Mimi Missfit:
I know it can be embarrassing and I know it can be cringey. But the weird, wonderful world of sex is one that we all need to talk about.
Mimi Missfit:
I'm Mimi Missfit: . I'm a YouTuber. I've brought together 17 ages on a fact finding trip to Holland. They're one of the world leaders in sex education. So, let's see what us butternut Brits can learn.
Mimi Missfit:
Now this is a bit of an awkward subject, but sending nudes is something we've all heard about and we can't ignore. Trust me when I say, it can end badly.
Mimi Missfit:
Writer Manju: and actress Zifa: have inspired lots of Dutch students through a popular web series tackling this issue.
Manju:
The first season is about this girl who has a boyfriend and they're like, you know, getting closer and comfortable with each other. And the guy asks like, to see more of her. And she decides to send a nude picture of herself to him. And then the picture leaks to the entire school.
Garthia:
Generally, I think a lot of people send nudes, more than we know. I think boys and girls are both as bad as each other. Boys are good at manipulating us girls. Like, they'll say oh your body is nice, you're pretty. I can show you like what I've got as well. That's how they manipulate you. That's how they turn you mad. Girls are more sneaky when they do it. They'll be like I bet you have a small thing anyway, init. And then, when the boy sends it she shows her friend, and then the friend shows their friend and then it's just everywhere.
Zifa:
You just have realise, like when you hit send basically you're just sending it to the world.
Female, long brown hair, striped top:
At my school we even had an assembly about why we shouldn't send pictures of ourselves because this guy sent a picture and then it ended up everywhere and it ruined his entire life. And yet, there's still people at my school that send pictures.
Joe:
I think that a lot of people don't realise the consequences that can come out of sending nudes. People do it purely because they think they can get away with it and it won't happen to them. But, it doesn't work like that. And it gets to the wrong hands it's going to be really bad for you.
Manju:
And what about like when you're in like a message group or anything and someone else spreads a picture? Like do you guys understand the consequences of sending that to other friends? Do you think about that?
Male, black hair, grey t-shirt:
There was this chat, they used to send each other like different people's nudes that they got. And I was just like, like my friend was in it and I just told him to like leave it.
Joe:
I know some groups of boys that actually do have like a group chat where they have images of like girls. You'd think that would put a lot of people of sending but they don't realise that it's that serious or that they'll be one of them. It's actually completely illegal, especially under a certain age. My school are actually quite good and they get the point across. We have like small productions of how it can lead into very extreme things.
Garthia:
I think having something where it can show us that if we do do this, this is what's going to happen and you could be placed on a sexual offenders list. You can't just be texting any [UNSURE OF WORD]
Joe:
Yeah, you've got to trust in the person [UNSURE OF WORD]
Male, short brown hair, black hoodyIf you are going to send it, you have to know like you're not going to show anyone. Even if you argue.
Zifa:
But how do you know that?
Manju:
Yeah that's the trick.
Zifa:
That's hard.
Joe:
When you're young, you think you're doing it to someone you trust. But when they risk it, the person they're sending it to is usually in like safe hands, but it's not, it's not at all. I think whilst you're still young the best thing to do is just stay completely clear of sending nudes and sexting. But I think as you get older and you're actually legal and you're an adult, I think it becomes not necessarily a part of life but something you can certainly be less cautious about.
Mimi Missfit:
Pointing out the risk won't always stop young people from sending nudes. But discussing it more openly can make a big difference.
Joe:
You can't really police it. But you can, sort of, prevent it by educating people on what it is.
Garthia:
The moral of the story is, don't send them. But you can send them but at your own risk.
Video summary
Presenter and YouTuber Mimi Missfit takes seven British teens to Holland to learn from the world leaders in sex education.
They meet writer Manju and actress Dzifa, who talk to the teens about a TV series they made.
In the series, the main character sends a nude photo to her boyfriend but it gets sent around her school.
The group discuss this issue, and Alys says despite having an assembly about it at school, people still send them.
Garthia talks about how people get others to send them nudes.
A key message highlighted is that when you click 'send', you are sending it to the world.
The teens discuss the issue of 'group chats' online that share nude photos of other people.
The teens advise to be very cautious and careful, and to steer clear of sending nudes.
This short film is from the 大象传媒 series, Mimi on a Mission: Sex Ed. For further episodes please visit the 大象传媒 iPlayer.
Due to the sensitive nature of the subject matter, we strongly advise teacher viewing before watching with your pupils.
Teacher Notes
Before watching the film
This short film is suitable for 14-16 year olds however always make yourself familiar with the content and consider carefully whether it will be appropriate and of use for your specific cohort. (every class is different, even if they are in the same year group).
Check your school policies to make sure you follow school guidelines and talk to a member of the SLT (Senior Leadership Team) if in doubt about anything.
Check to see if any of your class have any child protection issues or are vulnerable children.
