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Sex educator & author
The standard “birds and bees” sex talk doesn’t work any more. (If it ever really did!)
Today, parents have to address pornography, homosexuality, gender and consent. If you feel nervous tackling those topics, don’t worry. You’re not alone.
Sex educator and therapist Jo Langford routinely helps parents navigate these tricky conversations. Langford is the author of Spare Me the Talk!: A Guy’s Guide to Sex, Relationships and Growing Up and The Pride Guide: The Guide to Sexual and Social Health for LGBTQ Youth, the first book about sex and sexuality written specifically for LGBTQ tweens and teens. Langford is also the father of a teenage boy and tween girl.
In this episode, Jen, Janet & Jo discuss:
- How to support 21st century kids, even if you don’t yet know what cisgender means
- Inclusive language – & why it’s important (Hint: when you start talking about sex, you probably won’t know if your child is gay, straight or trans, and the words you use can lead to alienation or signal acceptance.)
- How to help boys understand gender fluidity
- The influence of culture on boys’ attitudes towards sex and gender
- How to respond when boys use the word “gay” as an insult or putdown
- What teens want their parents to discuss with them (Spoiler: technology!)
- How teens use screens to explore their sexuality and develop relationships – & how parents can help their kids navigate the digital world
- How to protect kids from accidental porn exposure (Hint: blocking software is your friend)
- Age-appropriate language you can use to discuss porn with your boys
- Jo’s “50% rule” for porn
Links we mentioned (or should have) in Episode 126:
behereos.net — Jo’s website, featuring his talks, speaking schedule & free downloads (including Porn: The Guide to a Healthy Grab-It Habit)
Spare Me ‘The Talk!’: A Guy’s Guide to Sex, Relationship, and Growing Up, by Jo Langford
The Pride Guide: A Guide to Sexual and Social Health for LGBTQ Youth, by Jo Langford
When Children Say They’re Trans — The Atlantic article
Episode 110: Talk to Boys About Sex with Amy Lang
Why Inclusive Sex Ed is So Important — article by Jen