sex positive
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Sex positive and sex positivity refer to a social and philosophical movement dedicated to shifting attitudes and norms around sex and sexuality by approaching sex in a nonjudgmental and respectful way. This allows people and society to embody, explore, and learn about sex, sexuality, and gender without shame or fear. This idea values consent above all else, and teaches communication, education, and allowing the individual to make informed decisions about their body and pleasure.
While sex-positive communities have flourished since the early 20th century, the philosophy had a resurgence with the sexual liberation movement of the 1960s and continues through advocated movements such as queer liberation, women’s rights, fat liberation, contraception availability, and the reclamation of the word “slut.” Sex positivity promotes a willingness to speak openly and honestly about taboos related to sex and sexuality, and reinforces that sexual liberation centers consent, autonomy, and communication.
It’s important not to make assumptions about a person’s connection to, views on, or comfort with sex positivity based on their belonging to a particular community, or mode(s) of self-expression, and to represent people accurately and without judgment. Kink-shaming, slut-shaming, and prude-shaming are judgments made about someone based on their sexual preferences, attractions, or actions. Focusing on an individual’s or group’s story and identifiers can prevent overgeneralizations.
Queer people, and particularly queer women and femmes of color, are often perceived differently when it comes to sex and sexuality. They are often more hypersexualized and fetishized, and unnecessary attention to their bodies can reinforce that.
Slut is a word with a complicated and controversial history. The reclamation of the word “slut” seeks to remove the original connotation of deeming someone “untidy” or “dirty” because of presumed sexual activity, and to reposition the word as a sex positive act of empowerment. Popular movements, like the SlutWalk, have expanded on this advocacy by calling for an end to rape culture, slut-shaming, and victim-blaming. However, this word, as well as its alternatives, is deeply rooted in controlling women’s autonomy and decisions around their body and health, and careful consideration of how it is being used and whom it’s describing is important to avoid reinforcing negative stereotypes.
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Summary
Sex positive and sex positivity refer to a social and philosophical movement dedicated to shifting attitudes and norms around sex and sexuality by approaching sex in a nonjudgmental and respectful way. It values consent above all else, and teaches communication, education, and allowing the individual to make informed decisions about their body and pleasure. It’s important not to make assumptions about a person’s connection to, views on, or comfort with sex positivity based on their belonging to a particular community, or mode(s) of self-expression. Focusing on an individual’s or group’s story and identifiers can prevent overgeneralizations.