Talking to children about sex–and everything that entails–is one of the most controversial topics in the field of sexual education. When, where, how, and how often are questions that come to mind for parents, guardians, and educators. This topic has grown in complexity with the rise of the Internet and the increased accessibility of popular media. Film, television, social media, and more are filled with suggestive imagery and text that can spark questions in children at any age, prompting education from the adults in their lives. The information-sharing process can be complicated, but sex educators around the world have developed incredible works to aid this process, including some of the children’s books presented in this article.

For a humorous and informative background into the topic of sex education for children, I recommend watching this YouTube video featuring Sexual Health Alliance’s own Dr. Chris Donaghue. In this clip, Dr. Donaghue teaches parents Kristen Bell and Andy Lassner how to talk to children about sex, overcoming the awkwardness they may feel around the topic. An important takeaway from the video comes from Dr. Donaghue, who says, “The way we as adults talk about sex and body parts, and the language that we use is either going to make our children feel very confident or anxious and insecure.” Teaching without discomfort, shame, or negativity is a key component of inclusive and accessible sex education, especially for this sponge-like demographic who are known to absorb much more than adults give them credit for.

The basis of ethical perspectives including utilitarianism, universal human rights, contractualism, and communitarianism outline not only moral theories but also moral dilemmas. However, in practice, these dilemmas go further than pure theory, having real-world impacts on communities. For example, within the sphere of public health, stigma resulting from health issues or created in order to discourage certain lifestyles cause certain communities to be ostracized and left without proper health resources. We see this not only in the United States’ cultural bias against those with sexually transmitted infections but also with non-sexually transmitted infections caused by various viruses. Rather than further fuel these hateful flames, which do nothing to solve the underlying issues and only make it more challenging for oppressed populations, by approaching these problems through a social justice lens, distributive and recognitional justice interpretations support an argument against creating and reinforcing stigma.

Erika Blacksher, affiliate associate professor in the Department of Bioethics and Humanities at the University of Washington and fourth John B. Francis Chair in Bioethics, asserts that the goals of public health require public health to counteract existing stigma and not use stigmatized measures in its public approach. Elements of stigma might include individuals with socioeconomic and political power identifying and labeling a difference, linking this difference and those labeled as such with negative stereotypes, creating an “us” versus “them” framework, and discriminating against “them” in order to cause a loss of “their” socioeconomic or political status. This ensures the familiar power structures are kept intact in alignment with the patriarchal hierarchy, while health disparities widen between the upper and lower classes. However, when applied to public health, this stigma can have life-threatening consequences. In fact, from a communitarian theorist’s view, Blacksher explains stigma can drive health disparities by putting the blame on individuals or certain communities, as well as lowering the self-worth of those with stigmatized health issues.

I can’t tell you how many times this happened to me during my undergraduate experience: I’d be at a party, hanging out with my friends, and a conversation would start between a fraternity member and me. I tend to be quite the open book, especially after a drink or two. So, eventually, it would “come out” that I’m bisexual. At this point, it was always one of two responses: “That’s hot. That means we can have a threesome, right?” or “Oh, so like you just make out with other girls at parties?” This is not only not what it means to be a bisexual woman, it promotes harmful stereotypes that have real-life negative effects on the community. Comments like these simultaneously serve to take away a person’s autonomy to express genuine interest in the people they are actually interested in, limit the ability to desire only one partner, and undermine bisexuality as a valid sexual orientation in general.

Now, me being me, I got into a habit of pushing back on these comments by teasing these alpha males a bit. I’d respond with something like, “well, actually, your friend’s pretty cute, would you wanna have a threesome with him and me?” A look of disgust would immediately spread across their faces. Of course, they would never hook up with another man! Isn’t the whole point of bisexual women so that a man can sleep with two or more women at once without it becoming like a whole thing?! No. In fact, nothing about being a bisexual woman is meant exclusively for the entertainment or pleasure of a heterosexual man. I know that may come as a shock to many men out there, so let’s dig a little deeper into the false assumptions about bisexual women, what this results in, and why these notions are harmful to society as a whole.

