Teaching Sexuality Series

Time: 6:00pm to 7:00pm
Location: Online- Zoom

The Teaching Sexuality Series is a collection of quick one-hour sessions that take a small piece of sexuality education and power through wise practices we have learned. The sessions work well for teachers and any service provider that includes sexuality education with groups as part of their programming. The content will be geared toward those who work with youth, but many of the sessions will also apply to those who work with adults.

This series is part of the Ongoing Learning Hub. Ongoing offers comprehensive full-day training opportunities, webinars, and lunch-and-learn-style events to support service providers in Manitoba. Each draws on expertise, up-to-date research, evidence-based approaches, and local resources to enhance knowledge, skills, and awareness of sexuality issues. Launched in 2024, SERC offers our Learning Management System, where you can learn online at your own pace. New courses will be added each year.

Learn more about the Ongoing Learning Hub: Sexuality Education with Service Providers.

Register for the Teaching Sexuality Series here.

Series details:

October 2- What is Sexuality?

In this quick session, we will discuss what we mean when we use the word sexuality. We will also discuss the importance of discussing the words and languages we use since this topic can be surrounded by euphemisms and shame.
Does the word “sexuality” scare folks away from your community health conversations? Let’s talk about that.

October 9- Consent

Consent is the foundation of teaching sexuality. You can’t discuss anatomy, birth control, reproduction, relationships, or…anything without consent. Consent is a tool we use differently in various contexts throughout our life at all ages. Come check out a quick demo of some simple activities that can quickly be adapted for various scenarios and age levels.

October 16- Anti-Oppressive Anatomy

Is this session going to talk about discussing anatomy in a trans-inclusive way? Yes, of course it is. But this isn’t an inclusion session; it is an anti-oppressive one. Standard anatomy discussions are transphobic, but they can also erase intersex bodies, shame bodies with vulvas, side step trauma and include only fair-skinned, hairless, thin bodies. Unpacking for a one-hour session is a lot, but it is high time we got started!

October 23- Harm/Risk Reduction

Wouldn’t it be nice to live a life free of harm? What if there wasn’t any risk in our decisions? Okay, maybe some risk can be exciting. However, it just isn’t realistic to eliminate harm and risk. Life skills have no use in a theoretically perfect world. Harm reduction offers multiple pathways to achievable goals. And yes, abstinence is an option, but not the only one. Let’s practice talking about harm reduction concerning sexual decision-making with choice and rights in mind.

October 30- Gender and Power

We do not advise gender segregation for general sexuality education. There are various reasons for this, but this doesn’t “erase” gender. It still remains in our groups, classrooms, communities, and relationships. Identities and social power structures are very complex, making all relationships unequal in power. Furthermore, power is not a binary “have vs. have not” concept. If we are to discuss relationships and well-being, we have to explore power. In particular, research indicates that discussing gender and power improves program outcomes. Let’s talk about it! Because power unexamined is power abused.

November 6- Balanced Approach to Diversity

Canada is considered a world leader in 2STLGBQIA+ rights. Then why does SERC do so many 2STLGBQIA+ inclusion workshops? Communities can only talk about resiliency so much until the word has lost all meaning. Marginalized communities are also so much more than their trauma. Stopping hateful comments and actions is only half the work. How do we also affirm and celebrate communities and culture? Let’s talk about avoiding the glamorizing of trauma or avoidance of discussing power structures in diversity education.

November 13- Guardian Resistance

When working with youth, discussing sexuality is rightly a concern. It is a very serious topic with the potential for abuse to occur. Despite researching showing that a majority of Canadian households want sex ed available in public institutions – In our schools and programs we might come up against guardian resistance. Let’s talk about how to have that talk. It won’t solve all situations, but in a world where sex ed is lacking, we need to continue to educate about what sexuality education is.

November 20- Question Box

The Question Box has been used consistently in sexuality education in many different contexts. It endures because it works. Lets talk about some of the tips and tricks. We’ll even answer some questions to try it out live! Bring your experiences and questions.