Discussion questions for healthy relationships
Discussion questions (printable PDF version)
Love Means: A PSA by the Gender and Sexuality Campus Center
Most of the media we see related to relationships are big lists of red flags and do-nots, with a crisis lens used to develop curricula and messaging. While addressing trauma is so important, we wanted to think more transformatively about relationships and the possibilities for accountability and joy in our communities.
So, we asked ourselves: What do healthy relationships look like? And how does building healthy relationships lead to healthier communities? We developed the Love Means campaign to provide some alternative messaging around what our relationships often are and could be.
This PSA is meant to start a conversation between you and all of the people and communities you have relationships with - your boss, your partner, your parent, your best friend, your classmate. Check out the resources here for more ideas about structuring healthy relationships based on respect, honesty, and communication.
Some questions for discussion:
- What do you think a healthy relationship looks like? Is your view the same now as it was when you were younger? Think back to your childhood. Who taught you what relationships are supposed to be like? What messages did you receive?
- What are the qualities of healthy relationships that you think span across intimacy levels? For example, do you want your partner do ask for consent to touch you? What about your best friend? What about your sibling? Are the answers different? Why or why not?
- How do you know a new relationship is going right? You’ve heard of “red flags”– indicators that the relationship might be unhealthy – but what about GREEN flags?
- What are examples or aspects of healthy relationships you’ve seen in media?
- How do your identities, alongside social dynamics of power and control, impact your relationships?
For more resources, please check out lgbt.wisc.edu/resources/healthy-relationships.html or contact us at the GSCC.