Youth Talk Back: Sex, Sexuality and Media Literacy

Young people are bombarded with conflicting sexual images and messages in the mass media every day. Studies have shown that the mass media is often the number one source of information about sex and sexuality for many young people. Health educators recommend that media literacy training be included as part of sexual health education.

Pilot tested by youth from across Canada, Youth Talk Back is designed to help young people develop the skills they need to analyze and understand the nature of the mass media, the techniques used by the media, and the impact of these techniques. Ideal for use in high-school classrooms, community colleges, and community-based sexuality education settings, use Youth Talk Back to:

• Raise awareness about the relationship between media and sexuality
• Teach students how to become more active media consumers
• Explain how the media works
• Explore the variety of sexual messages presented in the mass media, and the impact these messages have on young people’s sexual health choices and well-being (body image, self-esteem, etc.)  

There are six modules including:

1. The mass media
2. Culture and mass media
3. Socialization, self-esteem and the mass media
4. Advertising
5. Sexuality and the mass media
6. How - and when - to talk back

Loaded with homework assignments, group projects, and in-class activities, Youth Talk Back also contains tips on “talking back” to the media. The accompanying Teacher's Guide provides educators with an overview, teaching tips, suggestions and supplimentary activities.

You can order Youth Talk Back ($10.00) and the Youth Talk Back Teacher's Guide ($10.00) by:

Note: The Teacher's Guide is currently out of stock. In the interim, a photocopy version will be sent at no cost.