Content Warning: In this story, traumatic experiences will be shared that may elicit strong emotions. As you read, be aware and conscious of your feelings, and take a break at any time. My former partner and I met when I […]
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I first discovered Ella Fields in 2019 after her short film Bubble Gum landed on my YouTube recommended page. Over the course of nine minutes, I watched two young girls fall in love as they frolic on a beach, scream […]
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On March 16, 2021, a mass shooting occurred across three spas and massage parlors in Atlanta. Of the eight victims, six were East Asian women. The shooter told authorities that he had a sex addiction and that his shooting spree […]
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After a series of high-profile sexual assault allegations in 2017, the #MeToo movement rose up to draw attention to how common sexual assault is. One out of every six women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape, […]
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Nadya Okamoto is a 20-year-old junior at Harvard University. She is the Founder and Executive Director of PERIOD (period.org), one of the fastest growing, youth-run women’s health nonprofit organizations in the United States. Since she co-founded…
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Sex, Etc. has provided teens honest and inclusive sexual health information since it started in 1994. Our readers represent all sorts of backgrounds and identities, and for some, it might be the only place they can see themselves reflected and […]
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A few years ago, allegations of sexual assault against then Supreme Court justice nominee Brett Kavanaugh reignited the #MeToo movement and sparked a storm of online conversation about sexual assault. Many came to the defense of the accuser, Dr. Christine…
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Dan, 19, of Cleveland, OH, admits he probably should have asked permission before kissing a girl in the hallway during his sophomore year of high school. Though they weren’t romantically involved at the time, Dan, now a college student, says […]
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Dear Boy I Just Met, Last night you called me bossy; last night you called me angry. Last night you called me a “bra-burning feminist…,” and you said it like it was a dirty word. Well, don’t worry, that’s not […]
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Did you know that every year in the U.S., almost 1.5 million high school students will experience physical abuse from a dating partner? Sounds like way too many, right? And that doesn’t even include how many teens experience other kinds […]
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I run upstairs and open the doors to various rooms, looking for my close friend at a party. Finally, I open a bedroom door, and there she is, almost fully naked in bed with a sober athlete forcing his tongue […]
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Like most teens, YingYing Shang has favorite hobbies: she runs spring and winter track, plays percussion in her school’s marching band and loves reading poetry. What sets her apart from most high school seniors is her passion for feminism. YingYing…
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On May 23, 2014, six people were killed and 13 people were injured after a killing spree in Isla Vista, California. The killing spree started in an apartment building and then spread to other locations, which included a sorority house, […]
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Just so we’re clear, not all rapists are offering candy to little kids or lurking in an alley, ready to attack. Too often, we imagine rape or sexual assault only involving violence or child predators. But 66 percent of rape […]
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The first time I was slut-shamed was in the 2nd grade. I repeat: 2nd grade. On that fateful day in 2002, I was wearing my favorite skirt and a classmate—I’ll call him Cody—attempted to look up my skirt. When I confronted […]
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I live in a suburban neighborhood. The crime rate in this area is low, and the people here are generally friendly. Most anyone I see will offer a passing hello or stop to introduce his or her puppy. If I […]
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We’ve all heard stories about children forced into prostitution or pornography, which is called the “commercial sexual exploitation of children” (CSEC). Maybe you heard on a talk show or in the news about the dangerous world of sex trafficking—where…
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Every year, millions of people around the world are forced to leave their homes due to a crisis, like a natural disaster or war. Often, people displaced by a crisis—including teens and children—end up in refugee camps where resources are […]
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Have you ever considered writing for a magazine? Are you interested in sharing information about sexuality with teens? If so, then you should consider applying to write for Sex, Etc. We are looking for teens who live in the New York City/New […]
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I was a bit surprised when I came across Invisible Girls during a trip to Borders. At first glance, Invisible Girls looks like your typical teenage novel—simple layout, pastel colors and appealing look. It was only when I walked up to read the…
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We’ve all hung out with friends, sitting around the basement, spilling our darkest secrets or maybe even playing a game of Truth or Dare. Games like Truth or Dare are often only lighthearted ways to bond, but for Mirna Guha, […]
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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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Men Can Stop Rape, Inc. (MCSR) is an international organization that gets youth involved in ending men’s violence against women. Instead of blaming men as “the problem,” MCSR does leadership training and public service messages for young men.…
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Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, a fictional legal show about sexual assaults, is a popular television show among young adults. But what happens when the drama of this television show steps into the reality of a teen’s life? According […]
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