Assertiveness
What does it mean to be assertive?
Communicating your thoughts, feelings and boundaries clearly and respectfully.
What is consent?
Freely agreeing to participate in something.
Name one person a young person could talk to if they were worried about a sexual health issue.
Parent/carer, teacher, school nurse, counsellor, GP, trusted adult, etc.
What is a gender expectation?
An idea about how people of a particular gender are expected to behave or look.
What is body image?
The way a person thinks and feels about their own physical appearance/body.
True or False: Being assertive means being aggressive or rude.
False
True or False: If someone said yes earlier, they cannot change their mind later.
False
What is one reason it is important to seek help when you are in a risky situation?
To get advice, support, protection or appropriate health care.
Traditionally, what were mothers often expected to do while fathers worked?
Stay home and look after the children.
What is an "ideal body image"?
An idea of what someone believes their body should ideally look like.
Give one example of an assertive statement you could use if someone pressured you to do something you didn't want to do.
e.g. "No, I'm not comfortable with that and I don't want to do it."
Name two characteristics of a respectful relationship.
Respect, trust, communication, equality, honesty, boundaries, consent, etc.
You are worried about a sexual health issue. Name two places/services you could go to for help.
GP, sexual health clinic, school health service, youth health service, etc.
Give two ways parenting roles have changed over the last 10–30 years.
Greater sharing of childcare, more mothers working, more fathers taking an active role in childcare, etc.
Name two sources that can influence a young person's ideas about how their body should look.
Social media, movies/TV, peers, family, advertising, etc.
Name two things you could do if someone continued to pressure you after you said no.
Leave the situation, repeat your boundary, seek help from a trusted person, etc.
Someone doesn't say "no", but they look uncomfortable and do not actively agree. Does this automatically mean they have given consent?
No. Consent should be clear and freely given.
You are at a party and cannot remember whether contraception was used. What is one important action you should take?
Seek appropriate health advice promptly and discuss the situation with a trusted health professional/adult.
Give one reason why parenting roles may be different today compared with the past.
Changing social attitudes, both parents working, greater equality, changing family structures, etc.
How can social media create unrealistic expectations about appearance?
It can present edited, filtered or highly selected images that make certain appearances seem normal or ideal.
You are being pressured by a partner to do something you don't want to do. Give three specific actions you could take to deal with the situation assertively.
Clearly say no, explain your boundary/feelings, remove yourself, seek support, etc.
A person agrees to something because they are worried their partner will become angry if they refuse. Is this healthy consent? Explain why.
No. The agreement is influenced by pressure/fear rather than being freely given.
You find yourself in a situation where you feel unsafe and pressured. Give three strategies you could use to reduce the risk and get support.
Leave/remove yourself, contact a trusted person, seek professional help, avoid further risky situations, etc.
Do you think changes in parenting roles have been positive or negative? Give two reasons to support your answer.
Students should provide a justified opinion with relevant reasons.
Explain one way social media and one way peers can influence a young person's idea of what their body should look like.
Social media can promote particular appearance ideals; peers can reinforce expectations through comments, comparisons or group attitudes.