KPFA UpFront Morning Show Interview: Sex & Dating During COVID
0:34 – What does dating and sex look like during a pandemic, with social distancing guidelines still in place? We answer listener questions with Dr. Oliver Bacon, a physician at the San Francisco City Clinic, and Julia Feldman, a Bay Area-based sex educator who runs the sex education consultancy Giving The Talk. When it comes to dating, Julia advises people to “take the time to cultivate trust” before initiating any sort of intimacy.
How to Talk to Kids about Sexual Abuse
As parents, we’re first and foremost charged with keeping our children safe and healthy. We supply them with veggies, disinfect their scratches, do our best to brush all of their little teeth and get them to bed at a civilized time, but what about the more scary and daunting aspects of safety? Nowhere do parents feel more fearful and less equipped than when talking about protecting their children from sexual abuse and violence. This terrifying topic directly relates to many of our parenting hopes and fears, such as our desires to encourage freedom and independence while simultaneously wanting to protect vulnerability and innocence. We can feel pushed and pulled in many opposing directions, so let’s talk about how to best equip ourselves and our children to face the challenges we hope we never will.
Why Not Hugging Grandma is OK! Tips To Teach Kids Bodily Autonomy
The setting is a common one this time of year: you’re getting ready to leave a holiday gathering and it’s time to say your goodbyes. You begin to make the rounds and inevitably goodbye hugs and kisses are exchanged. For parents, this portion of the event can be a source of dread; how do you navigate others’ expectations of “proper” goodbyes while respecting your child’s bodily autonomy (their ability to control who touches them and when)?
Mom Talk: Teaching Consent to Toddlers
Last weekend I experienced one of my proudest parenting moments to date. At a friend’s birthday party, an adult guest was tickling my 2.5 year old kiddo. When my kiddo said “stop” the tickler did not stop. Frustrated, my child called out loudly, “When someone says stop, you stop!” The adult recoiled in a mixture of shock and shame. Inwardly, I beamed with pride. I had just witnessed my 2.5 year old child explain the basic concept of consent to an adult.
Rape Culture: What It Is & How To Combat It When Raising Kids
The term “rape culture” is being used in the media and across social platforms a lot lately. Though we may have thoughts about what it means, what are we actually talking about here? Roughly speaking, “rape culture” is a sociological term used to describe a culture in which sexual assault and the routine violation of female autonomy is not only permitted but woven, both subtly and overtly, into the very fabric of our society. In light of the rise of #metoo and #timesup, there’s a widespread interest in better understanding the social forces that are contributing to these horrific and routine violations. As parents of both girls and boys, this interest is multifaceted; we want to understand the forces at play, protect our children from the evils that surround us, and figure out how to raise children who will help to disrupt these horrible cycles—lest we be complacent in perpetuating them.