Once you are confident it is the right resource for your pupils, watch it through alone and consider how it would work best for you all.
This short film might also be useful for teachers to use in CPD sessions (Continuing Professional Development).
During the lesson/watching the film
Set up a working agreement with the class and create a list of ground rules for the session so everyone feels safe and able to talk and join in discussions without being judged. Remember to include a reminder to always talk to a trusted adult if anything in the film makes your students feel uncomfortable 鈥 perhaps create a list of 鈥榞o-to鈥 people in the school with them.
Also, due to the sensitivity of this subject, add a rule that no personal information, experiences or names are shared.
You could start the lesson by discussing the title 鈥楾eaching Sexting Awareness鈥 and using this as a starter. (NB: Discussion can be in pairs, small groups or as a whole class 鈥 choose what works best for your pupils).
The film shows Mimi with some British teenagers in the Netherlands (one of the world leaders in sex education), where they meet a writer, Manju and an actress, Dzifa who have inspired lots of students with a popular web series tackling the issue of sexting.
In this series a girl has a boyfriend and they get closer and more comfortable with each other and the guy asks to 鈥榮ee more of her鈥 so she decides to send a nude picture of herself to him and the picture leaks to the whole school.
- What do your pupils think of this?
- Have they ever heard of other stories where this has happened? Remind them of the working agreement at this point and request that, so everyone feels comfortable and safe, no personal experiences or names are used.
Garthia picks up on this. She thinks that a lot more people send nudes than we know.
She thinks both sexes are as bad as each other - do your pupils agree? Why do they think this?
She says, 鈥淏oys are good at manipulating us girls. Like they鈥檒l say 鈥榓h, your body is nice, you鈥檙e pretty, I can show you what I鈥檝e got as well鈥. That鈥檚 how they manipulate you, that鈥檚 how they turn you mad! Girls are more sneaky when they do it. They鈥檒l be like, 鈥業 bet you have a small thing anyway, init!鈥 And then when the boy sends it she shows her friend and then the friend shows their friend and then it鈥檚 just everywhere.鈥
- What do your class think of this?
- Do they agree or not? Why?
Dzifa reminds them that when you press send you are sending it out to the whole world. (Take time to clarify what she means by this if you class are unsure).
Joe picks this up when he says, 鈥淚 think that a lot of people don鈥檛 realise the consequences that can come out of sending nudes. People do it purely because they think they can get away with it and it won鈥檛 happen to them but it doesn鈥檛 work like that and if it gets to the wrong hands, it鈥檚 gonna be really bad for you.鈥
The conversation moves on to message groups and whether people use these to spread pictures and the consequences of that.
Joe points out that this is completely illegal. At this point you could take some time to look at the laws around sending sexual images and sending on other鈥檚 sexual images 鈥 be sure to really research this and make sure that you are looking at current laws as they can change 鈥 a good place to start would be your Government鈥檚 website.
- Do your pupils think they need more lessons on this in your school?
- If so, what do they feel they need to learn? You could note down their thoughts (maybe do some voting), and give this to SLT to plan into the curriculum.
There鈥檚 some discussion on trusting next.
- Do your pupils feel this is a factor?
- Can we ever fully trust someone with intimate images?
- What if we break up or someone accidentally gets hold of the phone? Is it worth it?
Open up some discussion with your pupils on this and let them freely share their views. (You might want to remind them of the working agreement here).
Joe reflects 鈥 he says you might think you are sending it to someone you trust but it鈥檚 risky. He thinks when you鈥檙e young the best thing to do is not to send nudes or do sexting but he does think when you are an adult this might be different.
- What do your pupils think of this idea? Why?
Garthia finishes by saying, 鈥淭he moral of the story is don鈥檛 send them鈥ut you could send them at your own risks.鈥
- Who agrees with this, or part of this? Why?
At the end of your session allow time for any questions or further discussion, pull everything together and make sure you allow for some quiet reflection at the end.
Always check in with the group and remind them to talk to someone if anything they have seen or discussed has made them feel uncomfortable and always signpost where they can get further support or information both within and outside of school. ChildLine will talk to people right up to the age of 19 for support and is free to use.
These short films were created in consultation with a PSHE education expert and will fit within:
- Citizenship and PSHE (RSE) in England.
- The Curriculum for Excellence (Health & Wellbeing Education) in Scotland.
- Learning for Life and Work in Northern Ireland.
- Personal and Social Education (PSE) in Wales.
Teaching Them Young. video
A look at how relationships and sex education is taught at a primary school in Holland.
Teaching Relationships and Sex Education Positively. video
A look at how safe sex is taught at a secondary school in Holland, including a demonstration of putting a condom on a plastic penis model.
Teaching Inclusivity at School. video
A look at how to make schools feel like inclusive and welcoming places for everyone.
Teaching Porn Awareness. video
Mimi and the teens meet a Dutch sexologist, who talks to them about the realities of porn and what to be aware of.
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