel silly that passages of Roku book have influenced my Zukaang headcanons/ideas like that’s all I’m getting from it, but I feel a bit better now that I keep seeing the Kataang vs. Zutara ship war go harder because Sozin and his people are Bad (and somehow that makes Zuko BAD…despite him renouncing that era of the FN and being the one to reform it)

ANYWAYS

I find that hair in the FN being so sacred that only close friends or family can touch each others really interesting and ofc it fuels the Classique: “Character A (Zuko) will let Character B (Aang) do the thing but no one else can” So I’m just imaging Zuko letting Aang ruffle his hair or something, meanwhile if anyone else (Sokka) tries to touch his head he has an Outburst. and then the whole passage on sister Disha going in the ocean and Roku silently being like S-SCANDALOUS was so “Fire Nation lowkey be prudes” thing (or at least towards women, weird to wear a bikini until 100+ years later I guess) adds fuel to the “Aang comes from a culture of people that aren’t terrified of nudity/sex” and “Zuko comes is the PRINCE a culture of uptight traditionalist who dance around every topic that might taint their social standing” and how that plays out when they’re older.

also Roku is a cutie patootie, and I like seeing more of Gyatso, and Sozin’s DOWNWARD SPIRAL is interesting

[gentil-minou]

I'll never get over how wwx's dream was cottage core fantasy and lwj's was the most raunchy kinky teenage fantasy known to man like that boy hid a world's worth of horniness in his clenched fists what an icon

but real talk honestly the best about about teenji is he normalizes that yes teenagers can have sexual desires and urges and no it does not make them the spawn of satan if they do

[penguin--person]

Do you think they neuter mutants at the facility

you sent this ask to the wrong blog ❤️ the pafl confessions blog is here ❤️live laugh love

[yardsards]

if you unironically use the term "puriteen" you are unbearably annoying. and i am exploding you with my mind. btw.

[lockw00dswifey]

picture this

barnes getting absolutely sick of all the lockwood and co pregnancy rumours and secretly being scared some of them might be true so one day he orders a mandatory sex ed class with the entire company with like four packets of condoms and six bananas because what the fuck else is he supposed to do. Lucy gets one on a banana in a solid 3 seconds and george almost barfs into his hands because "its not you having sex that disgusts me lucy, ok, its just the fact that I KNOW WHO ITS WITH AND NOW I HAVE TO RETURN TO PORTLAND ROW KNOWING THAT YOU GUYS ARE RIGHT NEXT TO MY ROOM FU-" meanwhile lockwood and holly are in the background filling up the condoms with water and hitting each other violently with them like water balloons and kipps is just sat eating one of the bananas because he skipped lunch watching as flo attempts to fashion a condom into a balloon animal and Barnes is suddenly questioning all his life choices and everything that has led up to this point

[sexwithsophie]

For Juneteenth, help me bring Inclusive Adult S–x Education to the world. Many of my reasons for wanting to create six data-driven courses revolve around my intersectionalities of being a woman, pansexual, and especially Black. Watch to learn more and visit bit.y/SWSKS to make a pledge toward my @Kickstarter before it's too late!

[asherisawkward]

Please note that this is very much a rant about their school system that deals with/mentions topics like grooming, sexual assault/abuse, pedophilia, and the sex education system as a whole.

If any of these topics are triggering or upsetting for you, do not read this post.

Considering a post I just reblogged on banned books and sex education, I figured I’m going to make a post explaining my stance on this, so I can point people here if I ever get asks about this kind of stuff.

I went to a middle of the country school when I was in middle school and my first year of high school, but it definitely was smaller and had a southern vibe. If that makes no sense, look up “Tornado Alley,” and that’s about where I was.

My school system did two years of middle school and four years of high school, and I had some sex education. Rather, I had one class period per year in middle school. I went through this class twice.

It did not teach anything substantial about sex. It did not explain what reproductive organs were or how they worked; it did not explain what sex was; it did not teach me about how to use a condom or even what one was. It did not teach me about consent or what rape and sexual abuse or assault. I didn’t even know what that was.

Do you want to know what I learned?

