124. Tackling Taboos: What Sex Ed and Financial Ed Have in Common with Danielle Bezalel | Financial Feminist

Intro

In this episode of the “Financial Feminist” podcast, host Danielle Bezalel tackles the taboos surrounding sex education and financial education. She explores how the lack of education and conversations around money and sex contribute to shame, particularly for women. Join Danielle as she delves into the importance of enthusiastic consent, the demonization of female pleasure, discrimination in healthcare towards queer individuals, and much more.

Main Takeaways

Breaking Taboos: Money and Sex

• Women often feel shame around their bodies and money
• Lack of education and conversations around money and sex contribute to this shame
• Money and sex are taboo topics, especially for women
• Shame is a common feeling associated with both money and sex

Enthusiastic Consent and Empowerment

• Enthusiastic consent is a better approach than “no means no”
• Consent goes beyond just saying “yes” or “no”, it involves communication and navigating gray areas
• The shift from “no means no” to “yes means yes” is about empowering individuals to make choices about their own bodies and pleasure
• Rejection is an important aspect of consent that is often overlooked

Challenges in Sex Education

• Only 17 US states require sex ed programming to be medically accurate
• The federal government wastes $110 million per year on abstinence-only until marriage programs
• Abstinence-only programs are misleading, incomplete, and actively harmful
• The lack of comprehensive, medically accurate sex education has financial and feminist consequences

STIs, Unplanned Pregnancies, and Reproductive Healthcare

• STIs have a significant financial impact on the US healthcare system
• 1 in 5 people in the US has an STI
• 50% of pregnancies in the US are unplanned
• Investing in medically accurate, culturally responsive sex education is critical

Pleasure, Boundaries, and Media Influence

• Women’s sexuality is often repressed more intensely and through more varied means than men’s sexuality
• Teaching young women that their pleasure matters is important
• Media portrayal of relationships and gender roles affects our idea of boundaries
• It’s important to honor and respect oneself in setting boundaries

Inclusive Sex Education and LGBTQ+ Experiences

• Sex education should be inclusive and acknowledge that queer people have sex
• Celebrating LGBTQ+ experiences is crucial for effective sex education
• Discrimination in healthcare towards queer individuals needs to be addressed
• Guests sharing their experiences and perspectives on sex education are important

Supporting Sex Education Efforts

• Simple actions like researching local sex education policies and making donations can make a difference
• Following and supporting sex educators through podcasts and social media increases knowledge and awareness
• Sex Ed with DB podcast and workshops provide valuable resources for sexual health education
• Sex toys and pleasure should be destigmatized and recognized as essential to sexual health and well-being

Summary

Breaking Taboos: Money and Sex

Women often feel shame around their bodies and money due to the lack of education and conversations surrounding these topics. Both money and sex are taboo subjects, especially for women, and shame is a common feeling associated with both. Addressing and reframing these conversations is crucial to empower women and eliminate the stigma.

Enthusiastic Consent and Empowerment

Enthusiastic consent, which goes beyond a simple “yes” or “no”, is a better approach to consent. It involves communication and navigating gray areas. The shift from “no means no” to “yes means yes” empowers individuals to make choices about their own bodies and pleasure. Rejection is an important aspect of consent that is often overlooked.

Challenges in Sex Education

The lack of comprehensive, medically accurate sex education has financial and feminist consequences. Only 17 US states require sex ed programming to be medically accurate, while the federal government wastes millions on ineffective abstinence-only programs. It is crucial to invest in inclusive and accurate sex education to address the stigma and provide essential knowledge.

STIs, Unplanned Pregnancies, and Reproductive Healthcare

STIs have a significant financial impact on the US healthcare system, with high direct medical costs. 1 in 5 people in the US has an STI, and unplanned pregnancies are common. Investing in medically accurate, culturally responsive sex education is essential to normalize conversations around STIs, unplanned pregnancies, and reproductive healthcare access for all.

Pleasure, Boundaries, and Media Influence

Women’s sexuality is often repressed and stigmatized more intensely than men’s sexuality, especially in media representation and pornography messages. Teaching young women that their pleasure matters and promoting healthy boundaries is important. Media portrayal of relationships and gender roles affects our idea of boundaries, and it’s crucial to honor and respect oneself in setting and enforcing boundaries.

Inclusive Sex Education and LGBTQ+ Experiences

Sex education should be inclusive and acknowledge that queer people have sex just like straight people do. Celebrating LGBTQ+ experiences and addressing discrimination in healthcare are crucial for effective sex education. Having guests on the show who hold the identities being discussed allows for a deeper understanding of their experiences and perspectives on sex education.

Supporting Sex Education Efforts

Supporting sex education efforts can be as simple as researching local policies, contacting organizations, and making donations. Following and supporting sex educators through podcasts and social media increases knowledge and awareness. Sex Ed with DB podcast and workshops provide valuable resources for sexual health education, empowering individuals to destigmatize pleasure and prioritize their sexual well-being.

Conclusion

Breaking the taboos surrounding money and sex is crucial for empowering women and promoting financial and sexual well-being. By addressing shame, promoting enthusiastic consent, investing in comprehensive sex education, and supporting inclusive efforts, we can create a society that embraces open conversations, eliminates stigma, and prioritizes pleasure and autonomy for all.