Domestic violence and sexual violence are ultimately acts of power and control, which can be embodied and enacted in a variety of ways. It can be difficult to see our own relationships as violent or abusive if our partner does not use physical force against us. In this article, Kristina Brandt tells the story of…
A novel that is as beautiful and charming as it is devastating and heartbreaking. Yanagihara follows the lives and friendships of four men who meet as college roommates. At 700 pages, there is nothing superficial or surface-level about the exploration of masculinities and the trials of friendship. I do not want to give too much…
Society conditions us to think of sex in a very narrow fashion a penis goes into a vagina, moves back and forth a few times, ejaculates. Reina Gattuso isn’t buying that. Not only is this conditioning heterosexist, it is male-pleasure centric, resulting in women’s pleasure becoming an afterthought. What does feminist sex look like? Moving…
Toxic masculinity requires that men distance themselves from their romantic and intimate partners, closing themselves off behind walls of isolation and entitlement. Harmful norms of masculinity do not allow for men to connect with their feelings, making it nearly impossible to connect or empathize with the emotional experience of someone with whom they are in…
Undoing our culture of sexual and emotional violence requires a return to basics, reevaluating of the values and lessons we convey to children. Through stereotypical gender roles, pop culture, and even our language, boys are taught that they have a right to women’s bodies and sexuality; that their value is correlated with sexual experience, while…
Consent is fundamental and foundational. Its also a lot less complicated than many want to make it seem. Consent is about dialogue, and respecting the needs, agency, and autonomy of other people. Consent is the foundation of healthy, happy relationships, and fun, pleasurable sexual encounters. It truly is as simple as offering someone a cup…
Love and compatibility do not necessarily go hand in hand. And our ability to love someone does not negate their capacity to hurt us. Relationships rooted in mutual respect, empathy, trust, and caring take more than just love to be healthy relationships. Mark Manson explores this dynamic in a powerful and heartfelt article on love…
I might have been saved a lot of confusion and a lot of heartbreak had I been able to read this article in my youth. I also may have been party to far more love–being more open to receive others’ love, and feeling more at liberty to give mine. Learning to hear “I love you”…