Discussion Ideas
Sex: Lots to Talk About?

“Let’s Talk About Sex,” by Anonymous is rich with statements and observations that can help open up healthy discussions about sex.

They include:
1) How should parents respond when they find out their teen is sexually active? There are several possible responses mentioned in the story: a father approves and the teens get married; parents go mental and lock teen away for life; mom threatens to kill daughter; parents teach sexually active teen how to be safe; parents stalk boyfriend.

Lesson idea: Have students read the article and circle the statement they think best describes what their parents would do if they found out they were having sex. Have students also circle the statement closest to what they wish their parents would do. Discuss. (Focus the discussion on what they wish their parents would do and why. Is there any strategy that might help bring the parents around?)

2) Are teens with strict parents more likely to have sex? Some teens say that “teens with strict parents are more likely to have sex.” But the writer points out that her mom is strict, and she doesn’t plan to have sex.

Lesson idea: Debate—Are teens with strict parents more or less likely to have sex? Why or why not?

3) Why don’t parents want teens to have sex? To protect their children, or to protect their own reputations?

Lesson idea: Debate—When parents tell teens they cannot have sex, are they more concerned with the health and well-being of their teen children, or their own reputation? When teens won’t tell their parents they are having sex, are they trying to protect their parents from the pain of hearing difficult information, or are the teens trying to protect their reputation with their parents?

Final discussion: If teens are having sex, or planning to, should they tell their parents? Why or why not? What might be the benefits of confiding? What are the risks? How should they tell them? In person? Write a letter? Drop hints? Under what circumstances might teens tell or not tell? (For example, are some parents more approachable than others?). If a teen is not willing to tell his (or her) parents, should he/she wait until he/she moves out, as the writer plans to do? Why or why not?