All about Sex in Week Six

Week 6 – sexuality education celebration

“Week 6 is sexuality education in its broadest sense,” says Kristín Blöndal Ragnarsdóttir, sexuality and science teacher at Lækjarskóli and human rights education coordinator for the Town of Hafnarfjörður.
Yes, next week is the week dedicated to sexual health and sexuality education in Hafnarfjörður’s schools. It runs from 2–6 February.

“Safety and violence is the focus this year,” Kristín says. “Young people choose the theme each year. This time they chose this topic, and it is a clear message from them. All the public discussion in society recently connects directly to this issue. They want to understand the difference between healthy and unhealthy communication. It’s a great theme, and we adults can be pleased with this focus. I think this kind of education is very much needed.”

Kristín says that 10th‑grade students will receive condoms. “It adds a bit of variety and fun to the week. Teachers in the upper grades who teach sexuality education have received card games about healthy and unhealthy interactions,” she says. “The highlight of the week is the Primary School Festival, the big dance for the primary schools in Hafnarfjörður. We will therefore talk about how we can all look out for one another that evening.”

Kristín Blöndal Ragnarsdóttir, sexuality and science teacher at Lækjarskóli and human rights education coordinator for Hafnarfjörður.

A change of pace in the sixth week of the year

Kristín says that the students she meets are excited about the week. “Week 6 is a fun break in the regular school routine.”

But can Kristín give examples of how violence and safety in sexual relationships are discussed? “It’s primarily about consent, communication, and respect between people. You always need to get consent for anything you do with another person,” Kristín says.

“This theme can be adapted for all year groups, even down to preschool. We talk about how we respect boundaries, and that is something we need to do at every stage of life.”

She explains that social media has blurred boundaries in new ways. “Our young people struggle a bit with setting boundaries,” she says. “Maybe this has always been the case and we’ve simply been unsure where to draw the line. But with social media, we see that young people feel entitled to each other’s time; that friends must reply immediately and respond. It’s forbidden to ‘leave someone on seen’ or to ‘ghost.’ It’s not considered cool to say no. They want to please one another.”

Owning themselves

Young people are taught that they own themselves and their own time. “They need to be able to set boundaries for others. This is an important topic and valuable education in schools. The best part is that they want it and ask for it. They are confused and think it’s normal to share passwords and give each other access to their accounts to prove they are trustworthy,” Kristín explains.

“This is a delicate theme, but I think it can be approached in many different ways for all age groups. Whether we’re talking about romantic relationships, friendships, or family relationships, we must feel safe and know that our boundaries are respected. All of this ties into the lack of boundaries we see in society. We feel entitled to all kinds of things, but we need to understand that nothing is guaranteed.”