Sex education has left autistic people—and many others—behind | Emily Nagoski

Our one-size-fits-all approach to sex education hasn't worked for a long time. Sex educator Emily Nagoski explains what we know (and don't know) about the role neurodiversity plays in intimacy.

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Sex educator Emily Nagoski discusses why we need to better understand the role of sex among neurodivergent people. Are the sexual needs of neurodivergent people different from those who are neurotypical? And if they are, how can we teach about it in a way that makes an impact?

Nagoski believes it is time to ditch the one-size-fits-all approach to sex education that leaves neurodivergent people behind. Factors such as sensory sensitivities, social dynamics, and behavioral patterns likely shape their experiences, as well as that of their partners. 

More in-depth research will not only help sex educators provide more inclusive guidance, but also help neurodivergent people, and the people who love them, have better sex.

Read the video transcript ► https://bigthink.com/series/great-question/neurodiversity-sex/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=youtube_description

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About Emily Nagoski:
Emily Nagoski is the award-winning author of the New York Times bestselling Come As You Are and The Come As You Are Workbook, and coauthor, with her sister, Amelia, of New York Times bestseller Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle. She earned an M.S. in counseling and a Ph.D. in health behavior, both from Indiana University, with clinical and research training at the Kinsey Institute. Now she combines sex education and stress education to teach women to live with confidence and joy inside their bodies. She lives in Massachusetts with two dogs, a cat, and a cartoonist.

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Read more of our stories on sex:
Five philosophers on the philosophy of sex
► https://bigthink.com/thinking/philosophy-sex/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=youtube_description
What makes for a “great” sex life?
► https://bigthink.com/neuropsych/what-makes-great-sex-life/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=youtube_description
Religious people report greater sexual satisfaction. What can we learn from them?
► https://bigthink.com/health/religious-people-sexual-satisfaction/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=youtube_description

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