Follow me
Author Archives: Dr Petra
Young people – want better relationships education? Time to speak up!
Tweet As we already are sadly aware, the future of sex education in the UK remains unclear. Despite promises for sex education to be statutory and numerous consultations and reviews on the issue (including those by Ofsted, NICE and the Department of Education) we are still waiting to hear what is going to happen regarding [...]
Posted in Parents, Sex education, Teenager(s) Comments closed
“I wanted to make it better for people” – In Memory of Claire Rayner
Tweet A few years ago I was invited to the 60th Anniversary celebrations for BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour. It gathered together women of all ages to mark the many issues the show had covered in its history. I was a few months pregnant at the time and struggling to stay awake and suppress endless [...]
Posted in Agony Aunt, Sex education Comments closed
Science is Vital! Show your support
Tweet You don’t need me to tell you that science is important. I’m sure we can all think of different ways science has transformed our lives. However, in the UK science is under threat with proposed cuts to science funding. This will affect research, teaching, innovation and practice. Scientists are rightly concerned about this, and [...]
Posted in Academia, Activism and Open Access, International Comments closed
Love Geeks? Then buy a Geek Calendar!
Tweet Over the past few months, geeks, scientists, writers and presenters have been mulling over how to raise more funds and awareness for libel reform. This follows a number of recent high profile libel cases in the UK which have been seen as attempts to silence debate – particularly in areas of health and science. [...]
Posted in Activism and Open Access, Ethics, Gender, Health/care, Human rights/law, Prostitution Comments closed
Reporting back on the ‘Science of Pulling’ – making science work for you
In this longer post than usual here's a summary of the Science of Pulling event held last week, an outline of the science of dating, problems of bad science in this area, and a discussion of why we need more research in this area.
Posted in Commercialisation, Confidence/Esteem, Critical appraisal, Dating, Sex tips/advice Comments closed
The Science of Pulling
Tweet Tonight I’ll be hosting The Science of Pulling event, part of the British Science Festival a week long celebration of science, this year hosted in Birmingham. Have you ever wondered… - how much of your adult life are you likely to be single? - can one night stands ever lead to love? - do [...]
Posted in Activism and Open Access, Dating, Sex positive, Sex tips/advice Comments closed
Watch out you silver foxes, it’s Sexual Health Week 2010!
Tweet Today sees the launch of FPA’s Sexual Health Week 2010, with the focus of this year’s event aimed at the over 50s. Entitled ‘Middle Aged Spread’ it’s the first dedicated sexual health campaign aimed at this age group with the message for people in the 50+ bracket who are starting new relationships that they [...]
Posted in Condom(s), Contraception, Health/care, HIV/AIDS, Safer sex, Sexually transmitted infection(s) Comments closed
Good news.UK Sex and Relationships Education back on political agenda today
TweetToday MP for the Rhondda Chris Bryant will be using the 10 Minute Rule in parliament to push Sex and Relationships Education back onto the political agenda. This is being proposed in collaboration with the National Children’s Bureau and the Sex Education Forum (further details here). Supporters have been glad to see sex education being [...]
Posted in Politics, Sex education Comments closed
80% of women have enlarged labia? That would be a ‘sex panther’ statistic
TweetFans of the movie Anchorman will no doubt be familiar with the men’s fragrance ‘Sex Panther’. If you hadn’t heard of it before, here’s your introduction… The fantastic line ‘they’ve done studies you know. 60% of the time it works every time’ has become a well known catchphrase. But I think it deserves far wider [...]
Posted in Health/care, Journalism, Medicalisation, Television, Vulva Comments closed
“Women with low libidos ‘have different brains’”