Recently on TikTok, a jarring trend has emerged called “vabbing” which Rolling Stone refers to as a “portmanteau of ‘vagina’ and ‘dabbing.’” In this trend, those with vulvas will gather up their vaginal secretions to rub behind their ears in hopes that the pheromones it contains will attract potential suitors. The idea of using pheromones to increase attraction is common; there are often oils and perfumes sold with the intention to enhance your natural pheromones, and there are studies behind the effectiveness of pheromone-based attraction in many species. However, without evidence to support the proposed benefits of vabbing, it has quickly become just a humorous trend and point of discussion on the Internet. But the questions remain: is there any validity to this trend, and where did it come from?

One of the first reported mentions of vabbing in recent years comes from the book The Game of Desire by Shannon Boodram, in which she speaks to her personal success using her vaginal fluids to attract others. ABC reports that podcast the Secret Keepers Club, hosted by Carly Aquilino and Emma Willmann, mentions this phenomenon too, speaking to a trend they sparked within their friend group of using “coochie juice as perfume.” The trend spread like wildfire through the Internet, particularly on TikTok, as users began to share their own testimonies with the practice, including strangers complimenting their perfume or flirting with them in public. This anecdotal evidence was reason enough for hundreds of users to give it a shot, coupled with the unique feature of no downsides to the practice.

When beginning your journey in the sexual health industry, either as a professional or patient, it can be difficult to distinguish the difference between a Sex Therapist, a Sex Coach, and a Sex Counseling. While all three tend to fall under the same umbrella, each position has unique qualifications and specializations. Sex Therapist: A sex therapist is mental health professional licensed and certified through the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT). Their psychotherapy education allows them to assist in short-term and long-term sexual issues. Clients may seek a sex therapist for issues such as vaginismus, sexual trauma, trouble orgasming, and more. Sex therapists work to define sexual problems by providing comprehensive care and resolutions through in-depth sessions and homework.

Time and time again displays of niceness and friendliness is being perceived as some form of sexual interest. Whilst for many women, showing a smile and being friendly is what a decent person does, men often misinterpret this signal as flirting or a sign they are interested sexually. This can then result in an uncomfortable situation, where more often than not the female counterpart still has to remain friendly and polite to prevent the situation from escalating. Whilst this article is by no means an attempt to generalize, it does aim to explain why men can perceive friendliness as flirting and the social psychology behind it.

It’s a heartbreaking experience when innocent politeness or conversation becomes mistaken for sexual desire, and the moment we realise this has happened, we wish we never engaged in the conversation in the first place. A 2017 study on the dopaminergic reward system and gender differences in social preferences reveals that women tend to display more “prosocial behavior” in comparison to men due to the dopaminergic activity in women’s brains. In more simple terms, this means that women display higher levels of warmth in their interactions in comparison to men. T

One of the main ways democratic ideals are furthered is through social justice movements, and social media networking sites have exponentially impacted the progress and reach of these social movements. While many large social media platforms have been under fire recently for their algorithms’ negative impact on democratic values, in taking a more optimistic case-by-case approach to the digital choice architecture, we can examine Facebook’s influence on the continuing success of the 2017 Women’s March and Twitter’s influence on the lasting impacts of legalized gay marriage (#LoveIsLove). Though it may seem counterintuitive at the time, social media really can be and has been used for positive change and justice movements.

Policy-based nudges are used to “improve people’s decisions by changing how options are presented to them.” Ideally, this should be utilized in a transparent, non-imposing, cost-effective, evidence-driven, nonpartisan, non-paternalist, and democratically-controlled way. Within the choice architectural frameworks that are inherently built into everyday life, there is actually no neutral way to present individuals with options. The classic example of this is to imagine yourself strolling the cereal aisle of a supermarket. The supermarket must organize their inventory on shelves, as this is customary. But here lies the inherent choice architectural framework: whatever is closest to customers’ eyeline will be most likely to be bought. The consumer still has the choice to reach for something on the top shelf, but they are more likely to miss this option or forego it to save time and effort. In this way, unintentional choice architecture can actually be the more manipulative option because it is often done in the dark or utilized by the private sphere, which does not consider the public interest.

