Don't wait for the next rape case to talk to your sons about sex

Educator and sex education specialist Matan Livne explains why sexual education for boys should not begin only in response to high-profile rape cases. He calls for starting conversations about desires and boundaries much earlier to prevent adolescents from developing shame, guilt, and fear, and to foster sensitivity and inner strength.

Educator and sex education specialist Matan Livne, in an article for Ynet, urges parents not to wait for the next high-profile rape case to start talking to their sons about sex. He argues that sexual education for boys should begin much earlier—with conversations about desires and boundaries. Livne cites the 2024 Cornell University case, after which parents approached him. He warns that a reactive approach, where the conversation starts only after shocking news, can shape a teenager's perception of sexuality as something dangerous and evoke feelings of shame, guilt, and fear. The author emphasizes the importance of calmly discussing boys' curiosity and experiments, as well as the need to develop their sensitivity and inner strength so they can stand their ground and intervene when they see injustice. Livne references researcher Niobe Way, who describes the deep intimacy boys seek in friendships.