- 336 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
About this book
“A breath of much-needed fresh air around a very charged subject.”—Christiane Northrup, M.D., OB/GYN physician and author of the New York Times bestsellers Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom and The Wisdom of Menopause
“Vernacchio's no-blame, no-shame approach will inspire parents to drop their fears, judgments, and inhibitions in order to help their kids navigate the teen years.”—Publishers Weekly
A progressive approach to sexuality education that challenges commonly-held beliefs about how we talk to young people about sex and offers a controversial yet proven alternative to the standard conversations taking place in schools and homes across America.
Sex education today generally falls into one of two categories: abstinence-only or abstinence-based education—both of which tend to withhold important, factual information and leave young adults ill-equipped to make safe decisions. Al Vernacchio, a high school sexuality educator who holds a Master’s degree in Human Sexuality from the University of Pennsylvania, has created a new category: sex-positive education. In For Goodness Sex, he refutes the “disaster prevention” model of sex ed, offering a progressive and realistic approach: Sexuality is a natural part of life, and healthy sexuality can only develop from a sex-positive, affirming appreciation.
Curious yet fearful of being judged, young people turn to peers, the Internet, and the media, where they receive problematic messages about sex: boys are studs, girls are sluts; real sex should be like porn; hookups are better than relationships. Without a broader understanding to offset these damaging perceptions, teenagers are dangerously unprepared intellectually and emotionally to grow and develop as sexual beings. For Goodness Sex offers the tools and insights adults need to talk young people and help them develop healthy values and safe habits. With real-life examples from the classroom, exercises and quizzes, and a wealth of sample discussions and crucial information, Vernacchio offers a guide to sex education for the twenty-first century.
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Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- Title Page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Preface to the 2023 Edition: Ten Years Later . . .
- Introduction to the 2014 Edition: Sexuality as a Force for Good
- Chapter 1: Teaching Healthy Sex
- Chapter 2: Creating a Family Philosophy of Sex: What We Believe, What We Say, and How We Say It
- Chapter 3: Baseball, You’re Out! Sexual Activity Without the Bases
- Chapter 4: Love and Relationships: Becoming Your Authentic Self
- Chapter 5: Sex and Gender: Who’s Who and What’s What?
- Chapter 6: Sexual Orientation: Attractions and Actions
- Chapter 7: OK, So I Have a Body. How Do I Like It and What Do I Do with It?
- Chapter 8: #iloveyou: Teens, Sex, and Technology
- Chapter 9: “Lights! Camera! Conversation!”: Let’s Talk About Pornography
- Chapter 10: Sexual Violence and Consent
- Epilogue
- Acknowledgments
- Index
- About the Author
- Praise
- Copyright
- About the Publisher