When Teen Vogue wrote their guide, ‘Anal Sex: What You Need To Know‘, the article went viral. The article, complete with simple diagrams and pointers, is quick to emphasise that its purpose is to inform, and not, as many critics have argued, to encourage underage sex. As the article says, “even if you do learn more and decide anal sex is not a thing you’d like to try, it doesn’t hurt to have the information.” Teen Vogue sought to describe anal sex as a perfectly natural act for many people, that deserves a place in sexual health education.
Critics of this piece were far too ready to tarnish the magazine, as if Teen Vogue’s call for safe and consensual sexual discovery was on par to devils worship, or an actual crime, like gun violence. Sure, the article does take an encouraging tone; author Gigi Engle declares, “I wanted you to know the benefits and positives when it comes to anal. Because there are many!” But Engle isn’t wrong in making this article sex-positive
“Teen Vogue is choosing to educate when many are opting for ignorance over safety.”
36 percent of women and 42 percent of men have engaged in anal sex. Teen Vogue is choosing to educate when many parents, teachers, and government officials are opting for ignorance over safety. If the main branches of education and advice are refusing to answer questions young people have, the information must come from other, unofficial means of education; and honestly, articles such as the one published by Teen Vogue are better than the alternative of aimless googling or uneducated, unprotected sex.
Maybe Teen Vogue shouldn’t be the place where young people receive their sexual health education. But until governments take responsibility and deliver unbiased, informative sexual education, these guides provide a lifeline for people who are in need of this information. The fundamental problem lies with government officials and activists against comprehensive sexual health education, confusing information as encouragement. This has, rather horrifyingly, meant that for some states in America it is easier and cheaper to buy a gun than it is to acquire certain types of contraception.
“These important changes in UK sex education hope to create a generation informed on the parameters healthy relationships.”
The UK government policy is currently also questionable, with only schools under local authority control required to teach some form of Relationship Education. However, recent changes under the stewardship of the Department of Education Minister, Justine Greening, pledge to make sex education compulsory in all schools by 2019. Furthermore, this change in Relationship Education will address sex education in a modern age of technology, as well as discussing issues surrounding sexuality and consent. These important changes hope to create a generation informed on the parameters healthy relationships, and hopefully encourage young people to take care of themselves and their future partners.
Whether this relationship education will enable teens to view sexual relationships positively needs to be addressed by government as they continue to create this new legislation. As important as teaching about the dangers of sexual relationships and relationships formed through the internet is, it is also important that sexual health be talked about honestly and positively, as Teen Vogue chose to do. There is no place for stigma in the twenty first century, and young people should have a place where they can talk openly, not just about sexual health, but sexuality and identity. Being sex positive also includes teaching women and LGBTQ+ people, who are so often left out of the narrative, about the benefits, and not just the dangers, of sexual relationships.
“The criticism is undeniably ignorant and homophobic.”
Teen Vogue’s article was hardly different than the plethora of sexual health advice available on the internet for young people. The criticism is undeniably ignorant and homophobic. Indeed, Teen Vogue editor Phillip Picardi beautifully tweeted his response to the criticism, explaining how the ignorance of his Catholic High School led to a personal health scare.
He ended his response by saying; “How can you possibly expect teenagers to practice safe sex if they don’t know what’s at risk?”
Equally, Gigi Engle responded to the criticism when talking to the Daily Mail on Wednesday, stating; “I’d only say that as a writer and an educator, I have no intention of ever discontinuing my mission to help young people better understand their bodies and how they work.
Sex Ed in America is so backward and lacking that kids are turning to porn as their only form of sex education. Porn, while entertaining, is not a real-life representation of sex.”
May we learn from their example. Well done, Teen Vogue.
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Here at The Nopebook, whilst we are not trained sexual health nurses, we have a number of articles regarding sexual health under our Health section that may be useful to any readers with questions
Alternatively, the NHS Choices Website has some vital information on safe sex and contraception, including anal sex. You can also search for your closed sexual health clinic here.
Finally, Teen Vogue offer more articles on discussing sexual health, sexuality and identity. If you found their guide works for you, check out their other stuff!