I learned about some STIs/STDs. The guy showed pictures of them in class and explained the symptoms entirely through sickening food comparisons that have left me having trouble eating/looking at any of those foods today (example: he compared syphilis to pepperoni) He did made no actual attempt to explain how they were contracted (beyond “I told [name] not to lick the pepperoni; he licked the pepperoni”) or where they originated from.

You know what else he taught me?

Apparently, sex felt good.

I had no understanding of what any sort of sexual assault/abuse was, and my basic reaction to the vague concept I was aware of was, “just run away.” (An incredibly toxic and victim-blaming mindset that I am ashamed of to this day.) If I had been in a situation where I was being raped or groomed or in a situation akin to that, I would not have known what was happening to me was wrong and needed to be reported. Fortunately, I wasn’t.

And, for the record, my boyfriend had to explain to me how sex works when I was sixteen, because I still didn’t know. And that supposedly helpful sex ed did nothing to help me.

About the same time my boyfriend explained to me how things actually worked in the bedroom, when I was still sixteen, I met a man who visited the neighborhood occasionally because he had a job in lawn maintenance. He was always friendly to me whenever we met. I didn’t know his name, but I saw him when I went on walks around the neighborhood, and we exchanged pleasantries. I thought he was nice.

He had the habit, whenever we saw each other from afar, of blowing kisses to me. I thought he was trying to be grandfatherly. I didn’t knew what it was, and I still don’t really know what to classify it as.

One day, he approached me in his truck and started speaking to me. He asked me my name and if I had a boyfriend. I gave my name and said yes. He told me I was pretty and he liked me. Then he asked me if I wanted to have sex. This man was in his fifties or sixties, and I’ve been mistaken by people for being a couple years younger than I am. There was no way he could have thought I was an adult. I had mentioned going to high school sometimes when we had taker before.

I walked back home, terrified that he would drive by me, throw me in the back of the car, and I’d end up assaulted and eventually dead in a ditch. He didn’t, but I was terrified the entire time.

I wish I had known this stuff sooner, and I didn’t even experience anything that bad. Knowing about It wouldn’t have stopped that from happening, but maybe I could have seen that a man in his fifties or sixties blowing kisses at a sixteen year old kid was not normal.

Imagine how it could have helped for people who go due experience trauma and weren’t lucky the way at I was. People could have figured out the signs of abusive partners or figured out that behaviors indicators of grooming or predatory behavior. It would allow people to know what to report to authorities.

To sum up the product of my ranting/venting; sex education is just as important aspect of of growing up as secular education, and it is vital for the prevention, report, and punishment of abuse and assault.

[abby420]

it’s honestly pissing me off how much o and otis call themselves (and other people call them) sex therapists in sex education

[lily-blue-blue-lily]

i know sex education has always been an unrealistic show but the fact that a radio show is hiring a teenager to give live sex advice to strangers must surely be breaking so many laws??

[billpottsismygf]

I know Sex Education has always been a bit bright and not quite real in its setting, but series 4 has really taken that to the extreme. This new college is just not believable as a real learning environment for teenagers and it's completely taking me out of the show.

Like, yes the diversity and commitment to being green is great, but it's just not real. The holier than thou attitude also seriously rubs me up the wrong way (using paper is ILLEGAL unless apparently you're in art class; if you don't cycle to school, you clearly just need to be told that your car is bad for the environment).

Where are the teachers? Where's the adult oversight? Where are the classrooms? How does this place afford tablets for every pupil and seemingly unlimited space for all these special rooms? This is a fantasy setting, not a real college. Moordale, while heightened, at least felt like a real environment.

It seems like a silly thing to take issue with, especially since I wouldn't have such an issue with a new school-set show that worked like this, but with such an established show, it throws me right out of the expected tone and rules of the world as they've been built until now.

Weirdly, and I don't think this was all the new setting's fault, I also just… didn't care about what was hapenning? I'm literally one episode in and I found it a slog to finish it. Season 3 I ended up binge-watching despite my better judgement because it was such compulsive viewing. This one just felt contrived and unreal.

I know it's setting up plot threads for later (Will Ruby get in with the cool crowd? Will Maeve come back? Will Eric get baptised? Will Adam get a job?), but I don't even feel compelled to find out the answers. I probably will keep watching, but I'm so disappointed so far.