Showing posts with label sexuality. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sexuality. Show all posts

Friday, August 12, 2011

A Safe Place for Answers

My first step in preparing to teach Human Sexuality involves exploring the textbook and the online resources. 
One of the objectives for the class is for students to be able to openly discuss issues of sexuality.  Others include accepting diversity of sexual and gender expression and knowing where to find reliable answers to questions they may be afraid to ask.
Today I offer you a website that I consider "safe" and credible.  It is hosted by Columbia University.  Numerous topics are covered, some more sensitive than others, and some VERY personal.  You can search for answers, ask questions or browse by subject.

Best of all is the name of the website (below)-  I have tried to link directly to the page that discusses sexuality.  On the left (once you are on the page) is the list of subject areas and you can certainly switch to the one that most interests you.

Go Ask Alice!  

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Unexpected Outcomes

Back to being busy with studies so just a note:

A peer gave a presentation on his dissertation topic this week. He is studying the HIV testing behavior in black men who have sex with men. MSM is the term that is used by the CDC and in research to describe men that have sex with men, this can include men who do not consider themselves to be or identify with homosexuals.

Any way - the CDC encourages HIV testing based on the theory that testing will reduce incidence of new disease. Others in public health support testing, but do not emphasize it more than behavior change - i.e. condom use, monogamy, etc.

Here is one reason why testing is not enough or perhaps not THE best message. A certain percent of people (I didn't write the number) who test positive for HIV WILL in fact change their behavior and use condoms or practice abstinence. However, NOT 100% will change so the disease can still be spread. A larger percent of people who test negative will NOT change their behavior and can then become infected and infect others.

In other words, testing can give some persons a false sense of security. It doesn't matter who you have sex with - safe sex is smart sex.