Our Whole Lives (OWL) is a comprehensive sexuality education program designed by the Unitarian Universalist Association and the United Church of Christ to provide accurate, developmentally appropriate information about sexual health, identity, and relationships. OWL helps people make informed and responsible decisions about their sexual health, behavior, and relationships throughout their lives.
The world is changing rapidly, and we are navigating a complicated landscape regarding people’s understanding of sex, sexuality, and relationships. So comprehensive sexuality education is more important than ever before. Unfortunately, many schools do not provide adequate instruction on these topics, and the available resources often provide outdated or incomplete information.
Unfortunately, comprehensive sexuality education is under attack in many places around the country. From legislation that limits or prohibits comprehensive sexuality education to the lack of funding for sexuality education programs to a historical lack of adequate information, young people are being, and have long been, denied access to vital information about their bodies, emotions, and relationships. In addition, many teachers and parents lack the necessary knowledge and skills to provide comprehensive sexuality education to their students and children. This leaves many young people without the tools and information to make informed decisions about their sexual health and relationships.
Despite these obstacles, it is critical that young people receive comprehensive sexuality education. It is essential to help them navigate this challenging period and foster healthy attitudes about sex, sexuality, and relationships. With the proper support, everyone can benefit from learning about sexuality in an open and respectful environment.
When it comes to sex education, the conversation often focuses on young people. But adults have a lot to gain from comprehensive sexual education too. Sexuality can be an ever-changing landscape that requires continual learning and understanding.
As our bodies age, we experience physical changes. We need education about how these changes affect our sexual health and relationships. Adults also need to understand how to keep themselves safe from sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unplanned pregnancies.
Comprehensive sexuality education helps adults understand the different aspects of their sexuality, including pleasure, safety, and communication. This knowledge can help adults find more satisfaction in their sex lives and foster deeper relationships with their partners.
The program teaches facts about anatomy, sexual orientation, gender identity, contraception, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), reproductive health, communication and decision-making skills, pleasure, and relationships. This information helps participants make informed decisions and create healthy relationships in their lives. All lessons are evidence-based and medically accurate.
In addition to factual information, Our Whole Lives encourages participants to think critically about their beliefs about human sexuality. Through guided discussions and activities, participants learn to develop an understanding of values, attitudes, and behavior as it relates to sexuality.
With its focus on inclusivity and respect for all individuals, OWL provides a safe space for people to explore these topics. This kind of comprehensive sexuality education can help empower people to make responsible decisions about their bodies and relationships.
OWL provides an opportunity for individuals to learn about their bodies, feelings, behaviors, and advocacy for themselves. The program builds self-esteem and confidence by allowing participants to explore values and choices. This can help participants feel more comfortable making decisions and give them tools to express themselves in healthy and positive ways. OWL also helps participants understand and respect boundaries, which can be vital in building self-esteem.
When it comes to teaching negotiation and communication skills, OWL is invaluable. In new relationships, OWL can help equip individuals with the skills to express their needs and boundaries and learn how to listen and respond to the needs of their partners. This helps create an environment where both parties feel respected and heard.
In long-term relationships, OWL can also provide tools for partners to practice communication skills such as active listening and healthily expressing feelings. This will enable them to have honest conversations about their relationship and address any issues they may have before they become unmanageable. The communication skills taught through OWL can also help strengthen couples’ connections, fostering healthy and positive relationships.
OWL can help empower individuals to advocate for their rights and those of others, challenge discriminatory practices, and speak out against violence. By understanding the basic facts about human sexuality, we can be better equipped to recognize oppressive structures in our lives and work to dismantle them.
Comprehensive Sexuality Education is essential to creating a society that is equitable and just for everyone. OWL gives participants education around these topics and allows us to understand the diversity of sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions, all essential components of an equitable and just society. Furthermore, it provides people with the tools they need to create healthy relationships and make informed decisions, ultimately leading to a more positive environment for everyone.
Suppose you want to learn accurate and comprehensive information about human sexuality, build your self-esteem and confidence, and develop essential skills for communication and negotiation. In that case, OWL is the program for you. Our Whole Lives provides children, youth, and adults with evidence-based information, activities, and conversation topics that will help you understand healthy relationships while also providing tools to promote healthy decision-making. It also encourages individuals to create a more just society by understanding the broader context in which our decisions are made. So if you want to become empowered and knowledgeable about sexual health, head to muuf.org/owl for our listing of classes.