Take a Stand

Stand Up For Your Rights!

It's your body - you never owe anyone sex - it's never too late to say no.

The Heat is On...heat from someone who may be pressuring you to have sex. Saying no to sex starts with saying yes to yourself. It's up to you to stand up, protect yourself, and speak your mind. You CAN do it. The question you may be asking is HOW?

If you are feeling the heat to be sexually active by someone:

• Be clear about your decision to be abstinent.
• Be clear that liking the person doesn't mean you are going to have sex.
• Let your partner know that you care in other ways.
• Avoid alcohol and drugs. They only make it harder to say no to sex.
• Avoid risky situations. If something doesn't feel right, it probably isn't safe.
• If the pressure continues, it's time to move on. Someone who respects you won't keep pressuring you to do something you are not ready to do.

Famous Phrases

Sometimes it can be really hard to know what to say when you are being pressured to have sex. Look below at the list and see if any of these would be helpful if you were ever in a pressured situation.

IF SOMEONE SAYS...	YOU CAN SAY...
Everybody else is doing it	Great, I like being unique.
What about what I want?	It looks like we want different things.
No one has to know.	I'll know, and that's one too many people for me.
If you were a real man, you'd do it.	If you were a real friend, you wouldn't say something like that.
Don't you want to know what it's like?	I do not want to know what it's like to get an STD, get pregnant, or live with memories that I'd rather forget.
If you loved me, you'd do it.	If you loved me, you wouldn't ask.
What's wrong with you?	No, it's what's right with me. I care about the future, apparently you don't.

Healthy self-esteem is your best defense against sexual pressure. Here are some ways to feel good!

Be true to yourself. Put your values into action and belief in yourself. Don't let anyone talk you out of what is right.

Be proud of yourself. It's okay to feel good about yourself and what you do well. Congratulate yourself on a job well done!

Be goal oriented to yourself. Challenge yourself. Enjoy your successes, but learn from your mistakes as well.

HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS START WITH HEALTHY SELF-ESTEEM.