hey folks,

per our classroom conversation, i though this may be interest...

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/npo/1443610633.html

HIV Testing Counselor

Founded in 1987, AIDS Healthcare Foundation is the largest specialized provider of HIV/AIDS medical care in the nation. Our mission is to provide cutting edge medicine and advocacy, regardless of ability to pay. Through our healthcare centers, pharmacies, health plan, research and other activities, AHF provides access to the latest HIV treatments for all who need them. 

AIDS Healthcare Foundation is currently seeking a FT HIV Testing Counselor to work in our SF Public Health Division. The position will be located at 238 18th St., Oakland, CA 94606. The salary is $17/hr based on experience. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: (Other duties may be assigned.) 

-Upholds and ensures code of confidentiality relative to the clients and the testing program. -Interfaces with other senior staff within the prevention department and makes recommendations for department policies. -Assists with the observation and training of new counselors as assigned. -Documents findings and submits reports to Program Manager. -Conducts additional training for counselors as needed and assigned. -Knows and understands...

"What is the G-spot?" Daniel, 12th grade student asks me in his advising classroom.

(Inner dialogue, "WHOO weee, not prepared , not prepared! No, no, I got this. I know the answer and he should too. Ok, calmly now, tell him.")

"The G-spot is an erogenous area inside a vagina that when stimulated can lead to pleasure or orgasm." I said it. 

Daniel blushes!

I work with a group of high school seniors who have no science teacher at their school. No science teacher! Injustice, anyone?! Luckily, though, down the road is a Junior college. These five students head down the road for a Human sexualities course. I looked through their reader and it looks pretty legit. The information appears to cover biology, gender, sexuality, race, culture, and class politically so. The Christian influence on the sex education that these students would have received if they had a science teacher is explored. I am pleased with the interdisciplinary nature of understanding Human Sexualities. The students are totally engaged and amazing critical thinkers.

Enter Mohammed into the G-spot conversation. Mohammed is the self assured, hoopstar, and clever as ever student- "That's the G-spot?! Hell yeah, that's what I am talking about, G. You feel me, that is the kind of G I am about to be. Naw, for real, we were talking in our class the way sex is mostly about pleasure for men. And the way men are supposed to be aggressive and stuff. But now we know, G. I'm...

The four year old i nanny was recently found naked with her four year old friend, also naked. They were engaging in the revelation of their different bodies, different genitals. They also touched one another. The mother shared this story with me. It is a common tale. More interesting to me... How to respond?! The mother told her daughter that it is ok to touch yourself (yay!), but that touching other people or having other people touch you in your privates is not ok (hm). i firmly believe in helping children to know boundaries and enabling them with the strength to set them. In such, i agree with everything the mom said, I think. How old is consent? What is the sentiment revealed that is not ok to be touched? I wonder what is internalized from the four year old vantage? I imagine thinking... Didi I engage in something wrong? Why is my body private there? i honestly have no real answers on this one. Only questions. Such a touchy subject, shall we say. On the one hand, I really know that youth need to feel safe, and need to know what safety is. How can we ensure this and normalize this natural exploration? Thoughts?

There is a resolute link between militarization, sexuality, and health dating way back to when the world began to war. The health of United State’s soldiers alerted a specific type of terror- venereal disease, or a weakening of  the front line of defense. In such, a distinct terror alert level on sexuality and health manifested, arming a culture of defense, fear, protection, violence, and an us/them ideology. “War fostered respectability for sex education...” (moran 76). I think this is a history that we must reckon with. i worry that we are not. For rhetoric surrounding sex and disease persists with protection, warning, disease, fear, self-defense, predation, and so on. 

In addition to militaristic nationalism and sex education, a liberal benevolent sense persists in sex education and I felt it most present in our classroom conversation. “How can we help them?” I easily slip into this paradigm of knowing that I have access to privilege and wanting to share such through education or volunteerism. However, I do feel that pause must ensue and i must ensure that i am not replicating systems of power so long at play in colonial,...