Let’s talk about Sex and Relationships: The real kind, not the fake internet kind……

When it comes to finding out about sex, where do young people go to get reliable information? Unfortunately, many of them turn to the internet and hope for the best, often finding themselves being drawn into spaces where the information is biased and often extremely harmful and false. Pornography has become a sex educator for many young people, teaching them damaging and unhelpful ways of being in a sexual relationship.

Last year a group of Year 13 students came together to talk about the pressures of being a young woman in 2022 and the kinds of things they thought needed to change. We spent many hours talking about the issues, and then they came up with a way they thought would be of use to all the young women at St Hilda’s. Now, the initiative has been passed on to the next group of young women who want to make a change in this space, highlighting how positive action has a ripple effect, affecting what we do and how we make sense of things.

‘Ask Aunty Hilda’ is a website full of truths about puberty and sex, women's bodies, and relationships, with factual, useful information. At the start of next term, the website will go live, and you will be able to read blog posts about current events in the media as they arise, information about a variety of topics related to sex and relationships, and students will also be able to ask Aunty Hilda a question. The question will become visible once it has been answered. Keep a look out for Tilly’s Top Tips, she’ll be sharing some good advice and insight too! (Possibly with a bit of advice and guidance).

The purpose of ‘Ask Aunty Hilda’ is to create a supportive environment where all the young people at St Hilda’s feel like they can talk about their experiences or share their questions and see that they are not alone. Young women supporting each other, not shaming each other, is a significant aim of the initiative, which seeks to highlight issues around sex and sexuality for young women and give them space and encouragement to have a voice, feel comfortable in their own skin and make choices that are right for them.

These young women wrote for the website and set it up, but there were many others who contributed ideas and time. Thank you to you all for your passion and dedication.