Teaching Teen Boys About Patriarchy, Sexual Confidence & Holding Grudges

This week – navigating patriarchy in teen boy’s lives, whether to let go of a grudge & if a relationship can work when you’re both lacking sexual confidence. My son is 17 & whilst I’ve always raised him to be aware of & reject patriarchy, he is now surrounded by men and boys making the most of their male privilege. My question is how do we counteract the influence of the patriarchy in our sons lives when they are surrounded by it and it often makes their lives easier?  My sister is married with two small children. She found out that her husband had been having an affair for 6 months. Since her finding out, he has had at least two more rendezvous with this colleague. My sister has stuck with him, but I can’t even look him in the eye. I am conflicted on whether I continue to ‘hold a grudge’ or try to appease my sister's forgiving narrative. What would you do? I’ve recently started dating my best friend. He’s been there for me at my worst, when I was in the midst of drug and alcohol addiction and struggling with PTSD. Now that I am clean and sober I am finding sex difficult. He is not super confident with sex himself, but I am finding sex with him to be nice because I feel closer to him but really struggle to be in the moment. I’m worried that we don’t have the sexual chemistry that a relationship should have but I’m also questioning whether it is just me not being comfortable with being vulnerable and expressing my sexuality. Can two people who are uncomfortable with sex support each other to feel sexual liberation? If you have a question for Clementine, get in touch: [email protected]  CREDITS  Executive Producer: Edwina Stott Audio Production: Adrian Walton Managing Producer: Elle Beattie  For more great Nova Podcasts head to novapodcasts.com.au See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.