Monday, October 18, 2010

Sex and Feminism

So there have been a lot of posts floating around lately touching on the concept of feminism and sex. Here's one, here's another, and here's yet another.
Now, most of you know me fairly well. I've had my share of guys and I've also had my share of feminism, so I feel like I can reliably comment on both here.

Feminism, although seen by some as a collection of crazy man hating lesbians, is really just a movement of people out for equality. As one man said on Jezebel, it's all about egalitarianism. It's not that women specifically should earn more, it's that every single person should earn the same for the same work. It's that everyone should gain pleasure from sex, and everyone should have the same rights. Gay, trans, male, female, whatever. It doesn't matter. In the end, we all love whomever we love and it really shouldn't affect anyone else.

So... feminism and sex.
They do exist together. Not all feminists abstain, and they aren't all lesbians either, so don't think this is going to be some diatribe on how sex is all about objectifying women.

Sex really should be all about pleasure. (Unless you're trying to make babies. More power to you if that's the case, but it's not what I focus on. Babies are stressful.) This means that both parties, be they men, women, or other, should gain approximately equal amounts of enjoyment from whatever they choose to do together. However, I know male/female relationships best, because that is my cup of tea. Adapt as needed.

Feminism is not saying that the woman always has to get off, even if the man doesn't.
It is also not saying that the woman can't choose a BDSM/S&M relationship if that is what works for her.
It is not choosing a position in which the female has control

Feminism is consenting partners having a good time together.
It is women having a good time, hopefully above the national average.
It is women, and men, going just that one step further to see what might happen.
It is women enjoying sex if they want to without being called sluts. (Although I will admit it's slightly different when you're friends call you a slag, but in the same text say they are proud and jealous.)

Enjoying sex is not an inherently anti-feminist prerogative. You can be a sex-worker and still be a feminist. You can enjoy domination and still be a feminist. You can also wait for marriage and still be a feminist.

The entire point is that it is up to you to choose what you want to do.

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