1.3 Risk-based versus positive approaches

The next activity looks at risk-based and positive approaches to talking about sexual pleasure.

Activity 1.4: Risk-based or positive?

Part 1

Timing: Allow about 10 minutes to do this activity
Described image
Figure 1.3 Positive approaches keep the road towards a good sexual life clear...
Show description|Hide description

This photograph shows a deserted road in the middle of the countryside. The road is clear of traffic.

Figure 1.3 Positive approaches keep the road towards a good sexual life clear...
Described image
Figure 1.4 ...whereas a risk-based approach can often put up unnecessary obstacles for young people
Show description|Hide description

This photograph shows a deserted road in the middle of the countryside. However the road is blocked by a ‘no entry’ sign.

Figure 1.4 ...whereas a risk-based approach can often put up unnecessary obstacles for young people

A good way of thinking about the messages we give to young people around the topic of sexual pleasure is to ask whether they are risk-based or positive.

Read the story below and think about the messages the different parents give their children: are they risk-based or positive?

Two children live beside each other on a busy road. On the other side of the road is a playground and each child asks their parents whether they can go to the playground.

The parents of the first child tell him that the road is dangerous. There is too much traffic on the road and he might be injured if he tries to cross it alone.

The parents of the second child tell her that yes, the road is dangerous, but she will have to learn to cross busy roads like everyone else. So they show her how to look left and right and wait until there is no traffic so that she can cross the road safely.

A risk-based approach is an approach which focusses mainly on the risks or negative consequences of certain behaviour. In case of sexuality a risk-based approach means focusing on the negative consequences of sex (such as unwanted pregnancy or STIs) and ignores the reasons why people have sex and the positive outcomes. A risk based approach only warns people against ‘bad’ things, without giving proper information.

A positive approach focuses on sexuality as a potential source for well-being and pleasure in people’s lives. It aims to support people to be able to choose safely, to enjoy their sexuality safely no matter what their sexual orientation or gender identity is. A positive approach also teaches people skills and knowledge on how to prevent problems, and how to cope with them if they appear.

Young people are often told about the risks and the dangers of sex, but seldom about its pleasure and gains. They are often encouraged to feel guilty, ashamed or fearful of their own sexuality. A positive approach to CSE talks openly about risks or negative consequences, but in a wider context which focuses on the pleasures of sexual activity. The positive approach focuses on what young people need to gain sexual satisfaction, happiness and fulfilment in order to avoid the negative consequences.

Both approaches have the goal of keeping young people safe, but they do so in very different ways.

Part 2

Timing: Allow about 15 minutes to do this activity

Here is a list of the different ways you might teach CSE.

Select the appropriate choice on the scale according to whether you think it is part of a risk-based approach to CSE, a positive approach to CSE, or if you think it could be part of either approach.

Active content not displayed. This content requires JavaScript to be enabled.
Interactive feature not available in single page view (see it in standard view).

Further thoughts

Dona D’Acosta Martinez is Executive Director of the Family Planning Association of Trinidad and Tobago. Dona has some amazing insights into what being ‘positive’ means in practice and why it is important. Watch the clip to find out more.

Download this video clip.Video player: nc_ippf_2019_vid002.mp4
Copy this transcript to the clipboard
Print this transcript
Show transcript|Hide transcript

Transcript

DONA
It is true that, if the discussion is not open and honest and you ignore the issues that are important to young people - and one is their sexual development - that it continues to reinforce that this is something bad - so talking about their sexual development, talking about their sexuality connotes that is something bad.
And therefore, it is important in the discussion - it's an opportunity, really - for us as leaders to change that discourse, to bring it into the open in a realistic manner, in an age-appropriate manner that this is something human, this is something natural that is happening in their development - in their overall development - and that we need to talk about it.
And therefore, this is where the honesty comes in - that we need not to give them information that will further reinforce that negativism, but really information that will empower them that they can use in a way that they can manage their sexuality and sexual development so that they understand that the feelings are real and that they are feelings that they should enjoy, that they should be able to manage in a way that they will gain the pleasure that they can from understanding the whole issue of sexual development.
But actually, because already we have created this the secrecy, and sex and sexuality is shrouded in this level of secrecy - it's a dark area never for you to explore - I am saying that it is therefore not normal when young people have different experiences along their sexual development that we don't celebrate it. We reinforce the negativism.
For instance, when a young girl begins to see her period, we don't use that as an opportunity to celebrate her womanhood. We don't use that as an opportunity to say this is an enjoyable time in your life. And we need to celebrate that. Instead, we reinforce all the negative issues that is related to sex. So now, be careful of boys. Be careful. You can't have sex because you'll become pregnant.
Why can't we say to them that this is a time in your life that is a developing aspect of your sexuality? And that is a proud moment, and it's something that you should be proud of. And therefore, it is something that you need to have information - correct information - to ensure that you can manage this new phase of your life. That's all we have to do.
End transcript
Download
 
Interactive feature not available in single page view (see it in standard view).

1.2 What is essential for pleasure?

1.4 Being ‘positive’