SubS.E.T. topics in “Sex is a funny word”

Koushita Gouri Reddy V -

Hello everyone!

Today I’ll be writing about a book I read recently titles Sex is a funny word by Cory Silverberg and Fiona Smyth. It’s actually a comic book with amazing illustrations and covers the concepts of what is sex, personal space, consent, pleasure, puberty changes, and more. Overall the book is really easy to understand and even mentions some activities to do in order to understand certain concepts better.

It also organizes the topics into specific values (ie trust and responsibility). For example, a part of the book which I truly loved was the concept of knowing your body and yourself. It asks the questions of “what’s something you have but also something you are” (the answer is your body). This question brings to light that you are a body but with so much more inside and an activity which I plan to incorporate into my curriculum is to draw what you physically look like and a picture of what you are (funny, friendly, etc).

Another topic the book covers is the concept of touch. The reason I loved the way this was covered is because of the way the concept was conceptualized to different cultures. One quote, from the book, in particular that I would like to bring up is “in some families and communities hugging and kissing is a way of saying hello, showing respect , or showing love” (103). The complexity of understanding the culture you’re living in or growing up in combined with you’re personal feelings is hard to grasp, that’s why communication is so important and that’s why the first lesson in my curriculum brings up being vocal about your feelings and emotions.

If you would like to read more about differences between the importance and meaning of touch in different cultures, here is an article that explains in more detail: https://www.rebekkamikkola.com/post/touch-in-different-cultures

Additionally here’s a link to the cover page of the book: https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=d43f5111e59e559f&sca_upv=1&rlz=1C9BKJA_enUS1037US1037&hl=en-US&q=sex+is+a+funny+word&tbm=isch&source=lnms&prmd=ivsnbmtz&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiz76Oc38mFAxWVI0QIHarjARkQ0pQJegQICxAB&biw=678&bih=905&dpr=2#imgrc=OSwzTM0JpbNj2M&imgdii=8PJognT7Wqq3IM

Thank you for reading!

  • Koushita

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Comments:

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    Jen Smetanick
    Thank you for sharing your research. I also like how this book compares different cultural perspectives. What are some of the other books or literatures you have found helpful?
    sowmithra_m
    Hi Koushita! This book sounds interesting. What made you choose to read this book?
    koushitagourireddy_v
    Hi Ms. Smetanick! I’m glad that you asked this question! My on-site advisor actually provided me with three books, one being the one I talked about, but the other two were just as insightful. “You know sex” and “How to make a baby” are the other two and are by the same authors. The reason I believe this style works so well is because of the cartoon like aspects while still having realism. Making it both fun and educational! An aspect I wish to bring into my project as well.
    koushitagourireddy_v
    Hi sowmithra! I was actually recommended this book by my advisor, Allison Stewart, as she believed it would help me look at the curriculum from a different point of view.

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