Messaging Archives - Healthy Teen Network

Before You Choose a Logo, Choose a Role

Megan Thomas — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 15:07:41 +0000

How sexual health brand archetypes can help behavior change programs, products, and campaigns go further

JUNE 25, 2026

Summer in America. Short shorts, rocket pops, and fireworks. New York is humming—still riding the high of a long-awaited Knicks championship. The World Cup is underway. The nation is gearing up for a milestone birthday.

And for some lucky son-of-a-guns, it’s also grant-writing season.

Across the country, youth-supporting professionals are dreaming up new health programs, products, and campaigns with the hopes of securing funding and turning great ideas into impact. Others are refining existing ones, testing their approaches, and figuring out how to scale what already works.

Whether you’re building something new entirely or helping a promising idea reach greater heights, the initiatives that engage deeply and early with both behavior change theory and the art and science of branding are often best able to win hearts, change minds, and shape behavior.

In fact, brand strategy and behavior change theory make surprisingly good teammates.

What You’re Up Against

Let’s face it. Long before you launch your program, product, or campaign, there are already messages floating around about it—or at least about things like it.

Not messages you wrote, but messages you inherit.

In other words, any sexual health program enters a larger story that is already being told.

After all, people don’t meet any one sexual health program empty-handed. They bring their prior experiences, expectations, and assumptions with them. In other words, any sexual health program enters a larger story that is already being told—a narrative ether thick with cultural scripts, contested meaning, and implicit power structures.

Maybe it’s that too often healthcare services are confusing, opaque, and unnecessarily bureaucratic. Or maybe it’s that too much of sex education feels preachy, unrealistic, or worse yet…cringey.

Fair or unfair, these perceptions create the narrative environment your program enters.

Think of these narratives as prevailing winds. They’re already blowing, pulling the story about your program, product, or campaign in a particular direction.

A strong brand won’t eliminate these winds, but it can help you navigate them, clearing the way for behavior change to happen.

Finding Your Role

But how do you compete in an attention-scarce world?

In a sea of messages, people need clear signals. The best programs, products, and campaigns approach sexual health through clear and vivid narrative and visual strategies.

Some use humor and play.

Others are more earnest, inspiring courage and self-belief.

Others still channel urgency, inspiring people to action.

Strong branding brings a distinct personality to every creative decision and message. More foundation than finish, strong branding ensures health content is relatable and resonant.

This is where archetypes come in. Choosing one or two brand archetypes early can help guide creative decisions and create a more consistent experience across messages and interactions. A couple of well-chosen archetypes will help connect your brand to familiar human motivations and desires, making it easier for people to understand what you stand for and why it matters to them. Simply put, they make your brand recognizable.

Of course, archetypes are ancient—as old as storytelling itself. In branding, creatives and content creators have long used them as a kind of scaffolding—a starting point for building vibrant, relatable brands.

At Healthy Teen Network, we’ve taken traditional brand archetypes and reimagined them through the lens of sexual and reproductive health. Each is built upon a human drive: timeless impulses that fuel a brand’s purpose and presence in the world.

A Healthy Teen Network visualization, inspired by the archetype wheels of Iconic Fox and others

Here’s a couple of our favorites:

The Champion (drive: confidence): The Champion seeks confidence through mastery, starting naïve but eager to grow. They learn by doing, building self-esteem with each new skill gained. Their gift is to show that growth is possible, inspiring others to begin their own journeys. But when insecure, they may rely too heavily on external approval or fear failure before it comes.
The Life of the Party (drive: joy): The Life of the Party thrives on bringing people together through laughter, warmth, and contagious good energy. They are magnetic, playful, and gregarious—the friend who turns even heavy moments into opportunities for lightness and connection. Their gift is to remind us that sex and health can be fun topics. Yet when shadowed, they may avoid depth, masking discomfort with constant humor or seeking attention instead of true connection.
The Advocate (drive: justice): The Advocate burns with the desire to protect dignity and demand fairness. They are activists at heart, standing at the front lines to confront inequity and defend the vulnerable. Their gift is to channel integrity and courage into movements that reshape the world for the better. Yet when shadowed, their zeal for justice can harden into rigidity or moral superiority.

Luckily, with endless combinations of archetypes, no two programs, products, or campaigns have to show up in exactly the same way. In fact, the strength of the field comes from having many different voices navigating the same waters. A myriad of vibrant brand personalities can exist alongside one another, each helping young people navigate sexual health in their own ways.

So, before you choose a logo, choose a role. Because while selecting an archetype won’t replace behavior change theory, it just might clear a path for it.

Editor’s note: Great ideas deserve great brands. If you’re building a program, product, or campaign, we’d love to help.

Nicholas Sufrinko is a Senior Communications Manager at Healthy Teen Network and is the brand and creative lead behind many of our projects. You can often find him hiking, biking, or stargazing. Read more about Nick.

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Reels to Results: Collaborating with Young Creators on Sexual Health Messaging

Megan Thomas — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 21:30:23 +0000

What's in the "special sauce" of working with young people to make sexual health content that feels real and relatable?

What if learning about sexual health felt more like scrolling through a friend’s social media than reading a tip sheet? Not a reel made by a clinic or campaign team, but by a young person speaking directly to their followers.

That’s the approach we took when collaborating with young creators in Baltimore City over the past three years in partnership with Baltimore City Health Department (BCHD) on the Youth Sexual & Reproductive Justice Initiative (Y-SURGE). The research project sought to boost clinic use for young people who identify as LGBTQ+ and/or those disconnected from school or work, while reducing the stigma around talking about sexual and reproductive health.

While Y-SURGE had many facets, I worked with young creators to make sexual health content that felt real and relatable. Through influencer briefs, shared tips, and learning what worked and what did not, we found what I call our “special sauce:” a good mixture of guidance and flexibility.

As one creator put it: “I love the balance of creative freedom and instruction when it comes to making the posts. I know exactly what I have to do, but I am also encouraged to put my own spin and personality.”

