What we found out

How we are told

• The messages we get from our parents are mostly given to us in a strict and direct manner.
• We also get messages by seeing how our parents’ react to our siblings’ experiences with sexuality.
• Parents may sometimes use gossip about other families’ experiences in the community (e.g. teenage pregnancy) to warn us.
• The media can make it easier for us to bring up topics on sexuality and help us talk with our parents.
• We talk more to our mothers than fathers about sexuality related issues.
• It tends to be easier for girls to talk about sexuality than for guys.
• We have found that family communication gets easier for some ERM youth when we are older (in our 20’s).
• Our parents’ jobs (e.g. teachers, psychologists), or their attitudes and worldviews (e.g. liberal, open-minded) may make them easier to talk to.
• Language issues (i.e. not speaking English and/or parents’ first language) prevents some of us from talking with parents about sexuality.

What we are told

This is how we cope