8 Useful questions to prepare for class
1. Which materials did you read/watch/listen to? (Please list them. Include the author’s
name and the title for readings, and the title for podcasts and videos)
- Kotex publication copyright 1940
- Social-Sex Attitudes in Adolescence (1953) - Video
- A Century Long Debate over Sexual Education in Ontario by Michelle Hutchinson
Grondin, PhD
- Failing Grade?: Ontario’s Sex-Education Changes - Video
- Good Touch by Judith Levine
- The Gender-Friendly Classroom by Dr. Lee Airton
- Transgender Kids and sport participation by Ann Travers
- What About the Trans Athletes Who Compete — And Win — in Men’s Sports? by Britni
De La Cretaz
- The Indigenous Doctor Helping Trans Youth - video
2. What was your previous knowledge on this week’s topic?
There are definitely areas within this topic that I had a fair deal of knowledge in, and others I did
not. I had a good understanding of sexual education from my own learning in school. I was
taught about consent from the age of 11 and there were also talks about cyber-bullying so to hear
that these things were being removed from the curriculum is absolutely terrifying (Failing
Grade?: Ontario’s Sex-Education Changes - Video) . Sex education is so important for young
kids, it is important ot have a strong understanding of how your body works from a young age
and to understand what you have the right to deem not ok in terms of consent. Sex edcuation
allows children understand what kinds of touching are okay and not okay. Judith Levine's
chapter in her book describes what constitutes “good touching” touching that is helping for the
child and not predatory. Levine’s book aims to protect children from abuse and this chapter
looked to educate on what kinds of touching are appropriate. Before looking at this weeks’
material I understood the importance of teaching children about their bodies and their sexualities.
Childhood innocence is a very complicated topic and many people have a hard time drawing the
line on what children should and shouldn't know. It is my understanding that teaching children
from a young age about how their bodies work and about which parts are private, both allows
them to be comfortable in their bodies and with their sexualities, but also helps protect children
from abuse.
, 3. In a short paragraph, describe what you see as the main over-arching idea that is
holding our materials together this week. What is this “package” of
reading/videos/podcasts about? How would you explain it to someone?
[This is the most important question. Weak answers to #3 are the main reason people are
asked to revise. Give this question more time than the others. Focus on the big picture.
Think about connecting ideas and themes. And write your answer as if you were actually
explaining to someone what the package of readings (not just one or two of the titles) is
about. Use my notes on OnQ and the weekly headings to help you answer this question.]
The main overarching theme of this week’s material is addressing issues in children's
understanding of and relationship to sexaulity. This week’s material looks to address issues like
sex education both today as well as in the past and how it has changed over time. Through the
government’s attempt to change the sex education curriculum back to the 1998 version, we see a
clear example of society moving backwards, and going back to older ways of educating children
on their bodies. This curriculum does not include topics like cyber-bullying, gender identity or
consent, and in doing so are missing key elements of what children need to be learning about
themselves. This week looks to talk about issues faced by transgender youth, and how
transgender children face many obsticles such as stigma around trans youth participating in
sports. In general, this week’s material works to educate us on issues in sex education and
sexuality among youth as well as teach us what is needed to protect children from abuse through
the use of sexual education. This week looks to question the notion of childhood innocence and
asks us to think about what we think should be taught to children in relation to their sexuality.
4. Which piece most influenced your learning this week? How and/or why?
The piece that most influenced me this week was the Kotex publication. It was very interesting
to get an understanding of sexual education from over 80 years ago. Seeing how sexual
education, especially for girls, was taught back then really opened my eyes to how sex education
has changed over the years. In the Kotex publication it talks about how a young girl should not
use tampons unless she first consults a doctor. This is not how things work today, many young
girls use tampons without consulting anyone, except maybe a parent or trusted adult, but this
publication was almost criminalizing the use of tampons making it seem unsafe. For dull
discretion I am aware that this comment about tampons would be partially due to the fact that
this publication was advertising sanitary pads. Still, this mindset was not uncommon at the time
and as we see today, has vastly changed. As well, the publication talks about cleanliness during
this time of the month, and how a girl should be keeping clean, not for her own health but for her
appearance. It said, “Keep your hair clean and tidy, your nails nice, and wear clean, fresh
clothes! This not only makes you more comfortable - it makes you feel neat and well-groomed. It
gives you poise… and makes you more attractive!” This quote is essentially saying that it is
important to still look attractive during this time and that a girl should be looking pretty. It also
1. Which materials did you read/watch/listen to? (Please list them. Include the author’s
name and the title for readings, and the title for podcasts and videos)
- Kotex publication copyright 1940
- Social-Sex Attitudes in Adolescence (1953) - Video
- A Century Long Debate over Sexual Education in Ontario by Michelle Hutchinson
Grondin, PhD
- Failing Grade?: Ontario’s Sex-Education Changes - Video
- Good Touch by Judith Levine
- The Gender-Friendly Classroom by Dr. Lee Airton
- Transgender Kids and sport participation by Ann Travers
- What About the Trans Athletes Who Compete — And Win — in Men’s Sports? by Britni
