Sex, contraception, periods; they’ve all been taboo for as long as we can remember, yet almost everyone in the world encounters one or more of these issues.
So why are we so reluctant to discuss these issues?
Sex education in schools should go beyond a basic knowledge of biology. We should be taught about sexuality, contraception, STDs, consent and the list goes on – and this is why shows as open as Sex Education are such a breakthrough for young people.
It discusses the issues we’ve all dealt with and explains misconceptions we’ve all been taught, digging deep and exploring them in ways we haven't seen before. The writers very cleverly utilise the character of sex therapist Jean Milburn, played by Gillian Anderson, to address some of the key issues teenagers and young people face.
In season 3, there is a scene concerning sexual assault, where many important lessons around consent and accountability are brought up. The scene teaches the audience
sexual assault is never the victim’s fault, no matter what they wear, say or do. Milburn teaches her ‘clients’, but also cleverly teaches us, the audience, almost as if we are clients of her own. This clever technique extends past just Jean Milburn; we are taught just as much by the teachers, teenagers and background characters of the show too.
In a scene in season 3 where Ruby, Olivia and Anwar go to the clinic over STD fears, the doctor unravels some big misconceptions about STDs, and particularly the fear and shame of HIV within the gay community. The doctor even explains to Anwar how despite common belief, HIV can become untransmittable, and many people living with it can live a healthy life – she also explains how new science means HIV can now even be cured. This issue is
particularly prevalent due to the AIDS epidemic in the 90s. Many Sex Education viewers were born just after this crisis and will have grown up with an instilled association between homosexuality and aids, which needs to be stopped.
The writers also utilise headteacher Hope as a foil to Jean Milburn to further educate
the viewers. Their ideas of sex starkly contrast each other and Hope represents all the 'old school' views of sex education. As a viewer, seeing such outdated views of sex, which contrast the liberated sexual nature of Moordale students, puts into perspective just how much we have been previously misinformed.
There are so many things the show does well to educate their viewers, but what it does best is make the importance of being accepted no matter your gender, identity or sexual orientation known. Thank you Sex Education for teaching a whole generation to feel accepted in their own bodies.
Edited by Hannah Youds