#84 | Rethinking Sex-Ed for Teenagers w/ Rachelle Bergstein
About This Episode
What do teen boys and girls need from us right now?
I had the privilege of hosting Rachelle Bergstein, lifestyle writer, author, and editor in a conversation about the complexities of adolescence today for teen boys and girls. Being able to reach teenagers to inspire them to see the good in each other, boy and girl, is a dream of mine. Rachelle’s work has appeared in the New York Post, The New York Times, NPR, and more. She is the author of three books: Women from the Ankle Down, Brilliance and Fire, and The Genius of Judy. She lives with her husband and son in Brooklyn.
We focus much of the conversation on her most recent book, The Genius of Judy and diving into questions that include: what’s happening with teen girls? Is opposite sex friendship a good idea for teens? How do we deal with the tension point around sexuality overload juxtaposed with big feelings of shame and low self esteem? Who is nonmonagamy actually serving? what struggles are boys facing? How do we teach kids about sex in a way that fosters sacredness while avoiding shame?
Find out more at RachelleBergstein.com
Timestamps:
00:37 - 01:01 Introduction and Guest Welcome
01:01 - 02:02 Rachelle Bergstein's Background
02:02 - 02:58 Judy Blume and Sex Education
02:58 - 04:55 Is it okay for kids to learn about sex?
04:55 - 07:35 Talking to Kids About Sex
07:35 - 09:25 What really is proper Sex-ed?
09:25 - 10:22 The most sexless generation ever
10:22 - 11:46 Rachelle's sex-ed utopia
11:46 - 14:41 Dealing with the 'Sex like a man' trend
14:41 - 17:09 Is it wrong to be non-monogamous?
17:09 - 18:12 Who was Judy Blume?
18:12 - 19:42 Masturbation and teenagers
19:42 - 21:13 Judy Blume's most controversial book
21:13 - 22:56 Ancient Rituals in Modern Parenting
22:56 - 24:19 Finding a rite of passage for girls
24:19 - 27:34 What compelled Lily phillips' actions?
27:34 - 28:48 Does porn make girls fear sex?
28:48 - 29:33 The Impact of Extreme Pornography on Teens
29:33 - 32:29 What are boys struggling with?
32:29 - 34:16 The Crisis of Young Masculinity
34:16 - 35:07 Friendships Between Boys and Girls
35:07 - 38:22 Can boys and girls really be 'just friends'?
38:22 - 38:49 Empathy and Understanding Between Genders
38:49 - 41:15 What fascinates boys about teenage girls?
41:15 - 43:23 What do teenage girls admire about teenage boys?
43:23 - 44:57 The beauty of teenage years
44:57 - 46:05 Does pornography have a role in society today?
46:05 - 47:33 I no longer trust compliments from this age group
47:33 - 49:05 Differences in what the sexes find attractive
49:05 - 49:53 About Alison Armstrong
49:53 - 52:10 Final Thoughts and Takeaways
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