sexhealthnews.org

One of your comments brought to my attention the subject of “sex workers” or another term is “prostitution.”

I recently read an article in the July/August 2008 issue of “Sexual Assault Report” based on the book by Jody Raphael “Listening to Olivia: Violence, Poverty, and Prostitution. The article says that the public fails to recognize the huge toll prostitution takes on the women involved. Few voices favoring legalization of prostitution are actually from those working in the sex trades. Women in prostitution must perform in isolated situations in which they are subject to physical and verbal abuse, causing many to rely on alcohol or drugs to cope with the danger as well as pain and humiliation. This calls attention to violence against women in all its manifestations and venues.

The article also states that we need a publicly financed campaign to give teen girls information about the prostitution industry and its recruitment strategies and how to seek help to get out.

In the service that I do that involves violence to each other, there are recurring themes in the literature that I encourage you to ponder: Males are entitled. Women and children are the property of the entitled.

The Sexual Assault Nurse (SANE) program and Center for Protective Environment (COPE) of Otero and Lincoln County New Mexico are sponsoring a viewing of the world premiere documentary “Dating Violence” on September 7. Go to the Southern New Mexico Wellness Alliance Facebook page for details.

Teen dating violence is a serious public health problem. I was recently made aware of a new music video by Eminem featuring Rihanna. The song is titled: “Love the Way you Lie.” It can be viewed on U-tube. I really like the music–the tune is very catchy. There are important messages in the video and music. I would like to speak to specific lyrics that bring up current issues that promote violence. Rihanna sings “Just gonna stand there and watch me burn. That”s alright because I like the way it hurts. Just gonna stand there and watch me cry. That”s alright because I like the way you lie.” Eminem sings: “She hates me and I love it. You ever love somebody so much…I love you too much to walk away. If she ever tries to leave again I”m gonna tie her to the bed and set this house on fire.

The audience for this music can be vulnerable to messages that can be interpreted that violence is okay. I will be posting ”personal rights” in the website under the “prevention” tab. These “personal rights” reflect a “healthy” lifestyle.

The seven most effective methods of contraception over one year”s use (Hatcher, Robert A. 2005. Contraceptive Technology (18th rev. ed). New York: Ardent Media, Inc)

Abstinence (perfect users) 100%, Intra-uterine device-hormonal (perfect users) 99.9 %, Implant (such as Implanon) 99.96%, Male Vasectomy 99.9%, Female Tubal Ligation 99.5%, Copper Intra-Uterine device 99.4%, Shot such as Depo Provera 99.7%

Least safe behaviors (risk of death in one year) starting with the least safe behavior: motorcycling (1 in 1,000), smoking and taking birth control pills less than 35 years old (1 in 5,000), driving a car (1 in 6,000), giving birth (1, in 10,000), tubal ligation (1 in 39,000), non-smoker less than 35 years old taking birth control pills (1 in 200,000), vasectomy (1 in 1,000,000)

There have been several comments about how you have liked the website and blog. For those interested, my web designer is Rivers Web Strategies. You can find them on Facebook.

A community assures that its members have access to developmentally and culturally appropriate sexuality education

A community provides access to sexual and reproductive health care and counseling

A community provides latitude to make appropriate sexual and reproductive choices

A community respects diversity

A community provides freedom from stigmatization and violence on the basis of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation

(A Call to Action to Promote Sexual Health and Responsible Sexual Behavior, U.S. Surgeon General, 2001)

Healthy sexuality requires an understanding and awareness of one”s sexuality and sexual development
Healthy sexuality is respectful of oneself and one”s partner
Healthy sexuality avoids physical or emotional harm to oneself and one”s partner
Healthy sexuality ensures that pregnancy occurs only when welcomed
Healthy sexuality recognizes and tolerates the diversity of sexual values within any community
(taken from U.S. Surgeon General”s A Call to Action to Promote Sexual Health and Responsible Sexual Behavior, 2001)

There have been several comments about people wanting to use the blog information for other educational purposes. It is my intent to provide factual, research based information and cite the author/reference/resources so that you may find more information on the subjects.

Sounds like many of you are enjoying the information. Thanks for connecting. 

I have asked my web master to work on the rss feed and that is on her list of things to do. Hopefully, that will be done soon.

According to surveys around the country, when asked, the vast majority of American adults, including parents and voters, support comprehensive sexuality education, disapproves of the government’s investment in abstinence-only-until-marriage programs, and rejects popular myths that suggest teaching about sexuality encourages teens to be sexually active. Nevertheless, the government currently spends over $175 million per year for abstinence-only-until-marriage programs, in direct contradiction to public opinion.

Many parents believe that sexuality education can help young people make responsible decisions about sexual behavior and sexual health. The truth is that the majority of parents want sexuality education to cover a wide range of topics. In fact, most parents believe that it is appropriate to teach students about many subjects that are considered controversial, including abortion, masturbation, and sexual orientation. Not surprisingly, given the reality they face, young people also want sexuality education to cover many topics. ( Taken from SIECUS, 2008)

Steven M. Brown and Carl Schwartz state that as a culture, we are immensely conflicted about sexuality generally, especically child and adolescent sexuality. On our televistions, movie screens, video games and in our email boxes, sexual messages, images, innuendos are ever present. A 1997 study of prime time television revealed that the average adolescent in the U.S. views 1400 sexual references, jokes, and innuendos each year (Stasburger, 1997). However, only one in 85 of these references will mention abstinence, contraception, or marriage (Daves, 1995). Studies show that few parents talk with their children in a meaningful way about sexual health issues  (Warren & Neer, 1992; Goldstein & Connelly, 1998; Durex Corporation, 1997) despite children’s desire to hear their parents’ views on the topic. Compared to previous generations, today’s adolescents reach puberty earlier, have sexual intercourse earlier, and get married significantly later.

This is a continuation from the previous blog. Here is the definition of healthy sexuality taken from the Office of the Surgeon General’s A Call to Action to Promote Sexual Health and Responsible Sexual Behavior

Healthy sexuality includes the ability to understand and weigh risks, responsibilities, outcomes and impacts of sexual actions

Healthy sexuality includes the ability to practice abstinance when appropriate or reproduce when one chooses

Healthy sexuality includes freedom from sexual abuse and discrimination

Healthy sexuality includes the ability of individuals to integrate their sexuality into their lives and derive pleasure from it