"The only way to be totally free is through education" - Jose Marti
Topic 9: Intimacy
For this week's Flex-Learning Activity, we were asked to find three visual representations of intimacy from three different perspectives.
My current view of intimacy, at age 30:
Image by: gfpeck (Flickr)
There are a number of reasons why this image speaks to my current view of intimacy. I feel that intimacy is not restricted to romantic relationships, it can exist between family members and friends as well, between individuals or any gender and age. I also feel that for myself, intimacy refers to the ability to be a dependent team-member in a dedicated partnership. I can rely on those that I am intimate with to be there for me at any time, regardless of the purpose of my needs. I also like the idea of representing intimacy by holding hands because intimacy can be shown in ways that are simple and raw; the relationship is supported from within without the need for scaffolding from material items.
My recalled view of intimacy, at age 14:
Image by: Daniel Eliasson (Flickr)
When I was a teenager I thought that intimacy was strictly romantic. My view of intimacy was strongly influenced by media and pop-culture. I was under the impression that true love was reserved for the young and adventurous. Movies taught me that love was fleeting, captured in spontaneous moments of affection that seemed to be perfect even though they were really just perfectly scripted. I feel that the above image entitles "Travellers love" displays many elements of my misguided media-fueled view of intimacy as a teenager: youth, spontaneity, physical affection, and a sense of urgency as though the time available for love is growing ever-shorter.
Intimacy from the perspective of a modern-day adolescent:
Image by: mic salac (Flickr)
I feel that this image entitled "First Date" captures my impression of intimacy from the perspective of a modern-day adolescent. Young people are creating extensive virtual identities at the expense of real-life identies and interactions. Many people harbour some degree of fear at the thought of face-to-face interaction where they will have to formally recognize and deal with other peoples emotions and social cues and they will not be able to edit conversation. I feel as though in-person interaction has become an art with which many people are unfamiliar. For me, this view of intimacy lacks a depth of emotion and is completely unsustainable.
In this weeks flex reflection we were asked: What is one way you may need to adjust your own perceptions of intimacy and self-disclosure to better work with adolescence?
I think that there is a general understanding in modern day communication that there is far more disclosure and far less intimacy as a result of online communications. As such I wonder if I will be in a situation where I will have to communicate with my students exclusively online, for example in a virtual school setting. Aside from that, it is also increasingly popular to offer students access to an online help forum and frequent email access. I think I will have to accept that there are some students who will be completely unwilling to participate in class but will ask a lot of questions or be very active on the online forum. There are some students who I may not even get to know outside of their online identities. I thin I will have to compensate for this new style of intimacy in the classroom by having more computer-related projects and feedback ooptions like real-time surveys as students are not as willing to put up their hand and participate in class.
Additional Resources:
The Conversation - Let's talk about sex: teaching teens to negotiate sexual intimacy
http://theconversation.com/lets-talk-about-sex-teaching-teens-to-negotiate-sexual-intimacy-34983
How to start a sex-positive dialogue with adolescents
Strategies for Success - Teaching teens about the emotional aspect of intimate relationships
http://saptherapist.com/teaching-teens-about-the-emotional-aspect-of-intimate-relationships
Talking to teens about how to date, setting a good example and taking a positive viewpoint on intimacy.
Trends in Child Research - Helping teens develop healthy social skills and relationships: Wha tthe research shows about navigating adolescence
http://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/oah-initiatives/ta/paf_training2_healthysocialskills.pdf
How teens build relationships with family members, other adults, and peers, including a detailed table referencing what works in the effort to develop positive relationships and social skills.