This collaborative, youth-led approach inspired Sexual Health Influencers: A Guide to Collaborating with Young Content Creators, designed to help youth-supporting professionals bring this model to their own communities.

The guide walks you through the process from recruiting young creators to creating briefs and influencer tips. You’ll learn how to build a supportive community while letting young people take the lead, share their voices, and make content that feels real.

Hear it from an influencer

To hear what this experience was like from the young people themselves, I sat down with our creator Kahlil, a Baltimore City native, who loves finding fun and creative ways to get the word out about sexual health.

What made you interested in becoming a sexual health influencer with us?

To be honest, for me, it was the money only because, originally, I did make posts here and there, especially with TikTok, and they can go viral on TikTok and you can make money…When I found out through this they would give instruction and then I’d get paid to create…I thought, oh, that’s bomb. I would do that. That sounds so fun.

How was your experience collaborating with this project and our team overall?

I felt like I got paid to be myself.

I think it was obviously a very positive environment. I felt like I got paid to be myself. I posted what I wanted, and I still got feedback when I needed it…It was a very good experience overall.

Can you describe a moment that stood out to you as an influencer?

I think what stood out to me the most probably was the first time I actually sent one of my videos over that I edited…I purposely sat down, skipped some schoolwork, and spent a long time editing it…and you told me it was funny. And I was like, ‘I did my job.’

Were there particular posting topics you were excited about?

I think it was when I talked about the clinics, only because I decided to go to one of the clinics myself…I had never been before. It was pretty much everything I said it to be.

What would you say to an adult thinking about implementing this type of program?

It’s a good development tool, honestly. My confidence…originally, I never showed my face. But because the topics were important, it made me want to show my face. It’s a good confidence boost.

Any tips for adults to help young people gain confidence on camera?

Don’t sugarcoat things. Miscommunication around topics can be an issue. Just lay it all out.

Don’t sugarcoat things. Miscommunication around topics can be an issue. Just lay it all out. We’re growing up, so eventually we’re going to have to learn about it anyway. Most topics, like the clinics you can go to on your own, just be clear and honest. You also have to find if the person fits the role. If not, you can’t be an influencer and be twisting your tongue.

What would you say to other young people considering becoming sexual health influencers?

Go and do this. It’s fine. You get paid. It’s something you can put on your resume. It just looks good.

What advice would you give to new young influencers just starting out?

Tell the truth. Talk about how to prevent it, how to take care of it [ your sexual health]…Don’t hide from the audience…and post what you want. If you blow up, it becomes a job, so have fun while you can. Also, don’t be afraid of negative feedback. Any feedback is good feedback. Some people will disagree, but others will agree. You build a community with people that are like you.

Hearing from the influencers shows the impact this work has for both the creators and the young people who see their content. The creators gain confidence and leadership, discovering that their voice matters, while their posts share important sexual health messages and encourage peers to visit clinics. Looking to get started? Our guide takes you through the process step by step with corresponding activities, letting you create your own blueprint for success.

PHOTO BY: CHILDREN NATURE NETWORK

Kaitlyn is a social worker who brings lifelong camp counselor energy to every space she steps into. With nearly a decade of experience supporting young people and families through community-based programs and research initiatives, she focuses on making conversations about sexual health, body literacy, and belonging feel real, approachable, and fun.

The post Reels to Results: Collaborating with Young Creators on Sexual Health Messaging appeared first on Healthy Teen Network.

It’s Bananas: Why the Sexual Exposure Chart Belongs in the Bin

Megan Thomas — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 15:58:55 +0000

Peeling back this common clinic visual shows how judgy, junk data sometimes gets disguised as science.

OCTOBER 16, 2025

It would go a little like this.

A college freshman walks into the university clinic with a sore throat. Before they can even sit down, a poster on the bulletin board spells their doom. One hookup after a party last week, the chart suggests, has “exposed” them not just to that person, but to everyone that person has ever hooked up with—and everyone those people have ever been with, and so on. By the end, our hapless freshman is linked to thousands and thousands of strangers, all strung together like some far-reaching epidemiological conspiracy.

The nurse leans in and asks, “How many partners have you had?” The freshman, now wide-eyed, stammers out something like a number. The nurse glares toward the poster. Stick figures and arrows snake across it, multiplying every word. “How many partners have you had?”

The more you admit to, the grander the imagined outbreak. The chart leers. “For the love of Saint Pete! What have I done?!?!”

The message lands hard. Our enlightened freshman swears off casual sex forever and walks out of the clinic resolved to keep their “number” as close to zero as possible. And in so doing, maybe—just maybe—they’ll avoid an STI forever.

Yeah, no.

The sexual exposure chart, pinned on boards in clinics and university health centers across the country and perhaps beyond, has long haunted how we think about intimacy and connection.

The sexual exposure chart, pinned on boards in clinics and university health centers across the country and perhaps beyond, has long haunted how we think about intimacy and connection. Born of failed abstinence-only and sexual risk avoidance education tactics, it frames sexual intimacy as a (math) problem—a chain of contamination rather than connection.

Considering it at face value, the chart’s math just doesn’t math. The truth is, real-world networks are rarely perfectly exponential. Sexual networks overlap, especially in some communities. Worse yet, the chart doesn’t report actual disease transmission probability, and it completely erases protective factors like regular testing, condoms, PrEP, and DoxyPEP. By portraying risk as an endlessly expanding web, it exaggerates danger and obscures reality.

With “data” like these weaponized and dressed up as medicine in the very clinics where many young people may first seek care on their own, it’s no wonder, as reported by Vice, that young people today are more likely than older generations to ask—and judge—each other by their “body count” (i.e., number of past sexual partners). And so, what’s packaged as supportive health promotion festers into a suffocating subtext conditioning us to surveil ourselves and shame each other.

