Table Of Content“Sex education is life learning. As our world has evolved so have the topics and
approaches to sex education. Sex Education Research: A Look Between the Sheets
is a timely discussion on these topics. Researchers and practitioners are delving
into topics that sexuality educators and other professionals either address or avoid
each day in their work. Whether a researcher, educator, or any other sexuality
professional, this book provides an opportunity to hear from subject matter
experts and the curious, on topics including pleasure, pornography, consent,
social media, college health and more. Like the sexuality profession, this book
includes a range of perspectives in research topics and current issues; many of
which are not discussed in other texts.”
Tanya M. Bass, PhD, MS, MEd, CHES®, CSE; Founder, North
Carolina Sexual Health Conference, Raleigh, NC
“As a recent MPH graduate, Sex Education: A Look Between the Sheets is exactly
what I needed. The chapters contain important and useful knowledge for those
in the field of sexuality as well as those like me trying to find their way in. The
chapters are written in more of a narrative than research form, which makes it
easier for newcomers like myself to be able to read and understand. The wisdom
shared in these chapters makes me feel excited to join this prestigious community
of sexuality educators.”
Kayla I. Henry, MPH, CHES®
“Having consulted some of the original “sourcebooks” of classic sexuality research
studies during his college years, and as present editor of the American Journal of
Sexuality Education (AJSE), Taverner intuitively understands the value of strong
scientific data behind meaningful theory and practice in sexology. This tenet
has not always been front and center in the field of sexuality education, and this
book takes a giant step in rectifying that fact. The talented editor of this book
has brought together 24 significant research studies that were originally published
in AJSE, asking the researchers to write about their work in a jargon-free
essay format, emphasizing the stories behind their studies and explaining in clear
language the value of their work. There are no complex statistical analyses or
adventures in obscure phrasing to be navigated, leaving instead eminently readable
and informative essays that will be of value to professionals and laypersons alike.
The range of topics covered by the studies in the book is impressively
comprehensive. There are chapters on communication with LGBTQ youth,
attitudes toward circumcision, sexual consent and sexual pleasure, sexuality
education for children with disabilities, promotion of sexual health, explorations
of the content and audiences of pornography, prevention of child sexual abuse,
and several other timely issues. Interestingly, with the more conversational tone
taken by the authors of these papers, there are often emotionally touching aspects
of their work that show through more easily than is typical when the content is
embedded in the stark technicalities of research. This makes for a refreshing and
moving exploration of work that is, at its center, focused on one of the most
intimate and personal parts of the human experience.
I can’t help but think that editors of all professional journals in the social
sciences might be able to learn from the writing approach used to explain
research in this book. For me, reading journal papers has always been a labor of
love and necessity, but it sometimes feels like an onerous task to sort through the
thickets of strained verbiage and technical detail to find the nuggets of knowledge
and practical application I really am looking for. Perhaps good, clear expository
writing could win out in all our professional communications, with the mechanics
of methodology and statistical analysis being explained in appendices of various
sorts for those who want to study them in detail.
This is a book that belongs in the libraries of all sexuality educators and
educators-in-training. It could also teach all of us who read and write for
professional journals some worthwhile lessons about the expression of the
essential message.”
Gary F. Kelly, Professor Emeritus of Psychology, Clarkson University;
Co-Author, The New Sexuality
“In his wonderful introduction to Sex Education Research: A Look Between the
Sheets, Bill Taverner tells us his editorial vision: to inspire an eminently readable,
jargon-free, and enjoyable collection of previously published research rewritten in
a personalized essay format. That he succeeded far beyond even his own hopes
and expectations was proven by own experience: once I started reading, I could
not put it down. And, neither will you!”
Deborah M. Roffman, MS, CSE, CFLE; Human Sexuality Educator;
Consultant; Author, most recently of The Science of Babies
“Sex Education Research is a treasure trove. The volume distills two dozen recently
published sexuality research studies into easy-to-read stories. The reader is easily
able to glean the study’s key findings, reasons why those findings are important
to our field, and implications for future research. Intervention designers,
practitioners, researchers, and students of sexuality alike will find much in this
rich thought-provoking volume to inform their work and inspire innovation.”
Lori A. Rolleri Insignares, MSW, MPH;
President, Lori Rolleri Consulting
SEX EDUCATION RESEARCH
Curated by the chief editor of the American Journal of Sexuality Education, this
book presents engaging and accessible chapters that capture current and essential
research findings from leaders in the sexuality education field.
William J. Taverner brings together an impressive array of contributors to
help sexuality professionals remain up-to-date on the most relevant issues in sex
education today. Covering a spectrum of hot sexuality education topics, including
abstinence, gender, innovative programs, pleasure, the politics of sexuality
education, porn literacy, sexual orientation, and more, each chapter describes
key findings on a particular topic, their significance, their practical application,
and how these new developments have arrived. The book includes chapters
that address individuals across all age ranges, from children to older adults, as
well as sexuality education and training programs for specialized professions,
such as nurses and school-based health occupations. Practical and clear, this book
identifies priorities and trends in the field, addresses marginalized audiences and
overlooked topics, and hopes to encourage important discussions to come.
