About Sexual Literacy 

What is sexual literacy?

At NSRC, we focus on a positive, integrated and holistic view of sexuality from a social justice perspective. We believe that every person should have the knowledge, skills and resources to support healthy and pleasurable sexuality—and that these resources should be based on accurate research and facts. We examine how race, gender, culture, ability, faith and age intersect with and shape our sexual beliefs. We know that sexuality education and learning should be lifelong. We call this sexual literacy.

Why do we need it?

Current models of sexuality (focused largely on disease and prevention) aren’t working. Rates of STIs and unintended pregnancy are disproportionately high. Discrimination and oppression contribute to sexual health inequities, as does a cross-cultural shame, silence and stigma around sexuality. Many sexuality-related interventions promote fear and misconceptions rather than respect and facts.

We cannot promote healthy sexuality, or design successful interventions, without redefining our very understanding of sexuality—recognizing it as highly individual and dynamic, informed by age, culture, physical ability, gender and other characteristics. Sexual literacy promotes community knowledge and moves conversations about sexuality beyond the disease– and prevention-based medical model—transforming ‘sexual health’ into ‘healthy sexuality.’

How does NSRC advance sexual literacy?

Redefining our basic understanding of sexuality isn’t easy: if you want real change you have to start at the top. Using an ecological framework, NSRC works with traditionally under-represented partners including faith-based, queer, disability rights and social justice organizations, to foster mutual growth and advance shared goals. NSRC promotes sexual literacy through its website, projects, workshops, educational trainings and other events designed to build capacity and skills in organizations and individuals who can then build skills in their own communities. We actively encourage a flexible, dynamic view of sexuality and sexual literacy that is shaped by and responsive to the needs of communities, cultures and individuals. We disseminate research, data and information that are fact-based, accessible and that promote best practices.

Sexual literacy is the path to fully realizing our vision of healthy, happy sexuality, across the lifespan.

How you can help build a sexual literacy movement

It’s not always easy to talk about sexuality. Many of us often feel isolated in our work and rarely experience shame-free, non-judgmental spaces to explore sexuality. Not only is it safe for you to do that here—it is necessary. Your voice and views add to the definition of sexual literacy---whether you are an academic or an advocate, a professional researcher or a parent, we want to know what you think.

• Connect with advocates, organizations and researchers doing similar work in our Dialogues Network.
• Sound off about the sexuality issues you’re passionate about by writing your own blog.
• Comment on our stories, share your thoughts about other blogs and pass important info along to your friends and allies through our interactive web tools.
• Enrich our resources by adding pro-sexuality organizations to by Mapping the Movement.
• Add the power, reach and perspective of your organization to our work by becoming a partner or ally.
• Advocate for greater sexual literacy within your schools, homes, places of worship, work, academic discipline, and profession.

We support and respect multiple positions on sexuality, so long as they are presented in a way that supports and respects the rights and views of others, and promote sexuality as positive and pleasurable rather than negative or shame-based.

Please join us as we create a sexually literate, sexually healthy society.