Beyond its tawdry relationship to facts, the sexual risk exposure chart is a good reminder that data visualizations are never neutral; they’re cultural artifacts with agendas of their own. This particular overused artifact obscures joy, pleasure, and connection while centering danger. It legitimizes stigma and a particularly narrow view of morality in the sterile language of epidemiology. Now, I don’t purport to know Mark Twain’s thoughts on today’s hookup culture, but charts like these must have been what he meant when he said there are “three types of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.”

Of course, many young people will eventually unlearn this unasked-for baggage, forgetting the chart in favor of healthier, more affirming visions of sexuality. But this will take time—years, even decades. What damage will the sexual exposure chart—and the broader cultural obsession with body counts—cause in the meantime?

A few weeks ago, I wrote about how sexual health messages often backfire—repelling people who will go to great lengths to avoid guilt, shame, and embarrassment away from the very clinics designed to help them. And as far as data visualizations go, there may be no greater backfire-r than the sexual exposure chart.

That’s why I think it’s high time for us, as a field, to tear these charts from our bulletin boards and confront their harmful, misleading, and self-defeating messages head-on.

That’s why I think it’s high time for us, as a field, to tear these charts from our bulletin boards and confront their harmful, misleading, and self-defeating messages head-on. That means acknowledging the damage done by past scare tactics, rejecting “body count” discourse as regressive junk science, and affirming that sex can be safe, pleasurable, and human. That’s why, to promote two clinics in Baltimore, we created a series of visuals to call out just how bananas the sexual exposure chart truly is—and set the record straight: It’s not about how many people you hook up with, it’s about how you hook up that matters.

Pearl-clutchers and health class Karens love to tell you your last hookup “exposed” you to so many people, who “exposed” you to so many more people, who “exposed” you to even more people—until, GURRRL.
Here’s the truth: Regardless of who your situationship’s ex’s prom date’s roommate’s dog walker once flirted with… It’s not about the number. It’s about HOW you hook up that matters.
– Testing every 3–6 months
– Condoms
– Vaccines, PrEP, & DoxyPEP

Simply put, the sexual risk exposure chart—born of failed abstinence-only and risk-avoidance tactics—is charteganda of the worst kind: regressive, slut-shaming, pseudo-scientific, fascist propaganda that I, for one, am not falling for.

Bananas then, and bananas now. Mushy math and rotten subtexts fit for nothing but a trash bin.

“Body count?” Cute. But babe, that’s the same tired shame-game health class Karens have been playing since forever. Math that don’t math, bad science, and a whole lotta shame.
Real safety? Not a number, hun. It’s testing, treatment, condoms, and prevention—and no, nobody’s [100] every single time. It’s doing your best and striving to do even better.

PHOTO BY: LOUIS HANSEL

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Happy #AnalAugust: How Our Juiciest, Queer-Coded Health Campaigns Are Serving More Bounce Per Ounce

Megan Thomas — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 14:41:20 +0000

Leaving flat slogans behind for content that’s cheekier, robust, and real

AUGUST 29, 2025

If there’s one thing I want to be known for while working in sexual health, let it be #AnalAugust. Perhaps truly celebrated by no one but me, this not-too-serious “health observance month” promotes two sexual health clinics in Baltimore, Maryland. For two years now, we’ve created some cheeky creative in late summer that covers all things “butt stuff,” from sexually transmitted gut infections to extra-genital STI testing.

With any luck, this fuller, more robust content will leave young adults feeling more confident, better prepared to ask for the services they may need, and aware of two queer-affirming clinics in their community.

Along the way, we push beyond flat, simplistic sexual health messages (“just get tested!”), to dive into the juicy diversity of queer sex and the literal “ins and outs” of anal STI testing. With any luck, this fuller, more robust content will leave young adults feeling more confident, better prepared to ask for the services they may need, and aware of two queer-affirming clinics in their community.

A little bit camp and a little bit content, last year’s #AnalAugust content took inspiration from queer creators like Dr. Carlton. It is part of a clinic promotion Instagram series we created for the Baltimore City Health Department.

Butt Seriously: Are Public Health Messages Backfiring?

A few months back, some colleagues and I attended Agents of Change, a health behavior change summit organized by Rescue Agency. One morning, we popped into a mainstage session where the speaker walked through how even well-meaning health campaigns can sometimes backfire, such as:

How a nutrition campaign urging parents to read food labels ultimately leaves parents feeling guilt and resentment when they’re unable to parse ingredients in Aisle 8 with a wiggly, wailing toddler in the cart.
The way an anti-drug campaign that warns of rotting teeth and ruined skin distracts from important, early behavioral warning signs of meth use disorder.

This tracks. In sexual health, even well-intentioned campaigns backfire. Fear-based and flat messages leave too many feeling ashamed, unseen, and unsupported—including and especially queer people. For centuries, our very existence has been flattened, medicalized, and pathologized by well-meaning—and not-so-well-meaning—health authorities, institutions, and storytellers.

As poet Leo Herrera puts it:

“Too much about what I read about queer sex is pathologies, disease, criminalization, loneliness, a punishment waiting to happen…I read enough about the dangers and self-loathing. I want its giggles and transcendence.”

Giggles and Transcendence in Transit

We know that embarrassment, fear of judgment—perceived and real—and stigma are reasons people often avoid or delay sexual health appointments. I think it’s worth asking: Might our messaging be, at least in part, to blame?

Much like the nutrition and drug use campaign examples we heard at Agents of Change, sexual health messages can sometimes land a tad too simplistic (“wear a condom every time!”). Worse, they can come off as judgmental and hella stigmatizing. Either way, they rarely leave room for the complexities of sex and desire—and the messiness of human behavior.

For those who don’t get the sterile, simplistic version of safe sex “right” every time (which, let’s be real, is most of us), guilt and embarrassment at the clinic can be a logical outcome of these messages. Most people, no matter their age, will go to great lengths to avoid emotions like these. Instead of encouraging people to seek care, these totalizing messages may push people—fearing judgment, shame, and stigma—even further away from the very places created to help.

