I had been dating a guy I really liked for a little over four months. When it suddenly ended, I was devastated. So I came up with this list, with help from friends and teens across the country, that helps […]
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When I first learned that my sister, Jenny, wanted to write for Sex, Etc. magazine, I was immediately a little freaked out. A magazine that teaches people about sexual health and sexuality? Was she going to go all “health teacher” on […]
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You’re watching a movie or TV show with your family when out of the blue, there it is—the dreaded sex scene. We’ve all been there before, the awkward fidgeting, the nervous laughter, the let-me-look-at-my-phone-and-check-for-text-messages…
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“When you’re ready to have sex, you must talk to your partner about using a condom.” That’s what my mother has been telling me since I was 14. I never thought I would take my mother’s advice on anything to […]
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Think of the biggest daddy’s girl you know. Now multiply that by ten, and throw in an extra princess tiara. That was me. Growing up, my dad and I were attached at the hip. We chased each other with water […]
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Many teens’ first relationships are quite the learning experience. Being in a sexual or romantic relationship may be the first time you really consider your boundaries with another person. Just like consent is important for any sexual situation,…
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“Yes” and “no” are words we all use on a day-to-day basis. From mundane things like, “Yes, I want sugar in my coffee,” or, “No, I don’t want cheese on my burger,” to answering important and personal questions about ourselves. […]
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Rihanna: Pop star. Role model. Dating abuse survivor. Several months ago, that last statement would have seemed unbelievable and even outrageous. Yet after photos of Rihanna’s battered face surfaced on the Internet and Chris Brown pleaded guilty…
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A week before I hunkered down to write this story, a kid I met through Facebook covered his girlfriend’s car in Post-it notes to ask her to formal. Somewhere right now, someone is planning a massive promposal. It’s de rigueur […]
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Boundary: (noun) the line that marks the limits of an area, a dividing line. Boundaries are necessary for many things. The time one class ends so the other can begin is a boundary. The closed teachers’ lounge door that says, […]
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Ever wanted to ask someone out, but you were so nervous you never got the courage to go through with it? And then, when you did get the courage to ask him or her out, you completely froze and all […]
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High school can be a mysterious, forbidding and almost terrifying environment when it comes to romance. While some lucky guys might have the advantage of feeling comfortable around the ladies, some may feel too intimidated or shy to even say “hello.”…
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When I was five years old and my mother was pregnant with my younger sister, I thought, How did that happen? I asked my mom where the baby would come out, and she told me that the baby comes out […]
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My parents are by far the two most important people in my life. For 18 years, I’ve seen my mother and father’s views on gender roles differ from other families, especially within my extended family. My parents, especially my father, […]
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When I was 14 and just out of eighth grade, I dated an older boy for a couple of weeks. He was 16 and entering his junior year, and I wanted him to like me. One night while hanging out, […]
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“When it comes to sex I’m similar to the thrilla in Manila. Honeys call me Bigga the condom filler.” —The Notorious B.I.G. The late, iconic rapper the Notorious B.I.G. proudly recited these lyrics. He was a self-proclaimed ladies man or […]
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