An overall heartwarming and whimsical series, Sex Education is not afraid to tap into taboo topics. The latest season showcases the realities that teens face everyday – whether it’s overcoming shame or discovering one’s identity. Here are 5 important life lessons to glean from Sex Education: Season 3.
1. Take your time on the journey to self-discovery
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We’ve journeyed with the students of Moordale on their paths to discovering their identities, and learnt that it takes time to be comfortable with who we are. Eric taught us that the path to self-discovery can get lonely and difficult.
From trying to fit into the crowd with his ‘normcore’ dressing, to fully embracing his Kentai suit and rocking high heels, Eric took time and showed patience before finding his confidence and his own happy place.
Eric’s complicated love interest, Adam, went through a roller coaster as well to discover his sexuality. He bullied Eric regularly only to realize later on that he is attracted to Eric.
Torn between who he is and who he thinks he should be, Adam faced up to his fears and learned to be honest with himself. Self-discovery is a continuous process and it’s okay to take it slow!
2. Sexual assault can happen to anyone, finding ally and seeking support is the first step to recovery!
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It broke our hearts when Aimee was sexually assaulted on the bus ride. But her community banded around her and gave her the support she needed to work through the trauma.
Writer Erin May Kelly performs this powerful poem about the bus scene to pay homage to the sisterhood, friends and allies who are a source of courage for many dealing with trauma from sexual assault.
In Season 3, Aimee takes a step forward in her journey of healing, by going for therapy with Dr. Jean. Aimee Lou Wood, who plays Aimee, shared that “the event is in the past, but the trauma is present and it has to be addressed.
It has to be talked about and named. Aimee is changing”. Aimee taught us that there is bravery in taking steps to heal, and seeking help.
3. Bullying and shaming can create irreparable trauma
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Bullying and shaming are major problems in schools. The trauma it creates is sometimes irreparable, and can have a drastic impact not just on the individual, but the environment as well.
Eric put it eloquently, when he confronted Adam, “bullying and shaming are sadly still highly prevalent in schools. you made me feel unsafe for years, you were one of the main reasons I wasn’t kind to myself”.
Hope, the new headmaster of Moordale, is the perfect embodiment of what-not-to-do as a headmaster, when she used shame as a form of punishment. In Season 3, we see how Lily struggles with being shamed for being different.
Series Creator Laurie Nunn spoke of exploring the theme of shame and how damaging it can be to individuals, “everybody has been made to feel different or feel like they don’t fit in, particularly in their teenage years, and how that shame can then affect you throughout your adult life”.
4. Sex education needs immediate reform
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Aptly named Sex Education, the series focus on issues that teens (and adults) face when it comes to sex, and the lack of proper information and education.
We saw this in Season 1 when sexually-transmitted infections were on the rise in Moordale, and students started to wear facemasks as a ‘protection’. This shows how the lack of proper sex education can lead to misinformation and terrible decisions.
Series Creator Laurie Nunn shared that the series “wanted to continue exploring the reality of how bad sex and relationship education curriculums can be on certain campuses, even now”.
5. Parents are humans too
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While parents are often portrayed as authoritative figures, they too are continuously learning to become better parents to their child or children. Parent-children dynamics can be tricky to navigate particularly during puberty as we’ve seen with Dr. Jean and Otis.
In Season 1, we felt empathetic for Otis when Dr. Jean documented his incident of having a wet dream in her book without consent. Surprised at how upset her son was, Dr. Jean learnt that privacy is crucial as her son begins to mature.
The pair continue to open up with each other now that Dr. Jean is pregnant and the mother-son dynamic is becoming even more unpredictable.