With this in mind, we embraced horoscopes in a sister campaign to #AnalAugust. Say what you want about horoscopes, but they’re fun. They’re popular. And a little queer-coded, too. They connect with us on deep, emotional levels, reminding us of our shared humanity and differences, the waning and waxing of our own clarity and power, and our abilities to shape our destinies.

This series re-centers sexual health as inherently human—imperfect, changing, and shaped as much by moments as by choices.

Instead of promoting rigid rules and a narrow, unachievable vision of “safe sex,” this series re-centers sexual health as inherently human—imperfect, changing, and shaped as much by moments as by choices. Confronting a sexual health script stuck on disease and simplistic slogans, these posts offer a tongue-in-cheek, human rebuttal—serving joy (and maybe some even giggles) over judgment and guilt.

#AnalAugust Returns: The Reckoning!

Too often, those who engage in receptive anal sex are shamed as effeminate, promiscuous, and risky. Known in queer circles as “bottom shame,” this phenomenon is, by Herrera’s sage retelling, “a toxic sludge of internalized homophobia, misogyny, racism, and medical negligence.” I think Herrera would agree that the messages we share and promote—in the culture broadly and in public health narrowly—are deeply bound up in this sludge.

The embarrassment, judgment, and stigma attached to receptive anal sex trap too many, discouraging honesty with providers and keeping people from the services they may need. That’s why this year, #AnalAugust reimagines the most simplistic health message of all: “Just say no.”

This year, we say: “Just say no to bottom shame.”

So as the days become shorter and this #AnalAugust fades in the rearview, I hope you’ll continue to get behind sexual health messages that go beyond flat slogans, for ones that are a little more robust, juicy, and—and yes, even a little messy.

No ifs, ands, or butts about it.

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Stretching Out of My Comfort Zone: The Trick to Having Tough Conversations

Megan Thomas — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 14:06:51 +0000

It’s not about getting it perfect but about becoming comfortable with the uncomfortable.

JUNE 26, 2025

Something revolutionary happened to me the other day: As I was stretching just before bed, I leaned down and touched my toes. For many people, this is probably not cause for celebration, but for me—who has been historically inflexible to the point that even basic yoga poses are a challenge—this milestone was both surprising and satisfying.

As my giddiness about this new ability subsided, I started to think about how, much like stretching, stepping out of your comfort zone hurts at first. You’re not used to the way it makes you feel, and you’re maybe a little frustrated that you’re not immediately at ease. But as you push yourself little by little, it gets easier, and one day you find yourself easily doing something that was once so challenging.

We all find ourselves in situations where we may need to get uncomfortable in order to stick up for what we believe in.

We all find ourselves in situations where we may need to get uncomfortable in order to stick up for what we believe in. I know I have. Whether it’s at a school board meeting or a brunch with a new acquaintance, a room full of middle schoolers learning about healthy relationships, or a backyard barbecue where a family member asks a perhaps-not-totally-in-good-faith question, the opportunity to wade into an uncomfortable conversation will eventually present itself.

I feel fortunate that throughout the course of my professional life so far, from preventing sexual abuse and assault to supporting teen sex ed, I’ve had a fair bit of practice at talking about difficult and sometimes taboo subjects. The topics my colleagues and I handle in our daily work are nuanced and potentially fraught with misunderstanding, stigma, and even one’s own trauma. So, what have I learned over the years about delving into these tough conversations?

Get comfortable with feeling uncomfortable

Within my first few months of working at Healthy Teen Network, I participated in a training where the facilitator encouraged us to name all the slang terms for genitalia we could think of. I couldn’t help but chuckle at how this exercise—incredibly useful and normalized in the context of sex education—would be absolutely unthinkable in another workplace setting. While I’ve gotten used to this candor, I had to remind myself that the folks I interact with outside of my work life might not be.

Stepping outside of your comfort zone isn’t always a bad thing. Yes, it might feel weird at first to talk with a family friend about why your child doesn’t have to give them a hug. You might feel uneasy talking with your parents about the difference between sex and gender. But once that initial feeling of awkwardness dissipates, both parties can start to have an open and honest discussion about topics they might not have approached otherwise.

Lead with curiosity

No one knows everything—and that’s such a freeing realization. We all have gaps in our knowledge, we all take mental shortcuts, and we can all be susceptible to misinformation. A hard conversation is a great opportunity to learn something, whether it’s a perspective from a different identity or a deep dive from a subject matter expert.

Rather than automatically assuming ill intent, I often like to approach a difficult conversation with curiosity. It’s all about reframing the discussion; instead of “How could you possibly think that?” try asking, “Why do you think that?” or “Where do you think that idea comes from?” You may find yourself rooting out the source of misinformation or myths in a way that doesn’t put the other person on the defensive.

Appeal to shared values

We all have core values that shape how we understand the world. When passions—and tensions—run high, it can be helpful to take a step back and focus on the values you have in common rather than where your ideas differ. Illustrate that you’re both “on the same team,” starting from the same core value and working towards the same goal.

I leaned on this tip heavily while working in sexual violence prevention, but it can be applied across the gamut of intense and important discussions. For example, pointing out that you both value the importance of community safety can support why comprehensive sex ed is so necessary. “We both care about keeping children safe” is just one shared value that can help start a cooperative conversation about what that looks like.

Know when to step away

Sometimes, for your own mental health, a tough conversation just isn’t worth pursuing. Nuanced topics like sex and identity can be tied closely to trauma, and if a conversation is causing mental distress, you don’t have to continue having it. Pay attention to your own physical, mental, and emotional responses, and if you find that you’re dissociating or feeling dysregulated, recognize when it’s time to step away and ground yourself. Likewise, try to keep an eye on the others involved, and if they’re showing signs of shutting down, bring the discussion to a close. Even saying something as simple as, “I don’t think this is a productive conversation anymore,” can create that boundary.

Sometimes, I still find myself unsure of what to say when a difficult conversation presents itself. I’m still stretching myself, still building my muscles, but I know I’m getting stronger.

