🌱 Sex Ed by teaching boundaries and negotions

I help sex ed students increase their protective behaviors, like using condoms, by teaching boundary setting and negotiation skills.

You can use the same skills to talk to people more effectively about wearing masks:

I help sex ed students increase their protective behaviors, like using condoms, by teaching boundary setting and negotiation skills. You can use the same skills to talk to people more effectively about wearing masks: Thread

Person A: “I don’t wear condoms, they don’t feel good.” Ineffective response: “If you don’t wear one, you could die from AIDS.” Effective response: “They might feel weird at first, but I can help you find ways to make them more comfortable.”

Person B: “Everyone I know doesn’t wear a condom - they’re fine.” Ineffective response: “Who cares about other people?” Effective response: “It’s hard to be different, but wearing a condom would help you protect the people you care about who don’t know why it’s important.”

Person C: “I can’t wear a condom, I’m too big.” Ineffective response: “LOL no.” Effective response: “Condoms come in all different sizes and textures. I can help you find something that works for you.

Person D: “I don’t need a condom, I’m not sick.” Ineffective response: “So you want me to die?” Effective response: “It feels strange to do this even if you don’t feel sick. That’s actually why it matters: if we do this, we get to keep feeling good and spending time together.”

Person E: “You can’t make me wear one.” Ineffective response: “Bet.” Effective response: “You’re right, I can’t. I just really like spending time with you and wearing one makes me feel safe. I would feel so sad if we couldn’t spend time together because we’re not safe.”

Person F: “I don’t care, I’m not wearing one.” Ineffective response: “FU.” Effective response: “I respect your choice. You also need to respect that I and many others simply don’t feel safe around you without one. We’ll have to see less of each other until something changes.”

In all of the above, replace “condom” with “mask” and there you have it: effective ways to talk to people around you about desired protective behaviors resulting in increased compliance and consistency.