Why Shame Has No Place in Sex Education: Fear Isn’t the Answer

Sex is everywhere these days. It’s in our shows, music, and daily conversations—even if we don’t always realize it. Yet despite this cultural presence, many of us still wrestle with shame, confusion, and misinformation around sexuality. The truth is, most of us didn’t grow up with honest, supportive sex education. What we received was more about control than care, more about fear than trust. Sadly, many young people today are facing even fewer opportunities to learn, as schools across the country scale back or erase meaningful sex education.

It’s time we say this out loud: shame is not a good tactic in sex education. It doesn’t prevent harm. It doesn’t protect kids. It leaves scars.

How Fear and Shame Shaped Sex Education

Think back to your own sex education—if you had any at all. Chances are it was awkward, limited, and full of warnings. For some, it was framed entirely around what not to do: don’t have sex before m...