When discussing sexual health with young people, it’s essential to recognise and address personal biases. You might not think you have any, but often, our biases are unconscious, formed by our beliefs and experiences throughout our lives. Sometimes, our biases are invisible to us until we really start to look for them.
In this article, we discover how, by understanding and mitigating biases, professionals working with young people can foster more open, trusting, and effective conversations about sexual health.
Bias refers to preconceived notions or attitudes that unknowingly influence our perceptions, attitudes, and behaviours. When it comes to discussing sensitive topics like sexual health, these biases can negatively impact interactions with young people in several ways.
Unchecked biases can perpetuate harmful stereotypes and further marginalise vulnerable groups. These assumptions and biases could include things such as thinking someone’s attitudes to sex are based on their religion or culture or suggesting that the person with the penis is responsible for carrying condoms.
Even if it’s not intended, bias can make young people feel judged, making it harder for them to open up and share their experiences. It’s important for a person to feel supported and taken seriously, with zero judgement, especially when young people are already feeling vulnerable.
Judgemental attitudes can contribute to feelings of shame or stigma surrounding sexual health, which can put people off seeking help. It’s a vicious cycle we need to work hard at to break.
Take condomless sex, or sex in general as an example. It’s a common topic that might come up in conversation, and if a young person senses disapproval when opening up about this, they could be less inclined to seek help – such as getting an STI test or to have conversations about their health again.
They’ll also walk away without the information they need to make informed choices about their sexual health in the future.
“As youth workers, we understand that we are people too, with our own histories, beliefs, ideologies and experiences. We understand that these things can impact on our practice. Realising this, youth workers take into account the diversity of values and interests that young people present with. We recognise that our own values may be different to theirs, and we respond to these differences in non-judgemental ways…Building self-awareness is something we must invest time and energy into. This comes through things like self-examination and critical reflection, regular supervision, and taking part in training and development opportunities that challenge and extend us,” Code of Ethics for Youth Workers in WA as shared in our Exploring Values Fact Sheet.
When planning sexual health programs (or information/education) for young people, we need to make sure that we have considered and reconciled differing values. it is important that young people never:
As the quote from the WA Youth Workers Code of Ethics above states,
recognising these personal biases requires self-examination and critical reflection.
Here’s what you can do:
Recognising these biases is the first step towards reconciling them and creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for discussing sexual health with young people.
Mitigating bias requires ongoing effort and conscious practice. Here are some strategies and techniques for professionals working with young people
Actively listen and empathise with the different perspectives and experiences of the young people you work with. This will foster understanding and connection.
Always question your assumptions and preconceived notions about sex and sexuality and consider alternative viewpoints and realities. Activities like the ones we outlined in the previous section of this article will help. Take the time to go through them regularly so that your own biases are always at the forefront of your mind.
Engage with diverse voices, including those from different cultural backgrounds, genders, and sexual orientations. This broadens understanding and promotes inclusivity. Why not run some of the activities above as a team? That way, you can share your own viewpoints and thought processes as well as helping people reflect and understand biases, they may not realise they hold.
Like everything, committing to ongoing education and self-reflection is the best way to improve. Stay informed about current best practices in sexual health promotion and deepen your understanding of bias and its impact.
Play Safe Pro and our partners run a whole range of sexual health training, including Sticky Stuff and Nitty Gritty, both of which provide information and free education about sexual and reproductive health; and ACON’s Pride training, which helps increase people’s knowledge of LGBTI communities, their experiences living in Australia, and gives guidance on inclusive practices.
As we wrap up, remember that values aren’t about right or wrong; they’re simply different perspectives and opinions. Our values can evolve, influenced by our life experiences, the people we meet, and the knowledge we gain. It’s also important to recognise that personal values might not always match organisational or professional values – and that’s perfectly okay.
Recognising and addressing personal biases is a continuous journey for professionals working with young people. By promoting empathy, challenging assumptions, seeking diverse perspectives, and engaging in constant learning, we can all practice inclusive sexual health promotion.
