Yara Fransen
Internship: LMNOP
Read Thesis
For most of us, sex education has been limited and ended before it stopped being a giggle-worthy topic. Now that we’re older, if we do happen to talk about sex it’s usually about our experiences rather than the subject itself. More often than not we don’t share the more intimate, taboo, or painful truths.
Sex Ed Issues meetings aim to add what is missing from sex education— through discussions, workshops, and talks—for anyone who wants to keep learning. The zines are the result and documentation of the events that extend the conversations to others.
The dispensers aim to make the zines more accessible, with the intention of them appearing in schools, GP offices, public spaces, etc. Their give-and-take nature invites people to contribute to future zines, creating an ongoing conversation.
Sex Ed Issues is a collaborative work between Maja Bielawska and Yara Fransen.
Sex Ed Issue #1 - Sex education
Many people are dissatisfied with their current sex education experience. Sometimes, the lack of knowledge and open conversations can lead to feeling confusion, frustration and feeling alone. During the first event we opened up discussion about sex, sex education and spaces that can facilitate learning.
Sex Ed Issue #2 - Pelvic floor
Even though we all have a pelvic floor (muscles that span the bottom of your pelvis) many won't hear about theirs until they face difficulties with it. In this meeting we talked about its (dys)functions and ways to take care of it to support lifelong sexual and physical health.
Sex Ed Issue #3 - Hormonal contraceptives
Hormonal contraceptives (hormone-based birth control) are a routine part of many females' lives. Though their function may be the same, people's experiences with them differ. In this meeting, we opened up a conversation about what they've done for us, to us and how we feel about them.