Everyone deserves to feel good about their bodies and their sex lives. On Netflix’s Sex Education, that’s exactly what the teens of Moordale Secondary School are trying to do. The series, which premiered January 11, follows introverted student Otis as he teams up with business-savvy Maeve to start an underground “sex clinic,” or counseling service. Using his mom’s sex-therapist expertise as guidance, Otis talks his classmates through their worries and insecurities to help them figure out how they like to “shag” (so British!).
Beyond the show's frankness when it comes to sexuality, something else stands out: its focus on female pleasure. When it comes to the way the show tackles the experiences of its female characters, Sex Education prioritizes self-determination and fulfillment as an integral part of their sexuality.
In Episode 5, resident mean girl Ruby comes to Maeve for help after a picture of her vulva is sent around the school. Although nobody knows that it’s Ruby’s vulva in the photo, the person behind the revenge porn threatens to reveal Ruby’s identity if she doesn’t apologize for her behavior — which is why she wants Maeve and Otis to find out who sent the photo and stop them from outing her. The minute the photo is leaked, Ruby’s labia and pubic hair are subject to criticism from her own friends (Ruby herself makes snide comments seemingly in an effort to fly under the radar), which only makes her more afraid of what people will think if they know it’s hers.