2. Guest speaker

A sexual health educator can teach women how to protect themselves and use safer sex supplies in a matter-of-fact way. Afterwards, the supporting activities may seem less confrontational. The speaker can discuss the importance of early medical treatment and encourage women to approach local resources with any concerns. Your women's or community AIDS group might help you find a speaker.

Safer sex is a difficult topic. Since learners may be embarrassed, it may be easier for them and for you if you are not the one who embarrasses them.

Your speaker can name the body parts of men and women and introduce terms such as "intercourse," "oral sex," "anal sex," "sexual touching" and "s/m" so that everyone is clear what the terms mean.

3. Exploring safer sex supplies

Part or all of this activity can be done with your speaker. You or she can bring a box of condoms, dams, latex gloves and lubricants to class.

* Bring out the box of condoms:

  • Check that the box says "latex condoms."
  • Check the expiry date on the package.
  • Explain lubricated and non-lubricated condoms. Look for spermicide.
  • Read the instructions together. Are the instructions clear?
  • Stretch a condom to huge proportions to dispel the myth that some men are too big for condoms.
  • Learners can put condoms on their fingers for practice.

* Bring out the dams.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Dental dams can be used for protection from HIV when per- forming oral sex on a woman. Like condoms, they provide a latex barrier to prevent the spread of the virus.


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Some community organizations give free condoms; some college women's groups sell inexpensive safer sex supplies, including dams. You can also buy dams at some specialty sex shops. At press time, the female condom was not available in Canada. If you can, bring some female condoms to class.


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The condom insert sheet in English Express is an easy-to- read illustrated explanation of condoms, spermicides and condom use.


  • Read the instructions together. Are the instructions clear?
  • Learners can stretch dams to see how they feel. Make dams by cutting up the condoms you brought to class (using the steps below in the "Dam!" game).
  • Cut up the latex gloves to make dams.

* Bring out the lubricant. Read the labels.
* Some questions to consider:

  • Where can we buy condoms? dams? lubricant? gloves?
  • How much do they cost? (Later, you might make a price list.)
  • Are dams hard to get? Why?
  • Discuss how dams can be made in advance and kept ready.

4. Game: "Condom!"*

To prepare for the game, cut large squares of paper. On each square, in large letters, write one of the steps in the instructions (below) for using a condom. Don't write the numbers on the squares of paper. Make a set of squares for each small group. If you can get some diagrams to go with the instructions, so much the better.

Using a condom (for the game Condom!)

  1. Open the package (with your fingers).
  2. Put a drop of lubricant in the tip of the condom.
  3. Squeeze out the air.
  4. Put the condom on the (tip of the) penis.
  5. Pull back the foreskin (if uncircumcised, or "uncut").
  6. Roll the condom on the penis.
  7. Put lubricant on the outside of the condom.
  8. Have sex.
  9. Hold the base of the condom.
  10. Pull out the penis.
  11. Take off the condom.
  12. Throw the condom in the garbage.

* Divide the learners into small groups and give each group a jumbled set of instructions. Each group tries to be first to put their pile of mixed instructions into proper order.

* When a group thinks their instructions are in order, they call out, "condom!"

* The game continues until a group finds the order.

* Go over the instructions together.


*This activity, and activities D-5, F-1, F-2, F-4, F-5, F-6 and F-10 are adapted from The Education/Prevention Workshop for Women on HIV/AIDS, STD's, Sexuality and Self-Esteem, by Centre for AIDS Services Montreal (Women), with permission.


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