Keeping it Together: Yes, sex-ed can be cool. These college kids proved it.
Hello Keeping it Together subscribers!
💐 Welcome to May, and Kentucky Derby Day! Sam Woodward here.
Often times an awkward or dreaded moment in kids' education may be learning about the birds and the bees. But in the age of social media, Gen Z is taking on the challenge of making these once uncomfortable lessons, dare I say, cool.
My colleague Rachel Hale spoke with a group of college students who run a TikTok account aimed at educating other young men about sexual and mental health. They produce wholesome (and really funny) content while doing it. Read more about their work here.
The content thrives in stark contrast to the dark online world of the manosphere and offers an alternative to misogyny (awesome, right?).
So, how can you make sex-ed cool? Take a lesson or two out of these students' books.
📝 A few ‘cool’ lessons from ‘Sex-ed for Guys’
- No, the advice isn’t just for guys, but they highlight issues and misinformation that young boys and men face, tackling them head on with education that meets them where they're at on social platforms coming straight from their peers.
- Respecting women doesn’t make you less of a man: In fact, caring for your partner and being secure in your self can build confidence in and outside of relationships.
- Mental health and sexual health go hand in hand: Talking about emotions, especially as a young man, is important (even when there isn't necessarily an issue at hand) in developing emotional intelligence and maintaining healthy relationships.
“We decided to focus the TikTok on sex-ed and not just the act of sex, but a comprehensive sex education about human development, relationships, personal skills, sexual behaviors, sexual health, society and culture and what it means to be a man,” the students' advisor and Colby College Professor Adam Howard says.
👀 Some other things I'm keeping my eye on in the Wellness world
- With a possible recession looming, sometimes it’s great to know how to save on things like haircuts. Here's how to put the cut your hair at home.
- The caveat for some couples ‘in sickness and in health’ might surprise you.
- And as someone with a whole lot of freckles, this was really helpful for me.
🦋 And finally, what I’m enjoying this week
- As promised in last week's edition, I started my journey as a novice runner. This playlist has been my savior to low energy and unmotivated days.
- And with summer already on my mind, I'm keeping an eye on these vacay destinations before prices jump.
❓ Before I leave you to enjoy your weekend, Mother’s Day is just on horizon (next week!). I’m struggling to find a worthy gift for my mom and want to find some inspiration. How do you show the mother figure in your life you love her? What are some of your best memories, favorite texts or things that remind you of her? Send us your answers to swoodward@gannett.com, and we may share it in the next Keeping it Together newsletter.
See ya next week!
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