Why Should You Know?

January 18, 2010

So I’ve been at this blog and site for a couple of months now (we launched in November) and I’m reflecting on the busy-ness of designing, writing the FAQ pages, the initial blogs, finding links I’d suggest, creating information and connecting with women in midlife. I’ve just received word that I’ll be presenting at the Canadian AIDS Society Skills Building Symposium in March, and so I’m joyfully faced again with explaining why. It’s always good to go back to basics. Here’s why.

Women need age-specific, sexually frank info that’s respectful. I believe in naming body parts as they are and don’t assume that everyone’s sexual experience is similar. Writing something aimed at “women over 40” may have the implication that we’re all the same, but of course we’re not. We’re different ages over 40 and at different points in sexual desire (ask anyone on a given day). We partner with men, with women, and we’re different colours and sizes. Our histories translate sex differently for all of us. For some it’s comfort and pleasure, for others it’s fraught with difficulty, yet aspirations to enjoyment.

I can’t write every post for every woman, but I write with these convictions:

Our sexual health matters. We’ll all fare better at the doctor, with sex partners, as parents and as people if we have accurate sexual health information.

Midlife means body changes, and it’s good to understand the process and what to expect. We can embrace youth in the name of health, but we can’t strangle it. Honouring the changes of our bodies and being true to our experiences right now is better than lamenting what we’ve “lost.”

We may not be of “reproductive age” anymore, but we’re still vulnerable to sexually transmitted infections and we need safer sex information. Staying on top (no pun intended) of sexual health screening needs to extend well beyond our reproductive years, whether we ended up reproducing or not. Having safer sex information to use with our partners will contribute to healthy choices.

You Should Know is a site to dispel myths and support women to make healthy choices. Through the web and social networking like Facebook and Twitter, my hope is that this is a space where women feel comfortable reflecting on diversities in sexual behaviour and practices. Where women can get information that fits their lives.

- Janet

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This blog represents the ideas of individual writers, and does not necessarily reflect any formal stance taken by Positive Women's Network.

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you should know

Youshouldknow.ca is dedicated to women over 40 and our sexual health. This site provides clear, supportive information about sexual health and sexually transmitted infections so we can fully enjoy sex and relationships as we move into our middle years with partners new and old. Share resources and wisdom- we haven't gained our life experience for nothing! Get the answers at youshouldknow.ca.

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