SUNY Geneseo SEX[Ed]: Sexual Health, Beyond the Basics
Photo provided by Professor Amy Braksmajer
The SUNY Geneseo SEX[Ed] program which provides free information and resources to Geneseo students, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.
College students have a lot on their plates, and when it comes to their mental and physical well-being, things can get tricky— especially when we talk about sexual health. Sadly, this group is more likely to face problems like unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) than others. To give you an idea, people between the ages of 15 and 24 account for more than half of all STIs in the US, even though they only make up about a quarter of those who are sexually active.
One of the major hurdles in prevention is that many students arrive at college with little sexual education under their belts. Depending on where you went to school before Geneseo, you may have gotten accurate and helpful information about staying safe during sex, learned an abstinence-only curriculum, or received little information at all.
Many sex education programs can also reinforce harmful ideas about gender and sexuality, and they often exclude the perspectives of students from different racial, ethnic, and sexual backgrounds, as well as those who identify as LGBTQ+ or have disabilities. Finally, although focusing on safety is crucial, enjoying the experience is just as important!
What about pleasure? Not-so-fun fact: among straight cisgender couples, only 30-60 percent of women actually reach orgasm during sex, while more than 90 percent of men do! Communication? Many are not taught how to have these difficult and, at times, awkward conversations. Not only about what you DON’T want to do, but what you DO want to do— and how you want to do it?
Body image? And we’re not just talking about weight; for example, lots of people feel insecure about how their genitals or breasts appear to others— navigating sexual interactions for people that aren’t cisgender and/or heterosexual can add other layers to this. How do gender norms affect all the above (and more)?
Even when sex education programs teach how to prevent human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV), STIs, and pregnancy well, they often overlook these and other important topics. As a result, students may not feel confident about navigating sexual situations when they arise. Additionally, many students don’t know where to find reliable information, so they turn to social media and/or their friends for answers, which can lead to misunderstandings and potentially harmful misconceptions.
That’s where Geneseo SEX[Ed] comes in! We’re a sexual health peer education program created in 2023 through a collaboration between Olivia Khangi, a Center for Integrative Learning Student Ambassador, and Dr. Amy Braksmajer, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology. We think that understanding sexuality and sexual behavior involves more than just focusing on "risk factors"—though using protection is definitely important—and that sex education should be about more than just saying, "Don't do that!"
We approach topics related to sexual and reproductive health from a social justice viewpoint, discussing issues like discrimination, identity, social norms, body positivity, pleasure, and the idea that sexual autonomy is a basic human right.
Our website offers information and lets students order free, safer sex kits (which include condoms, dental dams, lube, Plan B, and more) twice each semester. It also gives students, faculty, and staff the chance to bring in peer educators to conduct workshops for residence halls, student groups, or classes. Finally, our table can be found in the MacVittie Union lobby on Mondays from 12:30 pm to 4:00 pm and Fridays from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm. This table has plenty of great resources, including safer sex supplies, fun giveaways (including our famous blue penis squishies!), and more.
On Valentine’s Day, if you stop by, you’ll have a chance to win cool prizes and join in some fun activities. It’s a great way to celebrate the holiday, whether you’re with a partner, hanging out with friends, or enjoying some time alone. Whether or not you celebrate, Geneseo SEX[Ed] is here for you as a friendly resource on all things related to sex— come check us out!
If you want to learn more about becoming a Geneseo SEX[Ed] intern, contact us at sexed@geneseo.edu. To order a safer sex kit and/or a workshop, visit wp.geneseo.edu/sexed. And, of course, follow us on Instagram at instagram.com/geneseosexed!