The sex education we have in the United States today isn’t really working. And, unfortunately, it’s only set to get worse as a growing number of states are pushing to restrict what students can learn in these classes. So in today’s show, we’re going to talk about why it has been so difficult to make sex ed better and what we can actually do to change it.
I’m joined once again by Margaret Grace Myers, a writer, researcher, educator, and former bookseller based in Maine. She is the author of the new book The Fight For Sex Ed: The Century Long Battle Between Truth and Doctrine.
Some of the specific topics we explore include:
- How many US states today require that students receive sex education?
- Why don’t we have a federal mandate for sex ed in the US?
- What can we do to improve sex ed in our own communities?
- What can we learn from other countries that are getting sex ed right?
- Why do we need to stop thinking about sex education as a one-time talk or course?
You can check out Margaret’s website to learn more about her book.
Got a sex question? Send me a podcast voicemail to have it answered on a future episode at speakpipe.com/sexandpsychology.
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Thank you to our sponsors!
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The Kinsey Institute at Indiana University has been a trusted source for scientific knowledge and research on critical issues in sexuality, gender, and reproduction for over 75 years. Be sure to register for the Sex and Aging Symposium, which will take place on October 4, 2025.
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