PHOTO BY: PEOPLEIMAGES.COM

Megan Thomas is a Communications Manager at Healthy Teen Network. When she’s not thinking about how to support the health and well-being of young people, Megan enjoys watching movies, trying new restaurants with friends, exploring the neighborhood with her dog, and occasionally treading the boards at the local community theatre. Read more about Megan.

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The Change-Makers’ Guide to Grammar: 10 Tips to Win Hearts and Change Minds

Megan Thomas — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 22:22:46 +0000

What if words can change everything?

FEBRUARY 13, 2025

“I
t is not enough for the reader of your words to be convinced,” writes Ta-Nehisi Coates in 2024’s The Message. “The goal is to haunt—to have them think about your words before bed, see them manifest in their dreams, tell their partner about them the next morning, to have them grab random people on the street, shake them and say, ‘Have you read this yet?’”

Perhaps like no other writer today, Coates knows a thing or two about haunting words. From South Carolina to Colorado, school boards and pressure groups have sought to exorcise his words from classroom syllabi and library stacks. Most famously, his 2015 Between the World and Me is charged and challenged for laying bare what it means to inhabit a Black body in contemporary America. The dark arts, apparently.

In this age of forbidden and disappearing words, one thing is clear: Words, when wielded well, hold extraordinary power.

In this age of forbidden and disappearing words, one thing is clear: Words, when wielded well, hold extraordinary power. Individually, they carry stories of their own—etymologies that ripple across centuries, bearing the weight of history, power, and social dynamics. Strung together, they illuminate human suffering and triumph, despair and hope, injustice and joy. And with the right amounts of passion and poetry, yes, they even haunt.

Last fall, Healthy Teen Network published Words Matter, a guide for using inclusive language in adolescent sexual and reproductive health. It is an invaluable resource. In it, my colleagues curate recommendations across far-reaching advocacy spaces, providing clear and practical how-tos for choosing language that is not only inclusive but also affirming, values-neutral, empowering, and unambiguous.

Now more than ever, our communities need to know that we are here for them. The words we choose to use—or choose not to use—may just change everything.

Words Matter helps us all—youth-supporting professionals who just want to get our words and writing right, answering the ever-present question, “Is it better to say it this way…or that way.” Despite it all, answers to that question haven’t changed much since last fall.

We hope you’ll make good use of this resource. Whether the words you curate are spoken in the company of young people or the professionals who support them, whether tailored to win hearts in fundraising proposals or campaigns, change minds with advocacy and advertising, or simply signal support and solidarity, Words Matter is for you.

What makes this guide so remarkable to me is its ambition. Words Matter is about so much more than choosing words that don’t offend. Lurking just beneath its 13 basic guidelines and numerous subject matter areas is a bold challenge to frame thoughts and ideas in ways empower people—with words, tones, and style that’s inclusive, affirming, celebratory, empowering, and liberatory.

To bring out these visionary and resonant aims, I’d like to offer a supplemental graphic to accompany Words Matter—a figure that positions “inclusive language” as foundational and builds upward, recasting some of its recommendations as building blocks toward lasting, transformational change:

Inclusive language ensures no one is excluded or erased.

Tips for using language that includes:

Use phrases like all genders instead of both genders and pregnant people instead of pregnant women to ensure all people, in particular trans people, are included in your language.

Use appropriate specificity to ensure identities are not erased in your language. Consider, for example, whether you are speaking about the whole LGBTQ+ community or identities or experiences within it. Similarly, consider whether BIPOC is appropriate or whether you are speaking about particular identities or experiences, like South Asian or Sri Lankan.

Affirming language validates identities and lived experiences.

Tips for using language that affirms:

Use the words and phrases that people use to describe themselves. For example, I’ll describe my identity as gay or queer, but I don’t use these words interchangeably. For me, they have distinct connotations and are situational. Others may use both, one, or none of these words. When describing people, it’s often best to what they use.

Barring some exceptions, use people-first language, especially when describing conditions, situations, or circumstances not central who people are. For example, use a person who is incarcerated over a prisoner to more accurately reflect the nature of imprisonment.

Celebratory language highlights difference, strengths, and abilities with equity.

Tips for using language that celebrates:

When appropriate, use words and phrases that focus on assets and abilities, such as a child who uses a communication device rather than a child who is non-verbal.

Disrupt risk reduction and prevention points-of-view with language on strengths, by, for example, centering neurodivergent superpowers or the innovative potential of LGBTQ+ or BIPOC young people experiencing homelessness—even and especially in grant proposals and fundraising campaigns demonstrating need.

Empowering language demonstrates agency, resilience, and self-determination.

Tips for using language that empowers:

Use healing-centered language that emphasizes an individual’s ability to move forward and have or regain control—and be honest about your organization’s role in that journey. For example, use a person living with cancer instead of cancer victim. Likewise, avoid casting your organization as the “savior.”

Be on the lookout for restrictive, values-laden language, especially related to sexual behavior. For example, the phrases unsafe sex and unprotected sex are often perceived as holding judgement; consider phrases like sex without a condom instead.

Liberatory language challenges oppressive systems and stereotypes and redefines narratives.

Tips for using language that advances liberation:

Use active voice and unambiguously name systems of oppression, whether human, institutional, or cultural. For example, instead of “hospitals are affected by systemic racism,” try the more specific and active, “the American healthcare system has perpetuated systemic racism and anti-fat discrimination though biased practices including the Body Mass Index (BMI) system.”

Practice dignified storytelling by embracing complexity, nuance, and authenticity in real-life stories, challenging stereotypes and predictable narratives.

Words Matter presents many of these tips and so many others across 11 useful subject matter areas—areas like Ability and Disability; Ethnicity Race, and Nationality; Socioeconomic Status; Engagement with Systems of Care; and more. This ambitious guide is a practical starting point to help you navigate the complexities and contradictions of language in adolescent health. We hope you’ll make use of it.

After all, it is not enough for the reader of your words to be merely included. The goal, perhaps, is also to affirm, celebrate, empower—and even to liberate.

