The TV shows Sex Education and Euphoria were both piloted in 2019 and have been discussed and scrutinised online ever since. Are they too graphic? Should the age limit be raised? Why are there naked men on our screens? While explicit shows usually have content warnings and age restrictions, teenagers consistently watch content-heavy programs. Many UP students have lived this experience and can attest to its truth: you are 15, your parents gave you the birds and the bees talk last week, and the next episode starts with the loud and hedonistic moans of a sexually active teenager. Who jumps for the remote control first?
Sex Education is a British comedy drama which follows an awkward high schooler, Otis Milburn, growing up with a sex therapist mom. He uniquely navigates his sexuality and identity with the knowledge he has gleaned from his mother about sex. He decides to become something of a sex therapist himself, holding consultations at school and helping his classmates through their dilemmas. This TV show garnered attention worldwide, amassing 40 million views in its first four weeks on Netflix. Among many complaints and discussions about the insufficiencies of sex education curricula, this show caught the new wave of sex-positive teens when it mattered. From the meta title and the opening scene – two teenagers having sex while a parent obliviously watches TV downstairs – to the educational format of the show and the relatable characters, it is no surprise that sex ed is a recurring theme in other popular TV shows like Big Mouth, Euphoria and The Sex Lives of College Girls.
Sex Education has provided a more accessible way to cover hard or taboo topics in the media. In an article from The Guardian about what teens truly think about the show, 16-year-old Pia responded that she loves that it “discuss[es] actual sex itself – something many worry about but are too embarrassed to ask about”. The series displays the lives, motivations and inner conflicts of characters and intersects this with their discovery of sex, love and intimacy. This allows difficult topics like teen pregnancy, abortion and sexual trauma to be handled with care, while infusing these situations with humour and empathy for the viewer’s optimal experience. UNESCO indicates, “Comprehensive sexuality education is a curriculum-based process of teaching and learning about the cognitive, emotional, physical and social aspects of sexuality. It aims to equip children and young people with knowledge, skills, attitudes and values that empower them to realise their health, well-being and dignity; develop respectful social and sexual relationships…” Sex education includes the discussion of topics including respect, consent and bodily autonomy, anatomy, varying forms of contraception, and pregnancy. The intersection of comprehensive sex education in TV shows, in conjunction with the everyday experiences of the characters, allows viewers who may be young and inexperienced to also identify with the characters and find ways to learn through the on-screen issues.
PDBY ran a social media poll asking UP students about the impact of TV shows like Sex Education, Euphoria, The Sex Lives of College Girls and Big Mouth on them during their adolescence. Many responded that these programs normalised and accepted the awkwardness that they felt as teens around sex and sexuality. One user said that they learnt that “sex is okay and nothing to be afraid of”. Another commented, “Sex is not a taboo, and conversations are held openly about it.” When asked how these shows affected their exploration of sex, love, masturbation and intimacy, users responded that they learnt that it is okay to do things at their own pace, and the series effectively informed them about good practices. One comment read, “They all essentially taught me that it’s human. I’m more sex positive. I no longer judge.”
How does this help the future?
In 2024, many people have realised the pitfalls of traditional sex education. The media is doing something about it: creating spaces for open discussion and inclusive representation. Teenagers who grow up watching shows that incorporate comprehensive sex education generate healthier views of sex, sexuality and intimacy. This results in a more sex-positive society that readily provides healthy information about contraception and anatomy, and promotes respect among strangers and sexual partners alike, especially regarding consent.
