#84 | Rethinking Sex-Ed for Teenagers w/ Rachelle Bergstein

What do teen boys and girls need from us right now?I had the privilege of hosting Rachelle Bergstein, lifestyle writer, author, and editor in a conversation about the complexities of adolescence today for teen boys and girls. Being able to reach teenagers to inspire them to see the good in each other, boy and girl, is a dream of mine. Rachelle’s work has appeared in the New York Post, The New York Times, NPR, and more. She is the author of three books: Women from the Ankle Down, Brilliance and Fire, and The Genius of Judy. She lives with her husband and son in Brooklyn.We focus much of the conversation on her most recent book, The Genius of Judy and diving into questions that include: what’s happening with teen girls? Is opposite sex friendship a good idea for teens? How do we deal with the tension point around sexuality overload juxtaposed with big feelings of shame and low self esteem? Who is nonmonagamy actually serving? what struggles are boys facing? How do we teach kids about sex in a way that fosters sacredness while avoiding shame?Find out more at RachelleBergstein.com Timestamps:00:37 - 01:01 Introduction and Guest Welcome01:01 - 02:02 Rachelle Bergstein's Background02:02 - 02:58 Judy Blume and Sex Education02:58 - 04:55 Is it okay for kids to learn about sex?04:55 - 07:35 Talking to Kids About Sex07:35 - 09:25 What really is proper Sex-ed?09:25 - 10:22 The most sexless generation ever10:22 - 11:46 Rachelle's sex-ed utopia11:46 - 14:41 Dealing with the 'Sex like a man' trend14:41 - 17:09 Is it wrong to be non-monogamous?17:09 - 18:12 Who was Judy Blume?18:12 - 19:42 Masturbation and teenagers19:42 - 21:13 Judy Blume's most controversial book21:13 - 22:56 Ancient Rituals in Modern Parenting22:56 - 24:19 Finding a rite of passage for girls24:19 - 27:34 What compelled Lily phillips' actions?27:34 - 28:48 Does porn make girls fear sex?28:48 - 29:33 The Impact of Extreme Pornography on Teens29:33 - 32:29 What are boys struggling with?32:29 - 34:16 The Crisis of Young Masculinity34:16 - 35:07 Friendships Between Boys and Girls35:07 - 38:22 Can boys and girls really be 'just friends'?38:22 - 38:49 Empathy and Understanding Between Genders38:49 - 41:15 What fascinates boys about teenage girls?41:15 - 43:23 What do teenage girls admire about teenage boys?43:23 - 44:57 The beauty of teenage years44:57 - 46:05 Does pornography have a role in society today?46:05 - 47:33 I no longer trust compliments from this age group47:33 - 49:05 Differences in what the sexes find attractive49:05 - 49:53 About Alison Armstrong49:53 - 52:10 Final Thoughts and Takeaways____________________________________________If you found some value today then help me spread the word! Share this episode with a friend or leave a review. This helps the podcast grow.You can also watch the episodes on youtube hereFollow me on Instagram @anyashakh