Folklore, Fairy Tales, & Sex Ed: How Stories Shape Our Sexuality with Dr. Jeanna Jorgensen

What if the fairy tales we grew up with weren’t just bedtime stories, but powerful forces shaping how we think about sex, gender, and relationships?

In this episode of What Excites Us, Gwyn sits down with folklorist and gender studies scholar Dr. Jeanna Jorgensen to explore the fascinating (and sometimes troubling) intersections between folklore and sex education. From moral panics and censorship to fairy tales and gender roles, Jeanna unpacks how culture and storytelling influence the way we learn—or don’t learn—about sex and sexuality.

Together, they discuss:

• How folklore transmits cultural beliefs about sex, gender, and morality

• The history of sex education, censorship, and the infamous Comstock laws

• The role of fairy tales in reinforcing (or challenging) gender roles and heteronormativity

• Why understanding folklore can help us dismantle harmful sexual narratives and build more inclusive, accurate sex education

About Jeanna Jorgensen: Jeanna is a folklorist and gender studies scholar with a Ph.D. in Folklore and Gender Studies from Indiana University. She has taught at universities across the U.S., published extensively on gender, sexuality, and folklore, and is currently researching ethical non-monogamies and the history of sex education.

📚 Pick up Jeanna’s book Sex Education 101: https://amzn.to/3ZMbtce 🌐 Learn more at: JeannaJorgensen.com | www.folklore101.com 🐦 Follow Jeanna on social media: @FoxyFolklorist