Netflix’s Sex Education is back and better than ever.
Season 3 of Sex Education was newly released as of September 17th and it came back with its best season yet. The series focuses on the sexual health and relationships of teens and touches on sex, abortion, body image, LGBTQ+ issues, sexual assault, and a host of other topics. This season in particular addresses how bodies are all unique and beautiful in their own way as well how body image issues aren’t dealt with seriously enough.
The show’s main premise revolves around a student who runs a sex clinic, offering advice on sex and relationships by students for students. However, this season, the doctor is out and the new school administration is left to deal with the students’ health concerns. The series shows how misinformative sex education curriculums can be. Throughout the course of this season, we follow the characters and their journeys towards accepting their bodies.
In the first episode we are introduced to characters who are not confident in their bodies; Aimee, a student who is coming to terms with her sexual assault and embracing her vagina, Dex, a student who is ashamed of his penis size, and Cal, a nonbinary student struggling with their body image. Each of these students seek out help for their issues and come to clarity and acceptance about their bodies as the season runs its course.
Sex Education and media like it has contributed to the sex and body positivity movement by telling viewers that all bodies are normal and no one should be shamed for anything about their body. This normalizing discourse around body image creates an open discussion on sexual health and relationships and makes it easier for people to talk about their personal struggles without feeling ashamed or embarrassed. The series shows how embracing your body and owning your sexuality can start honest conversation, strengthening your relationships with yourself and others.
Body positivity and sex positivity can be hard to acheive and often times it is a struggle to accept yourself. With shows like Sex Education it becomes easier to start an honest dialouge about body image and sexual health. By seeing body positive and sex positive media that is truthful and real we begin to see ourselves in those character struggles and feel the representation and finally start to see more acceptance and normalization of all bodies.