De La Cretaz
- The Indigenous Doctor Helping Trans Youth - video
2. What was your previous knowledge on this week’s topic?
There are definitely areas within this topic that I had a fair deal of knowledge in, and others I did
not. I had a good understanding of sexual education from my own learning in school. I was
taught about consent from the age of 11 and there were also talks about cyber-bullying so to hear
that these things were being removed from the curriculum is absolutely terrifying (Failing
Grade?: Ontario’s Sex-Education Changes - Video) . Sex education is so important for young
kids, it is important ot have a strong understanding of how your body works from a young age
and to understand what you have the right to deem not ok in terms of consent. Sex edcuation
allows children understand what kinds of touching are okay and not okay. Judith Levine's
chapter in her book describes what constitutes “good touching” touching that is helping for the
child and not predatory. Levine’s book aims to protect children from abuse and this chapter
looked to educate on what kinds of touching are appropriate. Before looking at this weeks’
material I understood the importance of teaching children about their bodies and their sexualities.
Childhood innocence is a very complicated topic and many people have a hard time drawing the
line on what children should and shouldn't know. It is my understanding that teaching children
from a young age about how their bodies work and about which parts are private, both allows
them to be comfortable in their bodies and with their sexualities, but also helps protect children
from abuse.
, 3. In a short paragraph, describe what you see as the main over-arching idea that is
holding our materials together this week. What is this “package” of
reading/videos/podcasts about? How would you explain it to someone?
[This is the most important question. Weak answers to #3 are the main reason people are
asked to revise. Give this question more time than the others. Focus on the big picture.
Think about connecting ideas and themes. And write your answer as if you were actually
explaining to someone what the package of readings (not just one or two of the titles) is
about. Use my notes on OnQ and the weekly headings to help you answer this question.]
The main overarching theme of this week’s material is addressing issues in children's
understanding of and relationship to sexaulity. This week’s material looks to address issues like
sex education both today as well as in the past and how it has changed over time. Through the
government’s attempt to change the sex education curriculum back to the 1998 version, we see a
clear example of society moving backwards, and going back to older ways of educating children
on their bodies. This curriculum does not include topics like cyber-bullying, gender identity or
consent, and in doing so are missing key elements of what children need to be learning about
themselves. This week looks to talk about issues faced by transgender youth, and how
transgender children face many obsticles such as stigma around trans youth participating in
sports. In general, this week’s material works to educate us on issues in sex education and
sexuality among youth as well as teach us what is needed to protect children from abuse through
the use of sexual education. This week looks to question the notion of childhood innocence and
asks us to think about what we think should be taught to children in relation to their sexuality.
4. Which piece most influenced your learning this week? How and/or why?
The piece that most influenced me this week was the Kotex publication. It was very interesting
to get an understanding of sexual education from over 80 years ago. Seeing how sexual
education, especially for girls, was taught back then really opened my eyes to how sex education
has changed over the years. In the Kotex publication it talks about how a young girl should not
use tampons unless she first consults a doctor. This is not how things work today, many young
girls use tampons without consulting anyone, except maybe a parent or trusted adult, but this
publication was almost criminalizing the use of tampons making it seem unsafe. For dull
discretion I am aware that this comment about tampons would be partially due to the fact that
this publication was advertising sanitary pads. Still, this mindset was not uncommon at the time
and as we see today, has vastly changed. As well, the publication talks about cleanliness during
this time of the month, and how a girl should be keeping clean, not for her own health but for her
appearance. It said, “Keep your hair clean and tidy, your nails nice, and wear clean, fresh
clothes! This not only makes you more comfortable - it makes you feel neat and well-groomed. It
gives you poise… and makes you more attractive!” This quote is essentially saying that it is
important to still look attractive during this time and that a girl should be looking pretty. It also