Sex Education Research: A Look Between the Sheets provides a wide range of
occupations and academic disciplines with a foundation of research essential to
their work, such as public health professionals and students of human sexuality,
gender studies, biology, psychology, sociology, as well as community educators,
school nurses and health teachers, and administrative leaders affiliated with
sexuality education programs at community-based organizations.
William J. Taverner, MA, CSE, an award-winning sexuality education leader,
is the chief editor of the American Journal of Sexuality Education and founder and
president of the Sex Ed Lecture Series.
SEX EDUCATION
RESEARCH
A Look Between the Sheets
William J. Taverner
Editor
Designed cover image: © Getty Images
First published 2023
by Routledge
605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158
and by Routledge
4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2023 selection and editorial matter, William J. Taverner of Sex Ed
Lecture Series LLC; individual chapters, the contributors.
The right of William J. Taverner of Sex Ed Lecture Series LLC to be
identified as the author of the editorial material, and of the authors for
their individual chapters, has been asserted in accordance with sections 77
and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced
or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other
means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and
recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without
permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or
registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation
without intent to infringe.
ISBN: 978-1-032-01205-6 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-032-03928-2 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-003-18978-7 (ebk)
DOI: 10.4324/9781003189787
Typeset in Bembo
by Apex CoVantage, LLC
CONTENTS
Foreword xi
Eva S. Goldfarb and Lisa D. Lieberman
Introduction 1
William J. Taverner
1 Caregivers as Sexual Health Educators 6
Aryn A. Benoit and Scott T. Ronis
2 Sex, Blood, and Redefining “Womanhood”: Intervening
Early Intimate Health Messages 18
Jacqueline N. Gunning, Angela Cooke-Jackson
and Valerie Rubinsky
3 Fighting Oppressive Masculinity at Home: Sex Talks with
Gay, Bisexual, and Queer Sons 27
Dalmacio D. Flores, Eliza C. Magland, Kate Hennessy, Isabel
Martinez, Frances Anjelique Agudo, and Sarah Abboud
4 Memorable Messages for More Productive Family
Conversations with LGBTQ Youth 39
Valerie Rubinsky and Angela Cooke-Jackson
viii Contents
5 Protecting Children from Sexual Abuse: Mixed Messages
and Cultural Challenges 50
Kathleen P. Allen, Jennifer A. Livingston
and Amanda B. Nickerson
6 “There Has to Be a Reason for Doing It”: Emerging
Adults’ Insights and Explanations of Male Circumcision 61
Michelle M. Murray and Katherine R. Allen
7 Sexuality Education for Parents of Children
with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities 73
Deborah L. Rooks-Ellis and Nicole Achey
8 Improving Accessibility of Sexuality Education for
Learners With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities 84
Elizabeth Koss Schmidt, Megan E. Dougherty, Natalie Robek,
and Anna E. Murray
9 Talking to Children about Pornography: Insights
and Future Directions 95
Jessica D. Zurcher
10 The Contents and Consumption of Porn: Who Is
Watching What Exactly? 107
Dan J. Miller
11 In Search of Pleasure: An Examination of the Current
State of Sexual Pleasure Education and Research in the
United States 118
Susan Milstein, Genevieve Hunter, Gina M. Lepore,
Taylor E. Hilliard, and Scott S. Hall
12 A Call for an Expansive Comprehensive Sexual Health
Education Model 129
Juyeon Son and Cindy Draws
13 Grassroots Health: A Sports-Based Health Promotion
Program for Middle School Students 140
Tyler Spencer, Jane Wallis, Alexandra McAuliffe,
and Dahanah Josias Sejour
Contents ix
14 Queering Sexuality Education: Current Research
and Future Directions 153
Steven Hobaica, Kyle A. Schofield, Gregory H. Keiser,
and Paul Kwon
15 Sexual Consent Is More Than a Simple Yes or No: Ways
to Promote Positive Sexual Consent Attitudes and Behaviors 164
Kaylee P. Richmond, Mark A. Levand, and Zoë D. Peterson
16 Sexuality and Safer Sex Communication: What Is Left
Out of Sexuality Education in the United States? 175
Katherine L. Grasso and Lauren A. Trumbull
17 The Potential of Social Marketing Campaigns in the
Prevention of Sexually Transmitted Infections 186
Matej Sande
18 Sexual Health Promotion Among University Students:
A Psychological Perspective 197
Rusi Jaspal, Liam Wignall, and Claire Bloxsom
19 Where Is the Student Health Services Building? Sexual
Health Needs of First-Generation College Students 209
Robert J. Zeglin, Julie Williams Merten, and Danyelle Spohn
20 Emerging Adults’ Sexual Motives and Behaviors:
Implications for Youth Sexual Health Education 220
Kayley Davis McMahan and Spencer B. Olmstead
21 Why Latino Bisexual Men Have Sex: Implications
for Sexuality Education and Practice 231
Jonathan Garcia and Miguel Muñoz-Laboy
22 Millennial Perceptions of Sexuality: Making the Case
for Better Sexuality Education 241
Sara Hanafi, Julie Lucero, and Karla I. Rodriguez
23 Digital Sexual Health Interventions for Young People 251
Chiao Wen Lan, Alexandra F. Lightfoot, David Gere,
Arianna Taboada, and Norweeta G. Milburn