What is consensual non-monogamy? The American Psychological Association (APA) Commission on Consensual Non-Monogamy describes it as an “umbrella term” for partners that engage in consensual sexual or romantic relationships with multiple people. This includes various labels: open relationship, polygamy, swinging…etc. The CNM lifestyle resists gender, sexuality, and relationship norms by establishing that love and intimacy aren’t solely defined by long-term monogamous partnerships, as many of us were lead to believe.

CNM can enhance individuals' sexual and romantic satisfaction and increase one’s sense of self and autonomy. However, couples must establish clear, concise boundaries to maintain those benefits. People within the world of CNMs emphasize the importance of intentionality and ongoing dialogue. These conversations about boundaries, preferences, and consent are constant and essential.

Everything starts with a conversation—go to your partner with an open heart and mind, and come prepared with questions, potential concerns, and answers. Address CNM with your partner gently. Discussing open relationships is a highly vulnerable conversation requiring both partners to honestly speak about their bodies, insecurities, and goals.

Just when you thought the discussion of sex was taboo enough, I welcome you to the act of degrading during sex. A quick google search summarizes a “degradation kink” as being the “consensual practice of using derogatory names and phrases to humiliate and degrade your partner during sex.” Degradation can fall under the sadism/masochism umbrella and can often be seen in a dominant/submissive relationship, however, note that degradation can take place outside of this dynamic. On the complete opposite side of the spectrum is the act of praise during sex, as the name suggests it is based on words of affirmation, and positive reinforcement. So why do some people enjoy these? Is it possible to find pleasure in both elements? And how can you incorporate this into your sex life?

After the Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, those at risk for pregnancy across the United States are faced with a new problem: long-used period-tracking apps that could become a political tool that uses your data against you in court. These apps store the data of your menstrual cycle to predict and support the changes in your hormone levels, but now many fear that this stored data can be used as proof of an abortion.

The menstrual cycle is an enigma for many, and requires a deep understanding of your biological processes to track or predict changes in your cycle. This is most often important for tracking your period and the hormonal changes that affect your mood, skin, energy, and more, as well as tracking your fertility to manage conception. For some, cycle tracking is a great way to prevent contraception, while for others, cycle tracking is an important part of intentional conception. In the past few years, developers have excelled at putting cycle-tracking apps on the market that do all of these things, as well as offer information, resources, and community support to their networks.

Over the last weekend of July, SHA held a two-day virtual conference on Engaging with the Media: Building a Business and Online Presence. We heard from sex and social media experts, including world-renowned clinical psychologist and author Dr. David Ley, sex and relationship therapist and educator Dr. Chris Donaghue, couples’ counselor and sex therapist Jen Meyer, marketing expert and MŌN app founder Cale Jones, SHA founder Heather McPherson, Netflix phenome and social media influencer Alyssa Ljubicich, founder and CEO of ethical porn website afterglow Lilly Sparks, and sex therapist and sex worker Jasmine Johnson.

Additionally, Dr. Ley facilitated master panels on journalism and how to charge money for your sexpertise. The first panel featured journalists Jelena Kecmanovic, Brian Smith, Ryn Pfeuffer, and Hallie Lieberman. Then, the Monetizing Exposure panel brought back Jasmine Johnson, Lilly Sparks, and Heather McPherson with the addition of BDSM author, educator, and social media influencer Midori of PlanetMidori. Overall, the Sexceptional Summit covered media strategies and tools to flesh out your authentic sexuality brand, get your particular style of sex-positive message out there, position yourself as an expert, and create a growing community.

Just when you thought having a uterus and having your hormones change couldn’t get any worse, I present to you the multiple negative effects of stopping your birth control pill. It is no surprise that stopping any form of birth control can have drastic effects on your mind and body; your hormones have already gone through drastic changes to now begin the process of reverting back. Whatever your reason is for stopping birth control, whether that is wanting to achieve conception, or you are experiencing negative side effects—this article will go over the possible side effects of stopping birth control, and how to do so safely. When discussing birth control, I do so in the context of hormonal birth control—any contraceptive that uses synthetic hormones to prevent pregnancy (therefore excluding methods like condoms). Hormonal birth control includes the pill, IUD, arm implants, ring, patch, and injectables.

