Syphilis Making Comeback, Gonorrhea More Treatment Resistant, LSUHSC's Martin Says

Here is some new information regarding STIs. It doesnt paint a pretty picture.

"the number of cases of the asymptomatic Chlamydia trachomatis, the most common reportable infectious disease in the US, is growing; gonorrhea, the second most common reportable infectious disease in the US, is growing more resistant to treatment; syphilis is making a comeback which could wipe out the gains made in syphilis control following the epidemic of the late 1980s; and M. Genitalium has the potential to become a public health target as recent work has now linked it to pelvic inflammatory disease in women along with being a known cause of nongonococcal urethritis in men. Dr. Martin's complete presentation follows here"

Opposing Sexual Violence Forum

I hope to see you there.

Women’s Health Statewide
Monthly Friday Forum

Opposing Sexual Violence
- legislation and prevention

Join Dr. Mary Heath (Law School, Flinders University) for an insight into recent changes to South Australian law in relation to sexual violence. She will discuss both the significance of these changes and evidence of their likely future impact. Dr Heath will also share some of her current thinking in relation to a preventative approach to sexual violence.
In addition to her academic work, Dr Heath is a well-known community activist and a wonderful singer.

When: 3pm – 5pm, Friday 28th August, 2009

Where: Women’s Health Statewide
64 Pennington Terrace,
North Adelaide

Cost: Free
Light refreshments will be provided

Bookings are essential as seating is limited.
RSVP to 08 8239 9600 by 21st August 2009.

The Sexology of Underbelly

A very good friend of mine ( a sexual health counsellor) wrote a brilliant little essay for ASSERT SA on the sexology ( my words) of 'underbelly' the Australian tv phenom. In it she looks at gender roles, media, stereotyping and entertainment etc etc.

As a piece to hold up to our mirror I reckon its pretty good. If you want to have a look go here and scroll down to 'underbelly'

Adelaide City Council Survey

This could be a good place for young people to idenfy issues re relationships/gender/power/ media imagry etcetc.


Are you aged 12 - 30?

Want to make the City a better place for young people?

Adelaide City Council is writing the Youth Policy for 2010-2014 and we need your ideas.

Please complete this short survey at:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=mhzH_2fQIGGXYvgdoF0Sb3qg_3d_3d

for a chance to win an 8GB Ipod Touch.

Sexualisation In The Media

Hi, I'm a 15 year old girl living with magazines, billboards, TV adverts, music videos, movies and the sexualisation of girls in the media.

Every day I am bombarded with television ads telling me how to look good by using this product, or by putting this in my hair so I can look like that model. I have only just come to realise how much these advertisments effect me and the girls and boys around me, since I have been looking into it I have thought through the emotions I feel when I see certain pictures of half naked woman posing in sexual positions advertising a new pair of jeans. To be perfectly honest, I think, 'Wow, she has the body I want. Gee I wish that my legs would sit like that. Maybe if I did 100 squats before bed, ran an hour per night and only eat half of all my meals, yeah, maybe I'll look like that." Luckily I have the common sence to ignore these thoughts and aim on fully growing to the best of my ability. It is really frustrating to find out how much editing goes into pictures of models or celebrities. I think it's wrong to photoshop pictures because now people see the fake women and men and get the idea that people can be so perfect, of course real people are going to look 'not up to standard' against photoshopped people. It also makes me want to be photoshopped, as much as I hate the idea.

The bigger issue though is that in the entertainment industry/media women and girls are being used to sell products, it has always been quoted that 'sex sells' and it certanly does. When male and female models shoot pictures together I have only just noticed that the man always looks like he has the power, or the woman is serving him. I think this is inappropriate for this day and age, but I also think that it's the old fashion way of getting the attention of men, because most men enjoy power. In my eyes I see that the sexualisation of women is used because men can be thick when it comes to sexual pictures and will take that second glance which fools them into buying that product. Although, I'm not just blaming the men, in this world where teenagers are driven by sex and getting the attention of the opposite sex. When I see a picture of a girl wearing a sexy top that shows lots of skin I think, 'Hmm, maybe that guy will take a second look at me' and on occasions I have changed my shorts to shorter ones when someone I'm keen on is around. This is all from the influence of the adverts, magazines and internet.

I'm not against sexualisation in the media, I'm just concerned that it's driving the minds of my generation, the above generation and the below generation. Sexualisation is good on some levels, as in it sells, but young girls are becoming sexual earlier than they are really ready.

Kinsey Institue Juried Art Show 2009

Have a look at some of these fantastic pieces of art from this show. http://www.kinseyinstitute.org/services/gallery/jeas/2009/gallery.php Its nice to see people creating things around sexual health imagry. My favourite is called 'virgin happily unveiled'. It reminds me of an activity around media imagry that we do with barbies.....

Really good post on 'About face'

This is a really good series of posts about body image, media, manipulation and 'Do people even care'
The post start like this:

"One of the most vivid memories I have from high school was when I was shopping for prom dresses with a good friend. What started as a bonding experience quickly turned into something much more isolating.

We had completely different bodies. She was tall, thin, and had no hips, and I was shorter with decent-sized thighs. In high school we would bring in a bunch of dresses and trade off trying them all on. Most dress styles were tailored for the body type my friend inhabited, and because of this, she looked “better” in the dresses than I did. Needless to say, my attitude level dropped a few points below annoyed, and I walked out of the mall that day with a new-found dislike for my body, and for my friend. "

Please go have a look ( here) at this and also read more about Calven Klein there as well.