If that’s the case for you, as it is for many of us in adolescent health, then Words Matter may just be your guide.

PHOTO BY: GLEN CARRIE

Nicholas Sufrinko is a Creative Direction and Product Design Manager at Healthy Teen Network and is the brand and creative lead behind many of our projects. You can often find him hiking, biking, or stargazing. Read more about Nick.

The post The Change-Makers’ Guide to Grammar: 10 Tips to Win Hearts and Change Minds appeared first on Healthy Teen Network.

There’s Still Time for Biden to Sign the ERA and Prohibit Discrimination Based on Sex

Allison Tomai Felsen — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 23:57:31 +0000

There’s little over a month left for Biden to take action to ensure gender equality is enshrined in our Constitution.

Mimi Jacobie

Mackenzie Piper, MPH, CHES

Gina Desiderio, MA

Tuesday, December 10, Congresswoman Cori Bush held a press conference joined by The Feminist Front, the Young Feminist Party, and the ERA Coalition at the House Triangle. Together, they issued an urgent call to President Joe Biden to publish the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) as the 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, emphasizing the critical importance of gender equality and the need for decisive action.

Citing the incoming Trump administration and soon-to-be GOP-controlled House and Senate, Bush said, “Our bodies, our rights, our lives are on the line. While progress has been made in enacting laws that prohibit discrimination based on sex, equal rights are still not constitutionally protected.”

In our ongoing commitment to move our field forward and protect the rights of young people in our communities, one concrete way we can do this is to make enough noise to ensure that the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is enshrined into our U.S. Constitution. We have the greatest chance to do this in the next 40-something days, before the administration changes hands.

In our ongoing commitment to move our field forward and protect the rights of young people in our communities, one concrete way we can do this is to make enough noise to ensure that the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is enshrined into our U.S. Constitution. We have the greatest chance to do this in the next 40-something days, before the administration changes hands. This is likely the last chance to add the ERA to the Constitution for an entire generation!

While the fight for human rights and gender equality is an evergreen aspect of the work we do, the reality is that most Americans do not realize gender equality is absent from our Constitution. A recent poll shows 72% of Americans mistakenly believe the ERA is already in place—though roughly 3 in 4 Americans support the gender equality amendment.

Continued Attacks on Bodily Autonomy Based on Gender

We continue to see the negative consequences of this lack of protection of gender equality. Just a week ago, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in U.S. v. Skremetti, a landmark case that could have widespread impacts on the availability of health care for transgender young people, and the ability of providers to provide essential, best-practice, and medically necessary health care.

Hormone treatment remains uncontested and available in Tennessee for young people who are not transgender. However, if SCOTUS upholds the state’s ban, transgender young people would be discriminated against on the basis of their gender and be refused the exact same treatments. If upheld, we would expect other state bans to follow.

The ERA, however, could protect all young people’s right to receive the medically necessary treatment they, their families, and their healthcare providers determine to be appropriate for them—rather than radical, ideologically-driven judges and legislators.

And of course, we continue to see the fatal fallout from the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization SCOTUS decision, overturning Roe V. Wade and greenlighting abortion bans across the country.

The amendment states, “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.” No law or legal protection is stronger than a Constitutional amendment. The ERA could serve as a legal foundation for achieving our collective vision of equity.

The ERA would protect bodily autonomy, our rights, and our lives. The amendment states, “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.” No law or legal protection is stronger than a Constitutional amendment. The ERA could serve as a legal foundation for achieving our collective vision of equity.

The ERA has met all requirements of the Constitution’s Article Five, passing both houses of Congress in the 1970s and being ratified by 38 states by 2020.

Take Action

Advocates have been working on this amendment for over 100 years, and we invite you all to join their legacy within the next month. So, how do we do this?

We need public support to call President Biden’s office each day, urging him to direct the U.S. Archivist to immediately publish the Equal Rights Amendment.
- Visit the ERA Coalition website for White House call instructions/script. Call (202) 456-1111 and text (302) 404-0880 the White House and demand that the ERA becomes reality.

Additionally, we’re rallying Congress to act: 4 Republicans must join Democrats in signing a discharge petition to force a House vote by Dec 20.

Why the ERA Matters

Publishing the ERA would have significant impacts for all Americans, but specifically, also adolescents and their sexual and reproductive health and well-being:

Advancing Comprehensive Sex Education

- For those of us in the field, the ERA would strengthen our ability to advocate for inclusive and unbiased sex education, ensuring every young person receives the information they need to lead healthy, empowered lives.

Supporting Reproductive Justice

- Reproductive justice is a cornerstone of youth empowerment. The ERA will secure stronger protections for young people’s rights to access contraception, abortion, menstrual equity, and other vital resources without discrimination.

Ensuring Gender Equality in Education

- As the ERA enshrines equality under the law, it would directly impact how educational programs are designed, ensuring gender disparities in access to health and education resources are addressed.

Defending Queer, Trans, and Non-Binary Youth Rights

- The ERA’s focus on gender equality supports a commitment to affirming and inclusive environments for all young people, including those who are queer, trans, and non-binary, helping to combat discrimination in schools and health care. The ERA guarantees rights that can’t be rolled back for the queer and trans community.

Enhancing Professional Impact

- The ERA would also protect and empower professionals in our field, giving them legal recourse against discrimination and strengthening their capacity to deliver essential services to young people.

Building a Legacy of Equality

- Our collective work at this conference—focused on reimagining and reinventing approaches to youth health—is aligned with the broader goal of creating a society where equity is not only an aspiration but a constitutional guarantee.

Take action today to urge President Biden to publish the Equal Rights Amendment now!

