Content warning: This article discusses topics related to sexual assault.
Sex Education explores the awkward pitfalls and triumphs of teenagers as they progress through puberty into adulthood. Jean Milburn’s years of experience as a sex therapist allow her to help her clients strengthen their interpersonal relationships and work through trauma.
Although Jean’s overprotective tendencies create a blind spot when it comes to parenting Otis, her advice is often spot on, making a safer environment for sexual discovery among the students at Moordale Secondary School.
Information Is Empowering
"When we give teens agency, information, and trust, there's a much higher success rate."
Though her speech during the interview is interrupted by the coup at Moordale and her own labor, Jean makes an important point about the danger of teaching abstinence over proper sex education in schools. Jean's words are complemented by the video performance staged by the students in an effort to thwart their new heistress' plan to stifle all creativity and individualism in the school. Despite the push-back from other parents and the school s, Jean's short time helping the students proves that her methods work, making them more comfortable in their own bodies and less reckless in their relationships.
Love Is A Mystery
"I don't know if any of us understand much about love. I just know we feel it when we feel it."
One of Jean's more relatable moments in Sex Education comes as she is recovering from surgery following Joy's birth. Otis finally reveals his feelings for Maeve and Jean lets down her guard, itting her own uncertainty when it comes to love. Over the course of seasons two and three, Jean struggles to adjust to life in a relationship, believing she's lived too long as an independent person to ever be in a couple again. As Jean comes to with her own relationship issues, she is able to communicate with Otis on a level plane for the first time.
Finding Joy
"When children are bullied by a parent, they falsely learn that emotions are a sign of vulnerability, and so they shut them off."
Michael Groff's decision to apologize and return Jean's notebook marks the end of his obsessive desire to destroy her. Instead of getting angry or holding a grudge, Jean invites Michael inside to talk about the underlying cause of his broken relationships. Michael's description of his father's treatment of him growing up gives insight into his own relationship with Adam.
Jean's suggestion that he find something that brings him joy leads Michael back to his love of cooking and gives him the confidence to stand up to his older brother and make amends with his wife, Maureen.
Motherly Advice
"Try and find some common ground, something you can relate to in her world, and see if the conversation starts there."
Even as she is being wheeled through the hospital at the end of season three, Jean's mind is always working to solve the problems of those who come to her. The nurse treating her, who also happens to be Lily's mother, describes her concerns over Lily's sudden withdrawal in personality. Jean's suggestion that she find something she can relate to within Lily's interests, helps the pair connect over a possible alien encounter. Though Jean had an easy time bonding with Otis before he entered secondary school, she struggles to relate to him as he grows up and establishes more boundaries between them.
Aimee's Journey Toward Healing
"What that man did to you on the bus has nothing to do with your smile or your personality and is only about him. And it is absolutely not your fault."
In most serious issue to date, Aimee grapples with the aftermath of her assault on the bus and the lingering effects on her mental health and relationship with her body. Jean doesn't force Aimee to discuss the trauma and instead asks how it made her feel and what she wants to work on in their sessions. Aimee's outburst after her fight with Maeve reveals that she believes her decision to smile at the man on the bus was the cause of his actions. Jean helps Aimee understand that while she may never be the person she was before the assault, she can learn to love her body again.
The Importance Of Consent
"No matter how persistent a sexual partner is about not using contraception, it is always your right to say no. Always."
During Dr. Milburn's first visit to Moordale as a consultant for the sex education curriculum, she sits in on one of Mr. Hendricks' classes and takes over when his answers prove less than satisfactory. By telling the students that they always have the right to say 'no', Jean touches on the important topic of consent, a subject that is often left out of health education lessons. Jean's matter-of-fact way of speaking with the students never comes across as condescending or uncertain, making her the new favorite for advice over Otis.
The Buddy System
"If you're going to do drugs tonight, to buddy up and look after one another."
Jean's natural desire to help everyone she speaks with makes her one of the most comionate characters in Sex Education. While she struggles to respect Otis' boundaries, her advice is still useful. As Otis and Eric set off to Aimee's party, Jean imparts this piece of wisdom, urging them to be responsible for any drug use they may partake in. Although it may seem unnatural for a parent figure to experimentation when it comes to drugs, Jean’s acceptance of Otis’ likelihood of drug or alcohol use at the party focuses on teaching him self-reliance and responsibility instead of abstinence.
Growing Apart
"It can be hard when friends find new interests, but you mustn't feel left behind. It can actually be an opportunity for you to find out what's important to you as an individual."
As Otis and Maeve's underground sex advice business starts taking off, Eric begins to feel out of the loop. When he shows up at the Milburn house looking for Otis, Jean tells him that Otis left for school already, leaving Eric with a piece of advice.
While her advice can be helpful in cases where one friend has new obligations taking up their time, it can also be good advice in situations where friends are simply growing apart. Through Eric's time in the school band as well as his relationships with Rahim and Adam, he begins to find his own interests outside of his friendship with Otis.
itting One's Wrongs
"Apologizing isn't just social etiquette; it's a hugely important human ritual that brings relationships together and helps people move forward."
For all of Jean's shortcomings in of her respecting Otis' boundaries, she is never afraid to apologize and it when she's crossed a line. Despite her complicated involvement with Jakob as she tries to adjust to being in a couple again, Jean is the character in Sex Education with the healthiest approach to relationships. Jean's apologies are never tinged with blame or a lack of sincerity, a trait that she also ed on to Otis.
Acceptance
"Sexuality is fluid. Sex doesn't make us whole. And so how could you ever be broken?"
Jean's most salient advice is given to Florence, a theater student who worries that her lack of sexual desire makes her broken. Jean's explanation of asexuality is a rare and important representation in Sex Education which many LGBTQ shows fail to acknowledge. While Florence's character has little to no involvement in the storyline of season two and is left out of season three completely, the inclusion of her character and explicit discussion of asexuality resonates with countless viewers in similar situations. Jean's simple but effective speech helps Florence, as well as millions of viewers, accept themselves as they are.