NEWS YOU CAN USE
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TALKING POINTS
There’s nothing like a bit of controversy and current events to kickstart constructive conversation. Seize the day and get talking with your kids about these recent news stories…
The Teens Have Spoken: Virginity Rocks | Inside Hook (16/3/20)
“The popularity of ’Virginity Rocks’ subverts the stereotype that ‘cool kids’ have sex, and those who don’t are inherently undesirable. ‘Virginity’ is a loaded word often used to police women’s sexuality. But the ‘Virginity Rocks’ shirts seem to speak to a new, more inclusive sexual discourse among young people embracing a culture of sex-positivity that respects all consensual sexual choices, including the choice to not have sex”
TALKING POINT Are society’s ideas about virginity changing? Read the article >
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Axe’s New Campaign Uses Real Stories to Demystify Dating for Teens – watch first instalment here | PSFK (20/3/20)
“Axe turned ’Bringing Up Men’ [the book by Otis’s mum Jean in the show Sex Education] into a guide for young men. In it teen guys recount a real-life story of an awkward or cringeworthy dating encounter. Meant to inspire solidarity and relieve pressure, it’s based on research indicating that 47% of boys aged 14-24 in the US lack dating confidence”
TALKING POINT Are these real-life stories relatable (for girls too)? Watch the clip >
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Internet “is not working for women and girls”, says Berners-Lee – read his open letter here | Guardian (12/3/20)
“The inventor of the world wide web says women & girls face a ‘growing crisis’ of online harms, with sexual harassment, threatening messages, discrimination and having private images shared without consent making the web unsafe and silencing female opinions”
TALKING POINT Have you or any friends experienced online abuse? Read the article >
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Yes, My Kids See My Naked Body. No, It’s Not Weird – includes jokey 4-minute Madge The Vag video | Scary Mommy (13/2/20)
“I’m not shy or reserved about being nude in front of my children. I don’t wander around our house in the buff, but if my kids are in the room and I want to change my clothes, I don’t kick them out. I let them know I’m going to change and that they are welcome to go out or stay in. They’ve seen me naked since they were babies”
TALKING POINT Do people in your family mind being seen naked? Read the article >
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Meet Snowflake and Safespace, Marvel’s New “Woke” Superheroes of the OK Boomer Age | Sputnik News (19/3/20)
“Snowflake is a genderfluid whose pronouns are they/them. Their twin Safespace is a ‘stereotypical jock’. These new New Warriors are ‘teens fighting against labels that have been put on them,’ said writer Daniel Kibblesmith. ‘They wear these terms as badges of honour.’ A commentator said: ‘Marvel has officially turned into a parody of itself’”
TALKING POINT Does it matter that the creator is white & straight?