Archive for November 3, 2010

November 3rd, 2010

Recommended Reading #19: Addressing Misconceptions



      “Why Do We Demonize Men Who Are Honest About Their Sexual Needs?” by Clarisse Thorn (Sexual Culture, Gender Socialization) 10/1/10

To me, addressing male sexuality is as important as addressing female sexuality (and queer sexuality and all individual sexualities) in the same way that it seems to me that gender socialization fucks over everyone (no pun intended), not just women. Gender socialization, which certainly carries over into sexuality, seems to me to arbitrarily tell people how they are supposed to act based on biological sex. While obviously male-ness has tended to have numerous cultural advantages, the phenomenon of gender socialization itself certainly seems to me harmful to the male sex as well. I loved this piece by Clarisse Thorn when I encountered it several weeks ago and especially appreciate the noting of male sexuality being seen as inherently aggressive and needing to be constrained somehow, which appears to me no different from seeing female sexuality as inherently and uniquely vulnerable and exploitable. (Both of these, as is alluded to in the article, have seemed used as arguments in denouncing pornography.)

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      “Women Who Like to Be Dominated in Bed: Talking to BDSM Submissives” by Alex Henderson (BDSM, Gender Socialization, Sex and Culture) 10/27/10

I found this piece written specifically about submissive female BDSM-oriented sex hearteningly illuminating on this subject that has indeed sometimes seemed to elicit suspicion, confusion, and/or concern. With contributions from individuals familiar with the subject such as Mollena Williams and Rachel Kramer Bussel, this article seems to me a great reference and, for those who may find it helpful, clarification on the subject of female sexual submission.

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      “The Sex in ‘Sex Trafficking'” by Laura Agustin (Sex Work, Sexual Culture, Social Culture) 11/28/07

This is one of those articles that directly and immediately reminds me why I started this feature here on my blog. Once again, in the course of her extensive study of the sex industry, Laura Agustin provides a straightforward, articulate, incisive, informative, and so important as per its subject matter being so widely misunderstood and/or manipulated, piece to help increase consideration and understanding around migrant sex work. If I had to narrow my description of this article down to one word, it struck me as brilliant.

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Recommended Reading posted every Wednesday