Mara Maionchi: “Talk about sex and condoms with your children”

Mara Maionchi it is a river in flood and when it has something to say it certainly does not hold back. Perhaps precisely because of this straightforward and direct way of expressing himself, Durex he chose her as ambassador of a new campaign on the importance of using condoms as protection from sexually transmitted diseases.

When it comes to safe sex, the new generations seem to be dramatically disinterested, given that according to a research carried out by the brand and Skuola.net out of a sample of over 15,000 boys between 11 and 24, only 50% usually wear condoms during sexual intercourse.

The main reason is the bad, or rather non-existent, information, given that less than 60% of them talk to their parents and most of them look for answers on the web, ending up believing in fake news and dangerous false myths.

And this is where Mara Maionchi comes into play, giving voice to the educational video at the center of the campaign, linked to the recent step forward made by the Ministry of Health, which eliminated the prior authorization necessary for advertising on condoms, thus making all communication leaner.

Mara, why do you think the attention towards the danger of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases has dropped so much in recent years?
«Because fortunately no one dies from AIDS, so from a social emergency it has turned into something widely underestimated, despite the fact that it is still a disease that once contracted does not leave for life. Those who lived their youth in the years of the AIDS boom, over time have stopped thinking about it, to the detriment of the new generations who remain uninformed. Instead you have to talk about it and talk about it until you are exhausted, and when you think you have said everything, start over ”.

Are young people just poorly informed or superficial?
«Not superficial, today we simply arrive at the first sexual intercourse at an increasingly precocious age and therefore unprepared, and the social context does not help. Even young parents of 40 years old maintain an ancient mentality and are ashamed to talk about certain issues, and this negatively affects adolescent children who consequently do not perceive the importance of defending themselves ».

Also because there is not only HIV …
“Absolutely not, yesThere are over 20 sexually transmitted infections, of which there is even less talk, but which can create serious problems that last over time. As well as unwanted pregnancies».

In today’s society, sex is everywhere, from advertising to the media, but at the same time it is still a very strong taboo, how can these two apparently contrasting phenomena be explained?
«Because it is used in a distorted way, as a tow to talk about something else. From jokes, to advertisements for chocolates, to cars, sex is always present but rarely goes into the merits, treating it from a medical point of view. Years ago, no one said smoking was bad, while today everyone knows it and awareness has increased. With unprotected intercourse it should be the same, even at the risk of taking away some of the magic at the moment. “

In an old interview you said that sex is overrated for you and that at some point you stopped thinking about it, is that true?
“Of course! At my age that’s enough. When I hear people who are still 70, both men and women, talk about it all the time and experience it as a priority, I think they are a bit outdated, let’s say old style. It seems to me an extreme attempt to remain attached to something that is no longer fundamental in life, at least for me ».

So how do you keep a relationship alive for many years, if at some point the passion comes out of the bedroom?
«Thinking that in the long run it is other, much more important things that bind two people. I have been married for 43 years (with the record producer Alberto Salerno ed), and I believe that sex is in the last place. First of all comes the friendship, the complicity and the affective relationship that is established after a long time, which is consolidated to the point of overcoming the problems and those small skirmishes that, however, seem of vital importance when young. “

Type?
«Useless jealousy. Today if my husband says “look how beautiful that girl” I do not break down, but the same sentence at 35 would have bothered me. In this phase of life I realized that if a charming woman passes by and he notices her, I can happily take part in the conversation without making the foolish mistake of making out of place and out of time comparisons, which would only make you laugh. This awareness, however, matures with age, when we are young we are almost always offended by things like this because we live them with a sense of inferiority ».

Sex and machismo still sadly go hand in hand. In order not to be considered easy, girls rarely show up on a date with condoms in their purse. Also in this case the way to go is long, don’t you think?
“Yes, unfortunately women are still highly judged, but this should not make them desist from wanting to defend themselves and demand respect. I tell the girls not to be ashamed and to push the males, often more embarrassed than them, in this direction. I am sure that once again women will pave this path ».

Did you talk to them about sex when your daughters were teenagers?
“Yes, today I would do it with even greater freedom but even then I tried to make them understand that sex is beautiful but involves responsibilities.”

Did your mother ever talk to you about it?
“For heaven’s sake, when I was a girl you couldn’t. Fortunately, however, everything was slower and arriving at the first reports almost always after the age of 20, we did it in a more conscious way and we understood independently how to protect ourselves. Today, however, everything has changed and adolescents cannot be left alone ».

Who is entitled to their sex education?
«To all. Kids should feel free to talk about sex in the family, at school, with the doctor and even with their grandmother if they want, after all she was young too ».