We have had some brilliant sessions this term and wanted to share this useful information with you. The S.T.A.R (Safety, Trust And Respect) 11-13 programme is all about what a safe relationship should be like and what an unsafe one looks like.
1. Respectful Relationships
We learnt about what a good relationship is and should look like. We talked about what to look out for if the relationship starts to feel unsafe, like controlling behaviour, where your partner starts to tell you what to do with your life, like who you should be friends with or what to wear.
2. Gender Stereotype
We discussed what a girl and a boy should look like. We drew a girl with long hair, lots of make-up, high heels, a handbag and her lips pouting. A boy was drawn with jeans, t-shirt, cap, trainers and slouching. Colours were brought up so pink is associated with girls, blue was associated with boys. This isn’t right because we don’t all, as girls, like the colour pink but some boys do. I think people think like this because in a toy shop or clothes shop the girls section is flooded with pink and sparkles, and the boys section has mostly blue and guns and cars.
3. Domestic Abuse We looked at what domestic abuse actually is:
•Physical- physically hurting someone like hitting or kicking them.
•Emotional- if someone is making fun of you or calling you names.
•Sexual- if someone is doing something sexual towards you, you don’t like. For example, touching you or making you look at things you don’t want to.
•Financial- someone is trying to take control of your money by making you give them money or not letting you buy things you want.
•Coercive controlling behaviour- when someone is controlling your behaviour, telling lies and manipulating you and often using threats.
We talked about where we could go for help and who you can talk to.
4. Sexual Consent
In this session we talked about what is meant by the term “consent”. It is really important to remember to have consent when two people want to do something together sexually. If one person isn’t consenting it can be really upsetting for that person and can have serious consequences. When it comes to sex in order to give consent you must:
•Be over 16
•Be able to understand what is happening so not under the influence of alcohol or drugs
•You must agree out of choice so not being pressured or threatened into it.
•Be able to change your mind at any point even when you’re doing it.