Puberty Resource

Here is a link to an educational resource created for parents and young people an autism spectrum disorder.
However it is a really great guide for ANYBODY. The language is very clear and unambiguous, there are step by step instructions for things like changing pads or masturbating.

All of us can make use of this in some way I reckon.

Thanks to Sharon the SHineSA resource guru for passing this on.

CLICK HERE

Gender Ads

Thanks to Amy, one of ShineSAs brilliant school coordinators for passing on this great site. If you are doing work with young people around understanding the way media is controlling us around gender sterotyping etcetc this site will come in very useful for you. Have a look HERE

Article from JEZEBEL about periods

I really like the way this article is put together BUT.... If you are offended by  SWEARING and SWEAR words don't click on this link. Periods SUCK

Duluth Model Violence/Control Wheel

If you are working with young men hat are perpetrators of violence against women  you might want to examine this power/control wheel.
Look at this site to see more

Not all women bleed at first intercourse

Here is a great Podcast from Kinsey Confidential answering this question:

A great podcast to play for young women and men to dispel the idea that you can "tell" if someone is a virgin.

QUESTION: I had sex recently and have heard that most girls bleed when they have sex, but I never bled. I'm 17 years old. I am scared that there is something wrong with me. Can you please help me? My boyfriend is always asking me why I am stressed out and I want to tell him but I need an explanation for the cause of me not bleeding after I had sex. Also, it didn't really hurt when I had sex for the first time ever in my life. I am stressing my self out to the point I am making my self sick over this simple but upsetting thing.

CLICK HERE to listen

Cosmo media effect on women's sexual attitudes

I know many of us have had these discussions lots and lots. Conversations about how mags like Cosmo focus on sex and 
relationship tips; about its seemingly constant focus on

 “pleasing your man” and “changing your body”. I find

 myself frequently left wondering why it isn’t focused on 

“pleasing yourself” and “enjoying your body for what it 

can do”.

Well... Here is a nice article about just this issue. Short and sweet and worth a read. Go HERE to read more. Warning... you might be surprised at the findings.

FRESH Course dates for 2013

SHINE COURSES ARE READY FOR YOU!!!

If you haven't had a look yet at next years course dates CLICK HERE to have a look. Next year we are offering a range of options from full on 3 day courses to brief special interest workshops. Go have a look and enroll now.

Partners Response to Vestibulodynia

Wow I was just reading a great post from the Centre For Sexual Pleasure and Health about how a partners response to a woman experiencing Vestibulodynia can make a BIG difference tio how (and if) she experiences pain.

WHAT IS VESTIBULODYNIA?: EXPERIENCE OF SEVERE PAIN OR DISCOMFORT  in the vestibule part of the vagina which is is where the vulva (area of the skin on the outside) meets with the vagina. It is an extremely sensitive part of your body and contains the Bartholin's gland (which produces vaginal lubrication), the urethra (where you pass urine) and a number of the small minor vestibule glands which also produce vaginal discharge.

Well some new research shows that how a woman’s partner responds to her pain plays a role in increasing or decreasing it.  On one hand, a solicitous response—when a partner expresses sympathy, anxiety, or concern—may prolong the pain by reinforcing avoidance of the painful activity (in this case sex), encouraging catastrophizing, and increasing the attention she pays to the pain.  However, on the other hand, a facilitative response—such as expressing happiness that one’s partner is engaging in sexual activity—may reduce pain by decreasing negative thoughts, distressing emotions, and one’s avoidance of painful activities. The goal of the current study was to determine if the latter response was associated with “better outcomes both for [PVD pain intensity] and sexual satisfaction.”

CLICK HERE to read more