Over the weekend, I was speaking with a reporter who had attended The Politics of Pleasure discussion I recently held through The Chat Lounge in NYC. He asked: “If I were to be consulted by the Surgeon General of the United States, what kind of suggestions would I make to help turn America into a more sexually healthy nation?”
Well, many of you who have seen my presentations know of my deep love for all things medical. I do hold a strong fascination for the human body and the individuals who choose to devote their lives medicine. In fact, one of my earliest memories is of a book I found in my parent’s library called: “Man’s Body”. I was so taken by this introductory medical text that I spent hours reading the notes, examining the scientific language, and pouring over the organ systems, most especially the sexual and reproductive parts!. Alas, my mother soon noticed where the book was becoming dog-eared, and it quickly vanished from their shelves.
But back to the question: How could I help America be more sexually healthy? My answer: Mandate that all medical students, especially future pediatricians, take a full course in human sexuality. Prevention is the answer, yet so many doctors are woefully unprepared for discussions about sexual issues. On average, medical students are only receiving 10 hours of sexual health related topics in their medical school curriculums, and most of that is relegated to only three topics: birth control, sexually transmitted diseases, and GLBT population concerns. Many doctors themselves are terrified to have a conversation about sexual issues, even if the patient brings it up. But doctors remain the first source for answers when someone in the general public is dealing with issues or concerns.
They need training, they need resources, and they need support.
And it needs to start at the beginning, thus I think that we should pay special attention to the future pediatricians. A pediatrician with adequate sexuality training can comfortably address parents concerns/questions regarding the sexual behaviors their child may be experiencing or engaging in. If the pediatrician could model a conversation of “it’s ok to talk about this” or “this is a healthy, normal stage of development” the parents could see that sexuality can be discussed in a normative, non crisis fashion. Imagine the change this could bring!
Pediatricians have the most access to creating change in parents attitudes. Parents would learn that displays of sexuality by their child need not lead to negative or shame based reactions, and thus the child could grow up learning that sexuality is a natural, healthy part of human development. Less shame! Less fear! Less neurosis and guilt leads to more healthy attitude about sex as an adult.
This is why I am such a huge fan of The America Medical Student Association Sexual Health Scholars Program. It’s giving opportunities to medical students to learn about sexuality in a more detailed fashion. This is such an important piece of the puzzle in providing America with healthy sexual attitudes. Sex educators can’t do it alone. We’re a woefully small group of individuals. I mean really, how many sex educators does the average person know? It’s not the average job. But pediatricians? There are thousands of newly trained pediatricians joining the workforce every year, exactly the kind of job with W-I-D-E reach that can truly effect change.
I’m thankful for all the work sexuality advocates are putting forth into the community, it’s amazing to see change happening. But I want it to happen faster and I have faith that with some organizing and planning, support from the medical community would lead to reduced fear, stress, and shame most American’s struggle with regarding their sexuality.
I want that change now.
