An informational Poster / Zine about the harms of “Abstinence-Only” Sexual Education.
This piece addresses the misconceptions surrounding Abstinenece-Only sexual education for young people. Though still a popular practice in most US states, this form of education has been shown to increase the likelihood of unwanted teen pregnancies, STDs, and other reproductive health issues. Because this approach denies young people real knowledge about their bodies and the dangers of unprotected sex, professionals and a majority of parents are in favor of changing this outdated model.
The research I organized within this piece helped em to see how there is a clear diparity between what has been proven effective and what we offer to our vulnerable youth. It would seem a loud majority are drowning out evidence that we need to create conversations around frankness and transparency, not secrecy and shame. It is clear that being thorough in explaining healthy sexual practices instead of abstinence is also a great way to empower young people to make wise decisions- often increasing their chances of choosing abstinence for themselves.
Completing this project first required a “construction” phase in which I developed a plan for how it would function as a poster on one side, and an editorial layout on the other. This also meant accounting for how the piece would fold into a booklet with different parts of the spread showing at different times.
I also enjoyed creating a branded feel for this piece, and formulating a system that could function flexibly throughout each spread and onto the poster. I hope to expand this initiative into more elements; stickers, pamphlets, pins etc.