Jumping into a cold river on a hot day is a great way to explain sex education!

Sexual health education IS violence prevention.

When we promote things like autonomy, safety, agency, connection and dignity we are preventing things like violence, neglect, suicide, harassment and abuse from happening to begin with. Sex ed is the upstream approach to violence prevention. The best way to explain it is through the lens of a parable that was recently shared with me by the Oregon Attorney General’s Sexual Assault Task Force (SATF).

As you are walking along a river bank, you spot someone drowning in the water. You jump in, drag them to shore, and save their life. A few minutes later, it happens again. And then again, over and over. Finally, another person shows up, but rather than help you the person walks away. You are in disbelief, but quickly turn your attention to saving the next person. Eventually, no more bodies appear in the river. The person who had previously walked away shows up and explains that they walked upstream, figured out why people were falling in the river, and fixed the problem. 

Downstream prevention is about supporting victims of violence and helping them heal. Midstream is about reacting effectively when it does happen. Upstream is about preventing violence from happening in the first place. Though sexuality education provides prevention tools all along the riverbank, it’s main purpose and strength lies in preventing any of it from taking root in the first place.