Sex matters part two Contraception and pregnancy keeping sex safe

Author: Tess Russell

This evening, Middlebury's "Let's Talk About Sex" month continues with the arrival of renowned sex educator Jay Friedman, who will present "The J-Spot" at 7 p.m. in the Warner Hemicycle. Friedman's presentation is in keeping with the lighthearted yet educational spirit of other recent events, such as the "Dating Game" and "Speed Dating."

The students and administrators behind the "Let's Talk About Sex" programming hope that, through the month's activities, they can not only get people talking about sex but also educate them about the facilities available on campus. This is an area where many Middlebury students still have a lot to learn, especially when it comes to the health centers contraceptive options.

"The Health Center has been making a concerted effort to inform students about available services and to encourage them to take advantage of the wealth of resources available to them," acknowledged Kolbe Franklin '08, President of Feminist Action at Middlebury (FAM). "However, I still feel that many students are poorly informed. For example, many students do not know that Plan B (i.e., the 'morning after pill') is available for a very low cost directly at the Health Center."

Indeed, Plan B - which is up to 90 percent effective if taken within the first three days after a sexual encounter - can be purchased for only $18 at Parton Health Center (it normally costs around 40 dollars). As far as preliminary contraceptives are concerned, the Health Center does not stock birth control on site but can grant prescriptions to female students, to be redeemed at an offsite pharmacy, if they schedule a routine gynecological exam.

Still, if a student does become pregnant while at Middlebury, her local options are limited. The Middlebury chapter of Planned Parenthood, which receives federal grants, does not perform surgical abortions, nor does it dispense RU-486 (more commonly known as the "abortion" pill). Skeek Frazee, the communications director for Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, elaborated on this policy.

"Because of Title X (the nation's family planning program) and the wrangling over abortion in our country - particularly after the Hyde Amendment, which insured that no poor woman can ever get an abortion for free - there are strict regulations on funding for clinics which perform abortions," she said.

Frazee noted that the four Vermont locations that do provide abortions - in Burlington, Brattleboro, Barre and Rutland - are designated under separate, non-federal funding codes.

"Those clinics require a completely different type of oversight," Frazee explained. "There are additional security measures and insurance costs and they also require additional staff. Even an induced miscarriage (via RU-486) needs to be managed medically and requires ultrasound capacity - meaning a technician and expensive medical equipment."

Abortion and unwanted pregnancy in general are divisive issues, not just along political lines but also between the two genders. Friedman feels that women - because of the additional risks they face - receive more adequate sexual education in their youth.

"It's not our fault that we guys are the way we are when it comes to sex," said Friedman. "It's the way we are brought up. 50 percent of girls talk to their parents about sex when versus only 25 percent of boys. Guys get less good information so they develop a desperate desire to learn about sex and often turn to outside sources - like Victoria's Secret catalogs and adult videos - that may not present the most accurate and responsible portrayal of sex."

Friedman explained that promoting a balanced message has been invaluable in getting through to American college students who may be accustomed to environments where talking about sex is taboo.

"The J-Spot has been popular because while I'm helping students prevent problems that result from sexual ignorance, at the same time I'm advocating pleasure," he said. "Given the sex-negative climate most of us grow up in, it is important to have the promise of pleasure if we are going to prevent STIs, unwanted pregnancies and sexual violence."

As far as Friedman is concerned, sex and politics are inextricably linked.

"I think for many students the most fascinating and frightening part of presentation is when I discuss the political and social climate of America to help explain why, for example, our teen pregnancy rates are the among the highest in the developed world," Friedman said. "I actually show an excerpt from a Scandinavian sex ed video and it blows audiences away how much more open the dialogue about sex is there."

However, as Director of Health and Wellness Education Jyoti Daniere explained, some students at Middlebury actually hail from sexual backgrounds on the other end of the spectrum.

"It is important to remember, when we are educating students, that there are many people on this campus who choose not to be sexually active," Daniere said. "I recently had an international student approach me who was simply shocked at how much sex was 'out there' at Middlebury."

In order to provide safe environments for both men and women to talk about the sexual scene at Middlebury, Daniere's office recently coordinated two "Sex in the Woods" workshops, with one geared specifically towards each gender. They also plan to hold more male-specific workshops during April's upcoming Mind the Body week, including "Love Like a Man" (aimed at promoting sexual health) and "Heal Like a Man (which will explore more general health issues).

Daniere conceded that, on the national level, men are less likely than women to seek medical care and mental health services, but she suggested that male students at Middlebury might be more health conscious than their peers, pointing to the flu shots offered in the dining halls last fall (which were administered to roughly equal numbers of male and female) as evidence.

In addition to the divergent male and female attitudes towards health and body awareness, issues of sexual identity can also make students feel closed off to talking about their sexual health.

"I feel many queer students are too embarrassed about disclosing their sexual orientation to visit the Health Center and get answers to their questions about sexual issues," said Ryan Tauranien '08, co-president of the Middlebury Open Queer Alliance.

"I know personally that, during a visit there, my sexual history was asked of me," he continued. "When the nurse assumed it was of a heterosexual nature, it was somewhat embarrassing to have to explain to her otherwise. Perhaps if the Health Center were more sensitive and aware of sexual minorities more students would take advantage.

With the aim of getting students of all genders and sexual orientations on the same page about safe sex, FAM organized a tabling series in dining halls earlier this week to try to make students aware of the services and resources available to them and to dispense free condoms.

But what to do now with all of those prophylactics? For starters, you can drop by Friedman's lecture and hear his "tantalizing tips" about condom use.

"We can tell people to wear them but unless we can make them see how that is fun and pleasurable they are not always going to do it," Friedman said.

As for finding a willing partner, you are on your own.