“Sex is Like Pizza – Even When It’s Bad, It’s Still Pretty Good”: Increasing Pleasure by Increasing Consent Communication

Beyond an enthusiastic yes lies infinite possibilities for pleasurable sexual experiences. But how do we as sex educators help our students practice the necessary communication skills to advocate for the experience they want? Building off the theories of Al Vernacchio in his TED Talk, “Sex Needs a New Metaphor,” Megan Healy has developed an educational game to explore ways to communicate sexual consent while promoting an increase in pleasure. Discussing sexual desire can be a lot like ordering a pizza – easy, fun, and intentional. Pineapple? Only on half. In the butt? Only with flared base. After viewing Al Vernacchio’s TED talk, this session will play the interactive game, then process their experience using the Critical Reflection Model – what, so what, now what. Afterwards, attendees will have time to consider modifications for their target audiences. This session is well suited for sexuality educators of all kinds.