RAGNE MATHIESEN

From Taboos To Talk    

        

This speculative design diploma reimagines how we deal with sexuality education. It explores new ways sexuality might be learnt, as well as new arenas where reflection and mutual understanding might occur.









Through four future scenarios, we speculate on two main driving forces that could shape the development of sexuality education in Norway. Using storytelling, we aim to broaden the discussion on sexual health and sexuality education.

We explore two main questions:
Who might be the focus of sexual education:
children or a cross-generational approach?
Where might it take place:
in the public or private sphere?

Each scenario is followed by prompts for reflection and discussion. We encourage readers to compare future developments, define common goals, strategize, and take action. We've also created a workshop toolkit to help share impactful experiences and foster a common ground for discussion and reflection.


The project initiates  conversations about sexuality and sex education, in addition to challenging existing norms and discussing taboos surrounding the topic. The goal is to envision what future sex education for children in primary school might look like, with a focus on the positive aspects of sexuality and self-exploration.

We have also designed 13 fictitious artifacts existing in the  scenarios as conversation starters:






What could a campaign look like for encouraging
adults to use the correct terms when talking about sexuality?
What could conversation cards on sexuality look like 
if they were came from the government?
What if the Directorate of Health made their 
own ethical porn to teach kids about consent? 
What if primary school pupils had better tools to talk about sexuality in the classroom?
What if kids were taught to love their bodies? 
What if there was a dictionary for talking about sexuality that the governemnt provided?


The Toolkit 

The toolkit, available at taboostotalk.com, guides participants through three stages: imagining potential futures through visual and textual storytelling, discussing vulnerabilities and possibilities with provided prompts, and strategizing actionable steps toward desired outcomes. The aim is to help organizations envision, discuss, and plan for a better future in sexuality education.