1970s Sex Education

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The sexual climate of Judy Blume’s Forever and Katherine’s visit to Planned Parenthood in particular left me wondering about Sex Ed in the 1970s. I was not surprised to learn that the 70s brought an influx of fuller accounts of human reproductive systems in textbooks and presentations, more extensive information about methods of contraception and programming that worked to decrease ignorance, guilt, or embarrassment (for more information see: http://www.open.edu/openlearn/body-mind/health/health-studies/brief-history-sex-education). Forever typifies this new outlook on sexuality, complete with graphic and detailed descriptions of sexual encounters, first pap smears, and discussions of consent.

Also in my research, I came across Ten Heavy Facts About Sex, a comic published by psychologist Sol Gordon in 1971. Although parents abhorred the publication, it provided practical information based on over 5,000 questions sent in by teens across the country regarding premarital sex, homosexuality, pornography, abortion, and masturbation. Ed-U Press sold over 1 million copies of the comic!

Read more about Ten Heavy Facts About Sex and other comic books published at the time here: http://fusion.net/story/148805/1970s-sex-ed-comic-book-ten-heavy-facts-about-sex-once-sparked-outrage/

Pages from Ten Heavy Facts About Sex

One response to “1970s Sex Education”

  1. drenovales Avatar
    drenovales

    In reading “Forever”, I also found myself curious about what sex education was like during the time in which this novel was written. I find it fascinating how quickly the narrative of sex education can change. Looking at the comic you provided, I started to think about what my own experience with sex education was like both in grade school and then again in my high school health course. Looking back at it, although I think I did learn more than I would assume my parents did when they took these courses, I still believe that the education I was provided with was very limited. Even in high school health, which at this point was about seven years ago, my teacher was heavily promoting abstinence in a manner that suggested in was the only viable options for the students as young adults. I am interested to see how this narrative continues to develop.

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