'Sex Education': A Vehicle to Open Discussions on Sex

“Everybody’s either thinking about shagging, about to shag, or actually shagging.”

While blunt, this observation by Eric Effiong (Ncuti Gatwa), a main character in Netflix’s “Sex Education”, sets the tone for the series and its destigmatization of sex in its first episode. 

On Jan. 17, Netflix released season two of the dramedy, which surpassed season one on Rotten Tomatoes’ ‘Tomatometer’ by 6 percent, earning itself a 97 percent. 

“Sex Education” is as literal as it sounds - information about sex embedded into a heartfelt British dramedy. It features Otis Milburn (Asa Butterfield) as a socially awkward teenager struggling through adolescence. As hard as that is for the average teenager, Otis’s mom Gene (Gillian Anderson) works as a sex and relationship therapist, which greatly affects Otis’s life. With the knowledge he has from the anatomically correct structures decorating his house and the informational videos filling his living room, Otis and his ‘friend’ Maeve Wiley (Emma Mackey) open a ‘sex clinic’ where they charge their peers for advice on everything from pubic hair to preferences in bed. 

The discussion between characters reflects modern culture that we can apply to our own lives while attempting to mitigate a void in the sexual health education of teenagers through one of their most consumed media: television. 

While shows like this often belittle teenage struggles or preach a health class lesson, “Sex Education” does neither. It offers an opportunity for an open dialogue involving sex-positive and nonjudgemental discussions about plot points that students may not be receiving in school. According to a 2016 study done by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “the median share of schools in each state that provided instruction on all 19 topics that the CDC considers essential to sexual health education was 38 [percent] of high schools and only 14 [percent] of middle schools.” 

Sex is complicated, and the show succeeds in embracing both the awkward and expected intricacies even the most open teenagers feel uncomfortable talking about. Some of the topics covered on the show include masturbation, female sexuality, sexual assault, gender stereotypes, consent, abortion, the #Metoo era, slut-shaming and LGBTQ+ relationships. 

In its portrayal of sexual activity, “Sex Education” also includes information on safe sex, and even an entire episode devoted to chlamydia. While more than 75 percent of prime-time television shows depict sex or indicate sexual content, only 14 percent highlight the risks or responsibilities involved with sex, according to a 2010 study done by the American Academy of Pediatrics. This emphasis on sexual health that currently lacks in mainstream media sets “Sex Education” apart as a show committed to getting the details right. 

Another important aspect of the show is that each plotline happens to different characters, and some relate to their levels of sexual development. This is something that shows portraying teen sex often fails to depict, as they assume all teens are having sex all the time when that doesn’t reflect reality. For example, Otis struggles to masturbate while Maeve is comfortable being sexually active, and the two are able to maintain a friendship without judging the other’s experience. 

This spectrum more accurately reflects teens today, as only 41 percent of students in grades 9-12 have had sex, according to a 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance (YRBS) survey. The more honest portrayal is something closer to the lives of today’s teens, which is helpful in education and demystifying teens’ sex lives. 

Teens’ various stages of sexual development and experience also transcends generations. While “Sex Education” primarily focuses on the teenagers at Moordale High School, some of the recurring adult characters experience sexual dilemmas, such as reigniting the spark in a long-lasting marriage, or exploring hookup culture as a divorced adult.

It is important to remember that teenagers are not the only ones struggling with sex and its implications. Sex is a complicated physical and emotional activity that happens in all stages of life, and by presenting it openly, “Sex Education” makes it an important staple for educating all age groups. 

The second season of “Sex Education” achieved both of its presumed goals: educating viewers about a variety of sexual concerns and providing an endearing look into adolescence as it exists today. It touched on topics that other shows hesitate to address and in my opinion, will help normalize the discussion of healthy sexual behavior among teens. Hopefully, it makes you laugh a bit and teaches you a little something about sex.