Legitimate Sexpectations : The Power of Sex Ed
Katrina Marson
Scribe
ISBN: 9781922585516
RRP $ 32.99
Description:
Can we promise future generations a life free of sexual violence, in which their sexual wellbeing will be protected? Is this a promise we can keep?
As a sexual offences prosecutor, Katrina Marson works for an institution that can only respond, one case at a time, to sexual violence once the damage is already done. During a decade of looking back, she kept returning to a single question: what could have been done to prevent this?
In 2019 she stepped out of the justice system to travel abroad on a Churchill Fellowship, where she witnessed first-hand the power of comprehensive relationships and sexuality education to safeguard sexual wellbeing and act as a protective factor against sexual violence. Combining her coalface experience in the criminal law with her international research on sex education, Marson’s perspective is unique, looking in two directions at once.
Legitimate Sexpectations exposes the limits of the criminal justice system and the fault lines in our society when it comes to sex, sexuality, and relationships. Through storytelling that moves between heartbreak and hope, Marson makes the case for a cultural shift towards valuing sexual wellbeing and preventing sexual violence in the first place. In doing so, she calls on us all to play our part to ensure that young people’s sexual experiences are not just free from violence, but far from violent.
My View:
A life changing book! A book I wish was around and being talked about when I was a child. Child you ask? YES! You are never to young to be empowered about your own safety and to be given permission and the language to talk about sexual abuse at whatever age, child/teenager/adult.
A well balanced, clear and rational discussion regarding “consent”.
Be warned there are triggers in this book – and yes it triggered so many things for me that even now as a 63 year I am still trying to deal with.
This book should be in the hands of every educator, politician, parent, library, resource centre, school…that’s right YOU SHOULD READ THIS
5 stars
Reading, Writing and Riesling 
I couldn’t agree more, Carol, that it all starts with what and how we teach our children. If our culture values well-being (including sexual well-being and safety), then children will learn that value. I think that could very well be an important factor in reducing the number of people who commit that sort of violence, and, therefore, those who have to live with the consequences of it. It’s certainly a useful perspective!
I really believe everyone should read this Margot … it’s a good start