PHOTO BY: ERA Coalition

Mimi Jacobie (she/her) is an advocate and writer who has spent the past two years championing the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), driven by her belief that meaningful change begins with community connection. A former Peace Corps volunteer, Mimi began her career in public service through her work on Democratic campaigns and for Democratic leaders. Her passion for the ERA was first ignited by Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, whose relentless tenacity continues to inspire Mimi’s advocacy. Mimi urges everyone to actively join her in supporting organizations like Vote Equality, the ERA Coalition, and the Young Feminist Party, who are working hard to ensure President Biden publishes the Equal Rights Amendment by January 20th. Her advocacy is fueled by the experiences of women, queer, and trans individuals in her life—including herself—who believe in a more equitable future enshrined in our Constitution as the 28th Amendment.

Mackenzie Piper, MPH, CHES, is passionate about all young people having access to comprehensive and inclusive sexual health information and services. She has experience providing training and technical assistance to healthcare and social service providers, and facilitating comprehensive sex ed programs to young folks. Read more about Mackenzie.

Gina Desiderio, MA, is Director of Communications for Healthy Teen Network and oversees all of our communications and dissemination. Working here has only sometimes prepared Gina for spontaneous sex-positive conversations with her two young sons. Read more about Gina.

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Giving Menstrual Health More Airtime

matt — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 21:23:58 +0000

We should all be working to combat the stigma and normalize talking about menstruation in an inclusive and affirming way

or people who menstruate, this change can bring up all kinds of feelings, especially when you’re a young person! Questions that may come to mind are: What is happening to my body? Why am I so hungry? Why have my friends had their period, but I haven’t? There are so many products to use—which one is best?

I remember, around 5th grade, my friends and I were sitting on the floor in front of a TV that had been wheeled in, watching a video all about menstruation that, honestly, raised more questions than it answered. After the video, we were handed a pamphlet with anatomy and basic menstruation facts, like symptoms. I went home and asked my mom—who, as a nurse, could be trusted for medically accurate answers—so many questions. I left with more understanding, but I was still uneasy about when I would start my period.

Once I did start my period, my mom took me out of school and to lunch to celebrate. She made me feel proud and unashamed, which changed my uneasiness to confidence. I was surprised to discover that my mom’s period story was not at all like mine, which led me down a path of wanting to change that experience for other people who menstruate.

Fast forward a few years to my first job out of college where I was in charge of facilitating various community health topics. I felt especially passionate about incorporating menstrual health into a workshop. It was important to me to have an intergenerational conversation, so people could speak openly about their period stories and what they hoped for their teens in the room.

Part of this workshop highlighted a young person who presented their period story, along with a collection of stories from their friends that they were working on, to normalize talking about the lived experience of menstruation as a young person. We shared an array of menstrual health products, including pads, tampons, and menstrual cups, and provided free samples to the attendees. We aimed to create healing and an opportunity to combat the stigma that sometimes comes with menstruation.

Learning and teaching about all that comes with puberty can take many forms, but how can we, as youth-supporting professionals, normalize topics like menstruation?

Learning and teaching about all that comes with puberty can take many forms, but how can we, as youth-supporting professionals, normalize topics like menstruation? Is standard practice still that video and pamphlet or a long lecture-based lesson in one of our evidence-based programs? Are period products readily available for young people to ask questions about and use if they don’t have any? Are we considering the cultural implications that young people experience? Is our menstrual health education inclusive regardless of gender and sex?

I encourage you to take the time to ask yourself these questions and make menstrual health a supplementary lesson whenever possible. At times, we are charged with going beyond the curriculum and if resources are needed, Healthy Teen Network is available to support you and your organization in this dialogue.

In the meantime, here are some resources to get you started:

Caro Hernandez is a Project Coordinator in the Capacity Building Department and is fueled by the pursuit of health equity and inclusion in sexual and reproductive health. When she’s not working, you can find her spending time with her wife and their dog (Lock), binge-watching Bob’s Burgers, or traveling to see family and friends back home in Texas and Florida. Read more about Caro.

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Decoding Sexual & Reproductive Health: The Language of Policy

matt — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 16:33:51 +0000

Quick tips on how to navigate elections and make sure you vote in alignment with your values

By Lilith Breazeale

By JB Rodriguez-Anello

October 22, 2024

ince the overturning of Roe v Wade in 2022, there have been numerous legislation changes related to sexual and reproductive health. Thirteen states banned abortion care, and 39 states enacted policies regarding reproductive health in 2023 alone. Sexuality continues to be a hot topic on ballots, for better or for worse. There are currently 12 states looking to get sexual/reproductive health measures on the ballot, and countless political candidates who are committed to either protecting or squandering reproductive rights and sex ed. While dangerous initiatives have popped up all across the nation, some states are wracked with both abortion bans and little to no sex education. You don’t have to sit back and watch these changes unfold, though. The upcoming election offers an excellent opportunity to make your voice heard and weigh in on important decisions. With all the hubbub, misinformation, and legalese, we know that elections can be hard to navigate. Read on for some tips on how to ensure you vote in alignment with your values.

The Wording

The language used in sex education bills can be intentionally complex, often filled with jargon and seemingly innocuous terms that can mask hidden agendas. Don’t be intimidated by lengthy policy; legislators are people like us. For example, in sex education measures, watch out for phrases such as “opt-in,” “parents’ rights,” “gender ideology,” “bringing the focus back to education,” and anything that equates sexual education programs to “sexualization” or claims that sex ed can make children more sexually active or promiscuous (not true, by the way, and we know this from extensive research). These terms are often used as “dog whistles” to signal a particular ideological stance on sex education. Luckily, EducateUS has compiled a list of these terms to watch out for in their Opposition Glossary, found at the end of this guide. Advocates for Youth, a national nonprofit, has also created a glossary of popular and key terms in sex ed policy, to empower individuals to make informed decisions on the ballot.

The Buzz

Look to reputable sources–what are they saying about this legislation? Reliable sources you trust can often be a great tool for understanding candidates and proposed legislation measures. Political Action Committees (PACs), such as EducateUS, often endorse policies or candidates, and their support can be a valuable indicator of a bill’s alignment with progressive sex education goals. Additionally, investigate who is championing the bill. Do they have a history of supporting or shutting down progress in sex education? Finally, consider subscribing to newsletters from organizations, such as Healthy Teen Network and related groups. These newsletters can keep you informed about relevant policy developments and provide valuable resources for understanding complex legislation.

