Modern YA narratives increasingly include explicit consent conversations. Sex Education (Netflix) and Never Have I Ever show protagonists asking, “Is this okay?” and respecting a “no” without coercion. These scenes normalize negotiation—a core puberty skill often absent from biology-only sex ed.
Many popular romantic plots (e.g., The Kissing Booth, Twilight) portray a protagonist who wears down a reluctant love interest through relentless pursuit. This teaches adolescents that “no” is a negotiation tactic, not a boundary—directly contradicting consent education.
Most narratives end at the couple’s first “I love you” or reunion, omitting the mundane work of long-term relationships: conflict resolution, changing needs, or breaking up kindly. Puberty education needs storylines that model ethical uncoupling as much as coupling. In 1991, Belgium had a split educational system:
In 1991, Belgium had a split educational system:
The 1991 date is significant because it comes just after the major AIDS awareness campaigns of the late 1980s, so fear-based messages about disease were often mixed with traditional puberty education. The 1991 date is significant because it comes
Adolescents often feel intense attraction, heartbreak, or confusion without language for it. Well-written romantic arcs—e.g., Heartstopper (Alice Oseman) or The Fault in Our Stars (John Green)—model how to name emotions: “I feel anxious when you don’t text back,” or “I need space to figure out what I want.”
Strengths (for its time):
Weaknesses (modern lens):
Jealousy as “protectiveness,” surveillance as “caring,” and moody silence as “mysterious” remain common tropes. Without critical discussion, teens may internalize that love requires emotional volatility or that a partner’s distress is their responsibility to fix. Weaknesses (modern lens): Jealousy as “protectiveness
Seek out stories that depict friendships, chosen family, and solo happiness as equally valuable. Puberty education should counter the myth that romantic partnership is the only valid relationship goal.