The campaign in England, ‘Condom, essential wear’, does mention enjoying sex but not in the same way as the ‘Pleasure’ quote. (See http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publichealth/Healthimprovement/Sexualhealth/index.htm for policy + campaign link on right.)

In Scotland (where health is controlled separately) a pilot around Edinburgh called ‘Healthy Respect’ also talked about pleasure but not as strongly as the Sheffield leaflet. In Glasgow there’s a good community project focusing on parents and young people called Talk2 (www.talk2glasgow.com). Scotland has just launched a national campaign about contraceptive choice for women but it’s general, not teen-focused (www.healthscotland.com/topics/health/wish/campaigns.aspx).

The UK NHS might be a bit more progressive than the US government but sexual health consultations still include religious leaders, etc. The biggest impact recently was from commercial TV – Channel 4′s ‘The Sex Education show’ (http://sexperienceuk.channel4.com/sex-education). It’s first series covered quite a wide range then the second focused more on young people/parents and against pornography.

So it’s still a mixed picture and, although most of these campaigns are pretty recent, the UK as a whole still has the highest teen pregnancy rate in Europe.

Most of them become sexually active because (now agreeing with Violet) they don’t know anything about it, even as the boy, who probably knows only that little bit more about wanting tab A into slot B, is pressuring them, and they’re too embarrassed to admit that they don’t know anything about it to put on the brakes.

The article is a fascinating exploration of why evangelical girls get pregnant a lot, why that’s actually “okay” (in some sense) to most evangelicals. It’s such a weird, mindfucked world, I’m glad I’m not part of it.

Yes, I promise to read your perspectives in appropriate detail later. Right now I gotta rub one out to your friend and get back to my work. SUCH adorable nipples and birthmarks!