The stigma surrounding sex is insurmountable. Sex is a completely normal part of university life; it is at university that a lot of people do actually have sex for the first time. University is where people gain independence and, when away from home, they can experience new things. But it is important that everyone knows what they’re doing and they’re doing it safely. Even though, it is a truth universally acknowledged that most people are having sex, and lots of it at university, there is still a massive stigma around it. If we don’t talk about it, how do we know if we’re doing it right, more importantly, safely?
If we don’t talk about it, how do we know if we’re doing it right, more importantly, safely?
Enter in SHAG week. SHAG (Sexual Health and Guidance) week is an Exeter Students’ Guild event run alongside Valentine’s, to spread awareness and information about sexual health. They organise different events throughout the week such as pop ups about sex myth busting, a collaboration workshop with LUSH, a sexy book swap, a pub quiz and more! These mixtures of events are both exciting and refreshing, especially amidst the tortuous deadline season that is dawning. The Guild also ran events to increase body positivity and confidence. Sex can be a vulnerable thing and being naked with someone can be daunting.
It is appreciated that the Guild didn’t just focus on the physical side of sex, but also the emotional effects and worries that can accompany it. So, by running events such as a ‘Sexy Heels Dance Workshop’, ‘Body Positive Clay Sculpting’, and a ‘Felt Vulva Decoration workshop’, the Guild allowed people to talk and appreciate how everyone has different bodies, and to love all shapes and sizes. Safe sex is just as much about the physical safety of using protection, as well as the emotional safety of feeling confident and enjoyment.
…the Guild allowed people to talk and appreciate how everyone has different bodies, and to love all shapes and sizes.
The Guild has done a fantastic job in recognising the importance of safe sex. The events they’ve run are mindful, fun and informative. If people talk about sex more, and in public spaces, like the Forum, where the pop-up stalls were held, people would hopefully not be afraid to talk more about it in everyday life.
Sex is a perfectly normal and enjoyable thing, so why are we so scared to admit we do it? The Guild even brought in The Eddystone Trust, to carry out an HIV Test Pop-up, to help break the stigma of STI testing. Again, people are embarrassed to get tested, but it is the smart and (actually easy) thing to do when you change sexual partners. The Exeter Sexual Health Clinic send free STI tests to your home address, and you can carry out the test in the comfort of your own house and send it off for the results.
Also, if you sign up for DOINK, a free service for under 25s in the Devon Area, you can get free condoms delivered to you weekly. Both these tests and the protection come straight to your door. It has never been so easy to practice safe sex.
It is no doubt that this week is an incredibly important addition to university culture…
If you do need any more support about sex and sexual health, please do check out the Guild’s website on SHAG week. It is no doubt that this week is an incredibly important addition to university culture, and I think it would be helpful to have these sexual health pop-ups appear on campus more frequently. Students need to know they are supported by the university and that sex is not something we need to keep taboo. Another great thing about sex? It has numerous health benefits, both physical and mental. But, at the root of it, it is a lot of fun, so don’t let the stigma stop you from enjoying yourself and being safe.
Find more information about Exeter’s Sexual Health Clinic here.
