The Missing Discourse: Desire and Consent in Sex Ed, Dr. Coco James

Dr. CoCo is a sociologist who specializes in gender and sexual identity, particularly as they pertain to lived sexual experiences. Her special interests lie in studying sexual pleasure (both barriers and facilitators) and working toward a culture free from sexual violence.

This talk will explore the potential of adding desire and consent into queer-friendly sex ed for people of all ages. Sex education in the United States has historically been framed through a problem-based approach that emphasizes pregnancy prevention, sexually transmitted infections, and risk avoidance rather than healthy relationships and sexual well-being. Many curricula assume heterosexual relationships as the default while providing limited or no representation of LGBTQ+ identities and experiences.