Sex workshop helps students communicate with their partners

ealth Promotion & Wellness at San Francisco State University led a sexual communications workshop to discuss the importance of communication and consent, while also providing tips on how to talk to partners about sex.

Almost 50 people joined the Zoom call at 5 p.m. on a Wednesday evening. Most people participated with their cameras off, but a few participants attentively sat at their computers as they’d do for a class lecture.

Taylor Davies, a sexual health education coordinator at HPW, let participants know that some content may not be comfortable for everyone and to “feel free to step away if needed.”

Davies created a welcoming environment from the beginning of the evening, inviting everyone to introduce themselves in the chat and share their pronouns.

“It made me aware of how I address people and stop assuming people automatically go by ‘he’ or ‘she’ if they appear to me that way,” said Tiff Burgess, a psychology major at SF State.

The workshop is part of HPW’s “Link-Up” series, where the team aims to provide workshops on substance use and abuse, emotional wellness and sexual health.

Davies continued to discuss the different barriers that get in the way of people talking about sex such as nerves, insecurity and inexperience.

“Talk to your partner and say, ‘sometimes I feel a little nervous speaking up about sex,” Davies said. “Start small, give nonverbal cues and practice. With each partner that we have, it might look different. It’s an ongoing process, but talking about sex helps us have a better sexual experience.”

Ivy Chen is a lecturer at SFSU who teaches Sex and Relationships and Contemporary Sexuality. She said there are many reasons why talking to partners about sex can be challenging.

“SF State is a diverse school. We have different nationalities, different cultures, and some people do not have a lot of practice in their families or communities,” Chen said. “Emotions like embarrassment or shame, fear of messing up or killing the vibe can also get in the way.”