Healthy Sex. Healthy World.
You want a healthy world? YOU have to do something about it. The three most basic and essential needs for life to sustain and continue are air, sustenance, and sex. Without these, human life simply ceases to exist.
Concerning air, governments globally have recognized the importance of clean air, enacting regulations to improve air quality. And with sustenance, clean water initiatives and efforts to address hunger and food insecurity are ongoing worldwide. We could always do more in these areas, but they’re being actively addressed because life depends on them.
But, Sex. Life also depends on sex—no sex, no reproduction, no continuation of human life. And yet, we’re barely addressing issues around sex in a way that promotes a healthy understanding and approach.
The Education Gap
The average adult today receives less than seven hours of education on human sexuality in their entire life. Seven hours! For something that has the power to bring connection, fulfillment, and life itself—and also the power to harm and destroy lives—seven hours of education isn’t just inadequate. It’s neglect. It sends a message: “Fend for yourself,” or “It’s too uncomfortable to talk about,” or “It’s just personal.”
But the commercial sex industry (CSI) is more than willing to fill that education gap. In fact, an article just published on November 13, 2024 is entitled New Report Revels Young Aussies are Relying on Porn for Sex Education.
Quick refresher: The CSI is made up of—Prostitution, Trafficking, Stripping, Porn and Novelty.
A recent study asked 675 teenagers where their main source of sex education came from: 29.3% from porn and 12.4% from the internet. I ask this question frequently in classes I speak in: “who received sex talk from their parents?” Less than ⅓ of each group slowly raised their hands.
In their own words, here’s what PornHub says about its role in shaping views on sex:
“Real talk about sex from those who know it best: Although porn does not always represent sexual interactions and behaviors typical of everyday life, and often depicts diverse fantasies and roleplay by consenting amateurs and professionals, it can promote diverse sexual practices and allow individuals to explore their own sexuality and preferences.” — PornHub’s Sexual Wellness Center
The Research Speaks for Itself
Despite porn’s promise of improving consumers’ sex lives, research shows that consuming porn is associated with decreased sexual satisfaction. Studies show that sex education helps students become healthier and more well-adjusted adults. It leads to lower STI rates, fewer unintended pregnancies, better self-esteem, healthier relationships, and many more benefits. Studies also tell us that the normalization of explicit sexual content contributes to harmful attitudes and behaviors, including objectification, commodification, and a disregard for boundaries and consent.
Today, CSI is a $540.75 billion industry ($76.9 billion in the U.S. alone). $3,100 per second is spent on porn. That’s $267.8 million per day, $1.9 billion per week, $8.6 billion per month, and $104 billion per year. With those dollars, porn is shaping cultural norms in ways you might not even realize.
Reimagining the Impact
What could a redirected $540.7 billion do if invested in building a healthier world? Imagine these dollars tackling:
Global Poverty: Reducing or eradicating extreme poverty.
Healthcare: Addressing pandemics, improving access to healthcare, and supporting public health.
Climate Change: Supporting renewable energy and green tech, and conserving resources to mitigate climate impacts.
Infrastructure: Building highways, bridges, airports, and rail systems.
Education: Providing quality education in underserved communities.
Business: Investing in startups and small businesses to create jobs and stimulate the economy.
Be Part of the Change
You don’t need billions to make a difference in promoting healthy attitudes about sex. Here’s how you can be part of the movement toward a healthier, more informed world:
Educate Yourself: Seek credible resources that provide comprehensive, research-based insights into healthy sexuality.
Start Conversations: Discuss healthy views on sex with family, friends, or in your community. Normalizing these conversations reduces stigma and helps younger generations feel equipped to make informed choices.
Support Education Efforts: Donate to Lovely Village and support our Stop Demand: Restore Lives and LiveTalks programs. Every dollar helps make these critical programs available for those who need them most.
Engage Politically: Advocate for better sex education policies in schools and communities.
Be a Mindful Consumer: If you use media or content related to sexuality, look for sources that promote healthy, consensual, and respectful depictions. Avoid content that objectifies or commodifies people, as it perpetuates damaging cultural norms.
Volunteer: Offer your time to organizations like Lovely Village working in sexual health, education, or rehabilitation for those affected by the commercial sex industry.
Raise Awareness: Share what you learn with others. Spread the word on social media or in community spaces. Awareness can drive culture change, helping people rethink their own views and actions.
It’s time to get our heads, hearts, bodies, and pocketbooks around a healthier view of sex. This is a missing ingredient for a healthier, sustainable world.
Our world and our lives depend on it!
Brett
For a Deeper Dive:
https://truthaboutporn.org/?_gl=1%2A10rh12v%2A_up%2AMQ..%2A_ga%2ANTkzMjM2MjQyLjE3Mjk2OTczMjQ.%2A_ga_3VF64E6XBN%2AMTczMTA4ODU0OC4xNC4xLjE3MzEwODk0NjkuMC4wLjA.Type of Sex Education in Childhood and Adolescence: Influence on Young People’s Sexual Experimentation, Risk and Satisfaction: The Necessity of Establishing School Nursing as a Pillar - PMChttps://www.jahonline.org/article/S1054-139X(20)30456-0/fulltexthttp://www.advocatesforyouth.org/wp-content/uploads/storage/advfy/documents/school-health-equity/sexual-healthed-research-and-results.pdfhttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8872707/https://www.apa.org/pi/women/programs/girls/report
Szymanski, D. M., & Stewart-Richardson, D. N. (2014). Psychological, Relational, and Sexual Correlates of Pornography Use on Young Adult Heterosexual Men in Romantic Relationships. The Journal of Men’s Studies, 22(1), 64–82. https://doi.org/10.3149/jms.2201.64British Board of Film Classification. (2020). Young people, pornography & age-verification. BBFC. Retrieved from https://www.bbfc.co.uk/about-classification/researchHow Porn Can Distort Consumers’ Understanding Of Healthy Sex