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Contributed by Elliot Porter - Staff Member.
People often ask the Prostasia Foundation how we reconcile our mission of preventing abuse with our commitment to sex positivity. However, as child protection experts, child sexual abuse (CSA) survivors, and representatives of various affected groups, we feel this question is misleading. Rather than needing to reconcile the two, our sex-positive approach is what empowers us to set aside assumptions and focus on the facts of what it takes to keep kids safe.
The benefits of sex positivity in child protection start with the earliest stage of prevention: education. In a sex-negative society, children are sheltered from all mentions of sex, leaving them unprepared to recognize and report an abusive situation, should they encounter one. Sex positivity recognizes that information about sex is not inherently dangerous and therefore supports comprehensive, age-appropriate sex education, which has proven safety benefits.
Entire communities can benefit from a more open-minded approach when it comes to child safety. For too long, outdated concepts like “stranger danger” have masked the reality that anyone can be an abuser. Fixing these misconceptions requires open dialogue about why abuse happens and how to prevent it, and these conversations are only possible when the stigma surrounding sex is broken so people can feel comfortable engaging in such discussions.
Sex positivity also plays a role in the second stage of prevention: support. Fears of encountering stigmatizing views prevent many people from seeking support for sexual health issues. This is a concern for the CSA prevention community, as such support can play a key role in preventing abuse. That’s why experts advocate for mental health professionals to take a stigma-free and non-judgemental (and therefore sex-positive) approach with affected clients.
Unfortunately, despite the tireless work of Prostasia and similar organizations, the fight against abuse is far from over, and millions of people struggle with the lasting impacts of CSA every day. Even here, the harm of sex negativity rears its head, as victims who have taboo attractions or use kinks as a coping mechanism are at risk of being denied access to support spaces, overlooked by survivor advocacy groups, or even falsely accused of supporting abuse.
Of course, the dangers of sex negativity extend far beyond sexual abuse and assault. In the past year, several states have used sex-negative rhetoric (link may contain NSFW ads) to justify laws that force adults to share personal information when accessing legal pornographic content, raising their risk of exposure to a data breach or cyberattack. Protecting your privacy and freedom against these and similar laws is another key mission of the Prostasia Foundation.
We know our sex-positive stance is controversial, but it’s also one of the most significant parts of our work. Time and time again, we’ve seen that sex negativity can lead to harmful stigma, rampant misinformation, and policies that infringe on human rights while failing to protect children. By remaining steadfast in our views, we seek to provide a better option for anyone who, like us, believes there is a more effective way to protect kids from sexual abuse. |