The Reps

Sex education is primarily a local and state-level issue, so attending forums, such as town halls and school board meetings, is crucial. These events provide a unique opportunity to interact with your representatives face-to-face.

Sex education is primarily a local and state-level issue, so attending forums, such as town halls and school board meetings, is crucial. These events provide a unique opportunity to interact with your representatives face-to-face.

Take advantage of this time to ask clarifying questions and gauge the overall state of sex education policy in your community. By actively engaging with your elected officials, you can play a vital role in shaping the future of sex education. Be sure to check your registration status, make a voting plan, and do your homework on ballot initiatives before Election Day. Also, check out the resources below for more information on how to prepare for the upcoming election!

Resources

Photo Credit: Phil Scroggs on Unsplash

Lilith (she/they) is passionate about making a positive impact on youth across the country. She joined Thrivology for the chance to help progress inclusive sexual health care and improve access to reproductive health education.

JB Rodriguez-Anello is a Research Assistant at Healthy Teen Network. As an academic and artist at heart, he is always finding new ways to make empirical evidence look cute. You can often find them listening to a podcast or doing crossword puzzles. Read more about JB.

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If You Really Want to Help Students Who Are Pregnant…

matt — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 20:40:26 +0000

The Pregnant Students Rights Act stigmatizes, restricts, and shames people’s choices.

By Patti Flowers

By Mackenzie Flynn

May 28, 2024

e’ve been paying attention to The Pregnant Student Rights Act (H.R.6914/S.2974), which Congress is currently considering. When it comes to most written works, including legislation, it’s important to read below the headline (in this case, the bill title) and get the full story.

This legislation, if passed, would require institutions of higher education (IHEs) to disseminate information on the rights to and resources (including protections and accommodations) for pregnant students to carry a baby to term.

But the bill isn’t really about that.

This bill restricts IHEs from disseminating information to pregnant students about their right to and resources for abortion care. The anti-abortion intention of this legislation stigmatizes, restricts, and shames people’s choices. It’s more of the same—as attacks on abortion access, reproductive freedom, and bodily autonomy persist.

Instead, it restricts IHEs from disseminating information to pregnant students about their right to and resources for abortion care. The anti-abortion intention of this legislation stigmatizes, restricts, and shames people’s choices. It’s more of the same—as attacks on abortion access, reproductive freedom, and bodily autonomy persist.

Healthy Teen Network believes young people deserve access to the information they need to make educated decisions about their bodies and health. They also deserve access to comprehensive reproductive health care—which includes full options counseling, contraceptive care, abortion care, and prenatal care.

College students who experience pregnancy are faced with obstacles to accessing information and comprehensive health care. They may fear being stigmatized. Colleges and universities have varying levels of health care on campus. It may be especially challenging for students attending colleges and universities in more rural locations or locations in states with low access to reproductive health care following the overturn of Roe v Wade and severe abortion restrictions. Additionally, faith-based institutions may present greater obstacles that increase stigma and reduce access to information and care. Pregnant and parenting students of color are much more likely to experience discrimination.

The Chronicle of Higher Education recently published an article sharing stories of pregnant and parenting undergraduate and graduate students who faced discrimination from faculty, ranging from pressure to leave college to creating more difficulty for them to finish coursework by shifting deadlines. College students need more, not less, information about pregnancy and their rights.

For example, if a student chooses to take leave, the student is “legally entitled to it for as long as medically necessary, at minimum.

When students take medical leave, their institutions must allow them to “resume studies without penalty,” (U.S. Department of Education), including pregnant students who have complications or other disabilities related to pregnancy.

When students take medical leave, their institutions must allow them to “resume studies without penalty,” (U.S. Department of Education), including pregnant students who have complications or other disabilities related to pregnancy. If campuses provide services to students with temporary medical conditions (such as homebound instruction), they must provide them to pregnant students. Of course, any “mothers belong at home” hostility is blatant sex discrimination. It is illegal for the professors to do it, and for administrators to keep turning a blind eye to it.

We must protect the rights of pregnant and parenting students and support their educational success without bias or harassment due to their pregnant or parenting status – and many organizations spearhead these efforts. In our case, Healthy Teen Network is a co-chair of the Coalition for Pregnant and Parenting Students Advocacy. The coalition has taken an opposition stance to the Pregnant Student Rights Act.

If supporters of the Pregnant Student Rights Act are truly interested in supporting students who are pregnant and parenting, they should place their energies elsewhere. How about:

Increasing appropriations for the Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) program, which awards funds to institutions of higher education to support or establish campus-based child care services that primarily serve the needs of low-income students.
Co-sponsoring and urging passage (or introducing and passing a companion bill in the Senate) the Helping Student Parents Succeed Act (H.R. 9185), which would ensure students expecting a child and student parents are made aware of child care, leave options, and other accommodations that are available to them at their schools.
Co-sponsoring and urging passage (or introducing and passing a companion bill in the Senate) the Understanding Student Parent Outcomes Act (H.R. 6309), which would improve data collection related to student parents pursuing higher education.
Writing the state secretary of education, college and university presidents, and public school district superintendents of their states urging them to faithfully implement the recently issued improvements to the regulation implementing Title IX, which prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance. (Here’s resources on the Title IX rule compiled by the Coalition for Pregnant and Parenting Students Advocacy.)

The Pregnant Student Rights Act doesn’t work as the name implies. It will result in perpetuating bias and shame that contradicts public health. Pregnant and parenting students should be supported in their education endeavors, without fear or harassment, and we will continue to advocate until their needs are met.

Photo by Tim Alex on Unsplash

Patti and Mackenzie are members of the Healthy Teen Network Board of Directors. Healthy Teen Network promotes better outcomes for adolescents and young adults by advancing social change, cultivating innovation, and strengthening youth-supporting professionals and organizations.

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