Sex ed has a pretty bad rap. Mostly because the sexual education that many of us were exposed to was somewhere between subpar and outright terrible–abstinence-only programs, STI scare tactics or the broad omission of the softer, often complex (and equally important) side of sex. Communication, nuance, intimacy, empathy, pleasure, and consent still are largely untaught. Worse, the spread of misinformation and lack of accessible, relatable content for self guided learning continues to move us backward in our ideology, instead of forward.

In the US, fewer teens now than in the past are being exposed to important and timely information about a range of sex education topics. Many states either do not require comprehensive sex ed or restrict education to abstinence-only–both of which result in increases of teen pregnancy, STI transmition, and a stimied relationship to sexual wellness. Comprehensive sex ed improves attitudes related to sexual and reproductive health. This means healthier, happier, and safer behaviors and ultimately, better sex.

At Oshihana we know that the education and culture around sex have to change and we’ve built a mission around doing our part. Not only are we creating products to help you have better sex, we are building a network of advocates and sex educators to support our efforts. These conversations are imperative to teaching our community how to engage in relationships and the world. We need to understand these parts of ourselves so we can understand one another.

So, what do we do? Talk to each other, educate ourselves, advocate for better policy, talk to your kids, and work towards shedding the stigmas that we’ve internalized since we were young. Stay safe, keep learning, and Have Better Sex.