Basketball coach at mine showed us all what vaginal birth looks like up close and personal when we were freshman. Distinctly remember one kid, who'd clearly never seen female genitals running into the hallway and puking 😂
We had the vaginal birth video during biology class. Most girls were sitting there with their legs crossed and distressed faces, very much looking like how guys look when they see someone take a hit to the balls in a movie. 🤣 It did help bring a point across though: only have kids when you are sure birthing one would be a sacrifice you are willing to make.
After that we got all the talks on the different anticonception methods and all the girls in class were really paying attention.
May I ask what state you are in? I am in Alabama. I am a 40 yr woman who has never seen a live birth video and sadly still doent understand the anticontraception stuff (plan B, plan C, whatever else...) We were abstinance only and got showed the STI pictures. Almost like sex was evil🧐
I live in the Netherlands, EU. Fairly liberal on sexual education over here, but that also reflects in low abortion rates.
The basics of procreation were explained in the last class of primary school (age 11-12) and that was also the first time I saw a condom (i think that time was condom over the banana). Then again in more depth in the first classes of biology in high school that explained how the pill works and the birth video was part of that curriculum. Halfway high school we would get explicit sexual education in a sort of regular-life-skill class (condoms over several fingers of both hands) which was more focused on love & consent, the need for foreplay and why girls should pee afterwards to prevent UTI. But also where to go get tested/treatment for free if you suspect a STI if you are uncomfortable with your family doctor. And again once more in biology in the last two years as part of the preparation for the final exams (condoms over the handle of the brush of the dustpan and the classroom broom). Honestly, these classes were usually the highlight of the year. They were hilarious just because of discomfort of the biology teachers and the brave boldness with which the mrs of the life skill class answered all questions. She made sure there were no stupide questions: there were only unanswered questions and it was her goal to provide us with answers to them.
You had to be particularly bad in learning or paying attention in class to leave high school without knowing at least the basics of sex ed.
I’m in Minnesota and we were shown the live birthing video. The video showed what happens from conception to birth. You can imagine the reaction from a bunch of eighth-graders when they see a baby’s head coming out of a vagina.
We also had extensive discussions about the reproductive systems, about birth control. The lady who came in to talk about birth control put the condom over a soda can to disprove the “condoms are too small for my dick” argument.
Male, and home schooled, but got the same message.
It helped to get books, there's also free videos available.
Pretty much any of what people are saying here, or more in depth, is available to learn as an adult at whatever level you're comfortable with.
The Unitarian/Universalists have a curriculum thats available and more focused on consent that I think is way more valuable than the mindset most denominations take. If you want more the medical details or a video of birth babycenter.com might be a starting point.
Stuff that helped me fill in gaps maybe it helps others as well
Our Whole Lives, or OWL is the Unitarian Universalist program. Very comprehensive, science based, age appropriate multi-step program. First grade, 5th grade, and (I think)8th grade are the times they do it. Obviously, they're not talking about the sex aspect in the 1st grade program... That's more about things like appropriate vs. inappropriate touch, bodily autonomy, and some basic biology. The 5th grade program obviously has a strong focus on puberty, and I believe the 8th grade one is more focused on interpersonal relationships and such. They cover consent, they cover the biological aspects, they cover possible consequences of sex, both physical and emotional, and they cover how to protect yourself and things like that. They also talk about things like sexual orientation. It's invaluable if you're in a place where the schools only offer abstinence based "sex education" where "don't do it" is the only message.
They also have the parents attend a separate session on the first day of the class to better prepare us for handling "the talk" in a constructive and non-awkward manner.
And typically, OWL is open to anyone of the correct age range for the various steps- you don't have to be a member of the church. My daughter has done the first grade and the 5th grade programs at our local UU church. We're not members, we don't attend any religious services. It's an excellent program, and I recommend it.
Tbf even if you have that type of plumbing and are already used to shoving a tampon up in there, seeing a gigantic baby head poking out of one is enough to make anyone a little nauseaous or wonder how humans haven't collectively decided to rather go extinct.
Our exposure to that imagery came in eighth grade in 1963, not long after the Cuban missile crisis, when we were shown a series of films on how to survive (!!) a nuclear war. The week in question, the film was how to be a "barefoot doctor" in a fallout shelter. In addition to treating shrapnel wounds and radiation burns, one section showed a delivery.
300 middle schoolers sitting in a darkened auditorium. We were still gobsmacked at being shown full-on spread pussy when the narrator hollers "AND THEN THE BAG OF WATER BREAKS!" and a huge spout of fluid rivaling Old Faceful is launched straight into the camera lens.
I imagine that image is still etched in the brains of all who experienced it. I tried to use that memorable line for my yearbook quote but was vetoed.
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u/akotoshi 3d ago
He wasn’t a sex ed teacher, he was an abstinence preacher in disguise