Sexuality education … in short films

In a fifth year class at Sophie-Barat school, in the north of Montreal, on a little Gray Friday in November, two young women tackle a major subject: gender identity. We will discuss stereotypes about gender identity, labels we put on ourselves, the importance of maintaining healthy relationships. In short, the program is full.

Catherine handfield
Press

The first is called Marylou Mucret and she is the co-founder of the non-profit organization Nouveau cadre. The second is called Roxanne Aubry and she is a school perseverance worker for Perspectives jeunesse. Since the fall, the two organizations have teamed up to offer sex education workshops in a few high schools in the city.

And Nouveau cadre does it in a very special way: through short fiction films.

“Do not worry, we will not show you how to put a condom on a banana, summarizes Marylou Mucret to the students, who feign detachment, but we feel curious. We’re going to show you a movie. We know you like it, Netflix, TikTok, Instagram. It’s a short film, played by teens like you, to talk about gender identity. ”

Nouveau cadre was created three years ago by two friends who met during their screenwriting studies at the University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM). “It started with an idea to create films that talk about sexuality, aimed at young people, and designed according to the government’s current education program,” explains Rosalie Bordeleau, the other co-founder.

The short films of the first season, created in partnership with a sex therapist, tackle various themes: masturbation, toxic masculinity, hypersexualization, non-binarity, abuse of power, pornography… Films do not teach morality. They allow young people to identify with the characters and then generate discussion.

When the pandemic broke, the co-founders turned to New Framework’s Instagram page to publish their content, consisting of short films and capsules from influencers, a sex therapist and a sexology student. The return to normal life finally allows them to integrate schools. They do so through Perspectives jeunesse, an organization dedicated to academic and social perseverance, which is collaborating this year with 12 high schools in Montreal.

The workshops are generally offered at noon, in the presence of the school sex therapist. But today, during the passage of Press, Christian-Alexandre Fiset, teacher in the Ethics and Religious Culture course, agreed to open the door to his classroom.

After a quiz to test the general knowledge of the students (who already know a lot about gender identity), the two animators start the film, The right outfit. Anne-Sophie assumes that her best friend Félix is ​​homosexual. In the midst of questioning his identity, Félix feels hurt to be categorized in this way.

In Mr. Alex’s class, Nadia Abraham Porres did not like the attitude of the female character. “She judged him like that, without really knowing,” she said. What does the character of Felix himself not really know? “Who he is,” replies Nadia, who understands the essence of the film.

“Sexuality is something that changes over time,” emphasizes Marylou Mucret. Félix is ​​15 years old. He doesn’t know who he is. He doesn’t know who he’s drawn to. And he especially doesn’t want someone else telling him. ”

The relationship between the two friends is toxic, say the students. “In a healthy relationship, we feel good, we feel appreciated, loved,” argues Guillaume Graton.

A tool

In the fall of 2018, in the wake of the #moiaussi movement, sexuality education content became compulsory again in elementary and secondary schools, without however being included in a specific course with a designated teacher.

As of September 2022, notions in sex education will be part of the new Culture and Quebec Citizenship course, which will replace the current Ethics and Religious Culture course. The program is currently in drafting. “We feel a need among the students,” observes teacher Christian-Alexandre Fiset.

The girls from New Frame would love to be part of the solution. “We want to become the government’s main tool for sex education,” says Marylou Mucret, who wants to ally himself with other organizations. “In schools, we will talk a lot about STBBIs, problems related to sexuality,” points out Rosalie Bordeleau. We have a more human approach: how to communicate between young people, how to communicate healthily our needs, desires, direction. ”

At the Ministry of Education, it is indicated that the choice to present the content offered by a non-profit organization as a New Framework is a matter for members of the school staff.

Check out the New Frame Instagram page Check out the New Frame YouTube channel