The school project includes both lectures and creative workshops. Here, the students at Sjölins Gymnasium have created art and reflected on the theme Fair Sex.
In February, the school project “Why ‘sex’ cannot be bought” finally kicked off and will run throughout 2023 in the Stockholm area. We have been in contact with many schools, and several want us to visit them and talk to students about Fair Sex, consent, “buying sex,” and other forms of sexual abuse. Realstars has already been to two schools, and the interest in discussing attitudes towards sex and consent is significant.
Throughout the year, I will be carrying out a school project at high schools around the Stockholm area on behalf of RealStars Stockholm. The project is supported by HM Queen Silvia’s Foundation “Care About the Children” and aims to make room for dialogue for students on topics related to the project’s name, “Why ‘sex’ cannot be bought.”
The project began in mid-February at Ebba Brahe Gymnasium—a relatively newly established school in Kvarnholmen, Nacka, where I had the opportunity to meet all first-year students for a great lecture in their auditorium. I have also been at Sjölins Gymnasium in Nacka, where I conducted workshops with two classes, and I was so impressed by the creativity and engagement the students showed in creating posters and manifestos in the part we call “Creativity for Fair Sex.” You can see their creations here.
The many questions and comments from the students demonstrated a pent-up need to highlight Fair Sex issues, as it is not a topic that is discussed in the everyday lives of young people. They wondered why it is not illegal to sell sex when it is illegal to buy it, why the recording of pornographic material is not considered purchasing sex when people are paid to have sex in the films, and where the line for sexual harassment is drawn.
Unfortunately, I also feel that many myths about prostitution persist and may even have been reinforced since my own schooling, with platforms like OnlyFans, phenomena like sugar dating, and voices like Andrew Tate’s influencing young people’s values and perceptions of others’ and each other’s bodies.
Meeting the students and their questions and opinions is therefore more important than ever, and I am so glad that we at RealStars have the opportunity to do so through this project with the support of HM Queen Silvia’s Foundation. It’s going to be exciting to continue engaging with students and challenging their values throughout the coming year.
/Malin Säflund, Project Leader, RealStars Stockholm
Comments from students during the visit:
“Great information that I didn’t know before, and it made me reflect on how consent should actually look.”
“I thought it was good and important for everyone to understand what fair sex is and what to do if one is subjected to it!!”
“We learned more about what is actually happening in society and about topics that are usually not talked about much.”
About the project:
The project “Why ‘sex’ cannot be bought” is ongoing throughout 2023 in collaboration with HM Queen Silvia’s Foundation “Care About the Children.” Over the year, our project leader will visit high schools in the Stockholm area to talk about Fair Sex, “buying sex,” demand, and much more. Students will also have the opportunity to discuss their own norms and values in a workshop where they can create manifestos and art on the theme.
Would you like us to come to your school? Email to book a visit at bokaskola@realstars.eu