Everyone tells you that your 20s are the perfect time to discover what you enjoy sexually. This, in turn, places unnecessary pressure on you to explore, even if it may not be something you’re actually interested in, or to worry about why you aren’t actively exploring. No one ever suggests you explore nonsexual romantic relationships or explains what that could mean for you, most likely because most people don’t believe they exist. Surprise! They do. It’s called asexuality.

What is asexuality? Angela Chen’s book Ace: What Asexuality Reveals About Desire, Society and the Meaning of Sex defines asexuality as “the lack of sexual attraction.” Asexuality is a sexual orientation, similar to someone being gay, bisexual, or pansexual. Similarly, asexuality is an inherent, unchosen part of someone’s identity. Chen’s broad definition of asexuality leaves room for individuals to identify within the spectrum rather than a box. Learning about the ace spectrum opened my eyes to a full new understanding of what love and relationships look like.

Historically, menstruation has been depicted in Hollywood as a disgusting, uncomfortable, and shameful event in a woman’s life. In films such as Carrie (1976) and My Girl (1991), the start of a period by protagonists is portrayed as a horrifying brush with death, in which both women believe they are bleeding out. In other movies such as Superbad (2007) and Blue Lagoon (1980), the female characters are subjected to shame and ridicule for their biological functions, particularly at the hands of their male counterparts.

Hollywood has come a long way in the past decade, with an increasing number of female writers and directors working to destigmatize this phenomenon and create a positive representation of periods for younger viewers. Media depictions have slowly shifted to biological processes signifying womanhood, and now to just a normal part of women's lives. In the film 20th Century Women (2016), the character Abbie played by Greta Gerwig passionately announces that everyone should be comfortable using the term “menstruation” instead of shying away from women's bodies. This scene stands out for its portrayal of periods within the film but also for its general critique of how men and male-dominated spaces further suppress womanhood through their periods.

The history of sex work is deeply rooted in the queer community, particularly queer people of color in marginalized areas. In more recent years, queer people have reclaimed certain sex work industries and morphed them into expressions of self-love and power. An example of this is the burlesque industry, which has roots in performance dance but also stripteases sex work. In the 20th century, this art was primarily done by cisgender white women, but now some of the most successful performers are BIPOC such as Jeez Loueez and Samson Night. Burlesque as an industry has begun taking a queer approach to gender and sexuality, using costuming, music, dance, and striptease to play with these concepts.

Queer women have found homes in burlesque troupes like Honey Burlesque, a collaborative of queer women and non-binary people each with their own acts and stage personas. Honey Burlesque hosts special events and participates in queer festivals like Girls in Wonderland, and the Orlando pride celebration. Another troupe that specializes in more modern styles of burlesque is Les Vixens, the lesbian collaborative. These groups create intentionally queer spaces for performance and business and uplift other queer dancers in the process.

In the digital age, it’s no surprise that sexually explicit content has permeated from the physical plane into our technology. However, since technological usage is such a prevalent part of our every day, this comes with moral and legal issues related to consent and mental health. The term “cyber-flashing” is now used to describe the unsolicited or nonconsensual sharing of sexual content via digital technology, including text messages, social media, and Bluetooth capability. Due to the nature and commonality of male sexual violence and harassment against women, this concept should be contextualized as gendered, intersectional, and contingent on nonconsent. Cyber-flashing thrives in a sexist culture that works to take away women’s sexual autonomy. This oppressive culture is perpetuated by demeaning advertisements, media portrayals, and the commodification of the female body in the fashion and plastic surgery industries. For this reason, cyber-flashing fits into the “raunch culture” that Morehead State University Professor of Sociology and Gender Studies Bernadette Bardon discusses by enabling individuals to take advantage of technological advancements and the stigma around women’s sexuality.

“Shadow banning” is likely a term you have heard or used online without really knowing much about it. As the name suggests, shadow banning thrives outside of the light of public knowledge and institutional acknowledgment. The term is more often named by social media users rather than the social media companies, who tend to underplay its algorithmic role or completely deny its existence altogether. After social media creators noticed decreased engagement on their more risqué posts, users began speculating whether the sites themselves had something to do with the trend. Thus, shadow ban was coined. Shadow banning refers to social media posts or accounts being hidden from the Explore (or similar) pages, posts or accounts being more difficult to search for, and posts or accounts being indicative of more critical moderation, which might later result in post removal or account blocking. But, because institutions refuse to validate these trends, much of the knowledge on shadow banning surrounds user perception, qualitative study, and the sites’ “vaguely inappropriate content” policies. As this particular content does not outright go against the Community Guidelines, it cannot be removed at this point.

HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, is a virus that infects the body and, when left untreated, can develop into AIDS, or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. HIV is spread through bodily fluids—including blood, semen, rectal and vaginal fluids, and breast milk, which enter the thin membrane or open skin of another person. Transmission can occur through sex, most commonly anal sex, but also through vaginal and oral sex. You can also get or spread HIV through sharing needles with another person, most commonly to inject drugs. On occasion, mothers can unknowingly spread HIV to their children during pregnancy and birth. There is currently no cure for HIV or AIDS, but there are medications that can decrease the transmission rates of HIV and help manage symptoms to live.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, is a medication that decreases your likelihood of contracting HIV, even if you are in transmission contact with an HIV-positive person. According to the CDC, PrEP, if taken correctly, is 99% effective for sex and 74% effective for injections. Combining PrEP with other measures like barrier contraception and hygienic practices is the best way to ensure your protection from transmission. Currently, there are two approved pill forms of the drug and one shot; consult your doctor about which of these methods is best for you and your lifestyle. Most medical insurance plans including Medicaid will fully cover PrEP, but for anyone without insurance, there are programs available.

As we have seen with many Supreme Court decisions, especially recently, the notion that nine legal professionals have the ability to dictate what others can do with their bodies and protected freedoms is not always what it seems. The Potter Stewart test refers to a Supreme Court opinion that classified hard-core porn as “hard to describe” but “I know it when I see it.” This very definition indicates that what “should” be censored is incredibly subjective. Further, the distinctions between what constitutes artistic expression and pornography are almost indistinguishable. Nudity in art culture has also existed since Ancient Rome, but these figures are often praised instead of being seen as taboo, although this does vary based on location and governing body (i.e., religious power associations).

The intentions behind censorship policies and the reality of their functioning are thus wildly different. Censorship policies are intended to protect people, specifically children, from obscene content, but in reality, censorship policies can be sexist, racist, and discriminatory to sex workers and sexual education content. This points to the performance of policy within society; often the creation of the rule is much different than its implementation. Additionally, there becomes a strict distinction between the public and private spheres. This binary is complex because, while you can generally access social media platforms from anywhere including the comfort of your own home, your created content is then accessible to large networks of people. Therefore, digital surveillance and rights to privacy rely on each other, potentially in a detrimental way, in the modern-day creation of online presence.

A quick google search and use of the Cambridge English Dictionary defines lingerie as being “women’s underwear.” However, when scrolling down the page and seeing an insert from the American Dictionary, lingerie is now defined as “women’s underwear or clothing worn in bed.” The American Heritage Dictionary takes this further with its elaboration on lingerie: “women’s undergarments or sleepwear, especially when designed to be visually or sexually alluring.” When the definitions alone seem contradictory and unclear, online retailers have only added to the confusion. Some online retailers have one category for simple bras and briefs, and a different section for lingerie. In other cases, everything is thrown together. Sometimes bras and briefs do appear in the lingerie category, but it usually tends to be the fancy lace ones rather than anything simple and practical. Estelle Pulestone, lingerie fashion blogger, discusses that this inconsistent advertisement is extremely confusing for customers. She notes, “some people will tell you that underwear is the basic stuff, and lingerie is for the boudoir. But what is one person’s special occasion set to someone else’s everyday one, so who are brands to tell us which bras are stylish or sexy and which aren’t.” This idea that only pretty or lacy undergarments can be considered ‘lingerie’ can stem from the word originating in France, “a place that’s been long associated with beautiful laces and fashion” states Pulestone. With its close association to sex, advertisements for lingerie seems to suggest that only pretty underwear is acceptable in the bedroom. This is entirely false. All underwear can be lingerie, and you can feel sexy in any underwear, whether that’s some new floral briefs, or a beige nursing bra.