Family Communication: Sex and Sexuality Discussions in US Families

This report addresses the critical need for open and effective communication about sex and sexuality within families, as highlighted by a 300-level course in family communication. It proposes a class for the U.S. government's "Strong Families" program, focusing on the rationale behind incorporating sex and sexuality into family discussions. The report emphasizes that communication about sex and sexuality, although often avoided, is crucial for teenagers' safer sexual behavior. It stresses the importance of parents as primary sources of information and discusses the challenges and attitudes associated with these conversations. The report outlines specific strategies for parents, including defining terms, discussing media portrayals, and addressing the purpose of sex within relationships. It also cites relevant research to support the need for this class and offers a detailed outline of the course content, including talking points, activities, and resources, to equip families with the tools to have healthy and informed conversations about sex and sexuality, promoting healthy family relationships and sexual behavior.

Running head: COMMUNICATION IN FAMILIES
COMMUNICATION IN FAMILIES
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1COMMUNICATION IN FAMILIES
It is essential to understand different attitudes that are associated in the society with sex
and sexuality. Attitude associated with sex and sexuality plays a significant role in perceiving the
concept and the importance in relation to the concept. It is often seen as a hushed topic in the
family setting due to the attitude associated with it.
According to studies, it has been observed that increase communication between children
and parent in regard to sex and sexual relationship leads to safer sexual behavior among teens.
For young people, Parents or guardian should be the primary source to learn about their changing
bodies, healthy relationship and sexual and reproductive health. However, often it is not seen as a
common phenomenon in the US. Therefore the paper aims to discuss the reasons sex and
sexuality should be involved as an important topic of family communication (Oakley, 2016).
Sex is a biological term that society associates with being female or male by its biological
traits. Often the term ‘sex’ is confused with the term ‘gender’. Gender is the cultural meaning
attached to being masculine and feminine that influence personal identities. Sexuality can be
explained as sexual attraction, practices and identity which may or may not align with sex and
gender.
One of the challenges that arise in making sex and sexuality an open discussion in the
family is the attitudes associated with it. The purpose of sex is seen as procreation. Therefore
parents often think it is not necessary for the children to learn about sex at their young age.
Talking about sex and sexuality will help children make sensible decisions in regard to their
sexual activities (Seidman, Fischer & Meeks, 2016).
Expressing intimacy sexually and communicating about sexuality is an essential part of
providing a healthy lifestyle to children. Often parents find it uncomfortable and challenging to

2COMMUNICATION IN FAMILIES
talk about sex and sexuality. It is not only infrequent but also ineffective since it is not done
accurately. Also, when it is done, it is done more from the gender perspective. These talks help
in shaping family relationship as well as later sexual relationships.
Parents can define sex as well as sexuality during the discussion. They can watch and
listen to media together and talk about the harmful sexual messages and portrayal. Parents can
discuss the benefits of delaying sexual activity. By following the above methods, parents can talk
about sex and sexuality with their children and prepare them towards a healthy sexual life. Along
with the purpose of sex, parents should state their disapproval of sex outside the established
romantic relationship. Parents should not only state their disapproval but also provide an
explanation for disapproving it in order to make them understand the difference.

3COMMUNICATION IN FAMILIES
References:
Oakley, A. (2016). Sex, gender and society. Routledge.
Seidman, S., Fischer, N. L., & Meeks, C. (2016). The social construction of sexuality.
In Introducing the New Sexuality Studies (pp. 59-66). Routledge.