Best of 2012! 7 Differences Between Feminist & 'Traditional' Porn

It's never to late to ponder about all the fabulous things that happened in 2012 (think: GetLusty)! We loved this one so much, we put it back on the shelf as a, "Best of"!

At some point in our lives, we have all seen pornography. But have you watched any feminist porn? Feminist porn is gaining wide popularity. There is even the annual Good for Her Feminist Porn Awards! We've already blogged about 11 Must See Feminist Porn Sites. Now it's time to discuss what makes feminist porn so different from common, traditional, male-driven porn. If you have not seen feminist porn, then you are in for some very big differences! Our Crimson Love reports.

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Everyone I know has seen porn at some point in their life, whether it was by accident or on purpose. We have all watched the blondes with big boobs and dramatic makeup caked on have sex with the ridiculously hot men with the six packs and huge cocks.

The moaning, writhing, and weird faces that traditional porn stars make is fake and very bad acting. However, feminist porn is different from the norm. Here are 7 major differences that set feminist porn apart!

#1 Solid story lines

One of the biggest differences in feminist porn versus regular male driven porn is that the story line tends to be more solid. There is a beginning, a middle and an end and it's all developed through the course of the movie. Also, the characters have more complexity to them.

#2 Characters are more true to life 

Have you ever thought, "That'd sexy scene would absolutely never happen in my life." In many feminist porn flicks, you'll find people of different ages, shapes, gender identities, sexualities and sizes. In regular porn everyone looks like Barbie and Ken, or like a living blow up doll.

#3 Less degrading to women 

We were just Tweeting about gang bang rape acts. This kind of 'porn' sometimes have women crying "rape" and not looking like they're enjoying themselves. How the hell is that supposed to be a turn on to women? The acts and things that happen in feminist porn are not degrading but empowering. Feminist porn more accurately depicts real female fantasies, as opposed to traditional porn's false depictions of what it thinks women enjoy sexually. Think of Beautiful Agony, where you have real people masturbating and featuring real orgasms! HOT!

#4 More artful 
 
Feminist porn tends to be more artfully produced and directed than regular porn. Think of Erika Lust's films. Even just the picture emphasizes the importance of art and elegance in sexuality. It's essential! It's sexy! It's feminist porn! The cinematography is more thoughtful and it is way less cheesy.

#5 Better acting

People--women, men and genders from all colors of the spectrum--actually tell their emotions on their faces and in their acting. If actors are having a fabulous time, it shows! If they're not, that shows, too! I'm not saying it's Oscar worthy (depending on the feminist pornographer), but many adult films especially for ladies have more actual... acting! They're movies, right? Makes sense. The moaning and orgasms are less likely to be fake. There is even some comedy thrown in! Have you seen Bike Smut? It can be hot and hilarious.

# 6 More sensuality

In comparison to regular male driven porn, there is more sensuality and there seems to be more appreciation for the body. Traditional porn only focuses on getting to the banging scenes- i.e. kiss, kiss boobs, bang. It's quick! In feminist porn, the process is more about appreciating the body rather than using it.

#7 Better wardrobe/costumes 

Ever notice how costumes in regular porn look like they came from a Halloween store? Well the costumes in feminist porn are better. They aren't as cheap and are more realistic!

With these differences in mind, go to watch some regular porn and some feminist porn! See the differences for yourself!

With love from, GetLusty!

This is a guest post by our very own Crimson Love.

Crimson is our resident BDSM fetish expert. If you don't see Crimson out dining with her adoring boyfriend, you'll find her reading books on innovation or finance. Crimson is currently finishing off her Bachelor's, she is passionate about food, photography, music and especially sex--and she's not afraid to talk about it. With everyone!

Have story ideas? Get in touch with Crimson at amber@getlusty.com. 

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Interview! Erika Lust Talks Feminist Porn

Erika Lust is amazing as a feminist pornographer. Starting in only 2004, her films became explosively popular within several months. Why? She has a unique, sexy and dare we say, lusty, style. Lust Films has had prolific success and as you'll see Erika's passion is likely the biggest reason for the success of Lust Films. And what better way to solute this gorgeous, talented and incredibly smart woman than finding out more of her perspective on why she's so passionate? Read on!

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1. What is your definition of ‘feminist porn’?

Feminist porn is in direct opposition with most of the other kinds out there. It’s mission is to represent the female voices that are so absent from mainstream porn, yet so needed in order for pornography as a whole to represent anything close to an actual, positive sexual experience. Feminist porn is created in an effort to give power and importance to women’s sexuality.

2. What are the major differences between the porn you make and mainstream, male-dominated porn? How do your films aim to challenge stereotypes?

There are so many differences; I hardly know where to start! The whole reason I decided to make films is because of what I saw lacking in the mainstream industry. What’s immediately noticeable is the technical quality – I shoot everything with top-notch HD cameras, give major importance to lighting, and invest my time in finding great locations, sets, and musicians for the original soundtrack during a lengthy pre-production phase.

Another large part of pre-production is casting, which I spend more time on that I expect any mainstream director to. I’m not particular about looks so long as they are natural, people like you and me, but am very specific about attitude when I interview. Do they like their job? Their body? Sex in general? Do they hide their work from friends and family? Do they do it for the money only?

The answers to these questions really determine whether or not we’ll work well together, which effects the whole film. The actors have to be right for the role, which is something I think that sets me apart from mainstream films. I really do want to make films where the story is pivotal to enjoying the film. Without this, the sexual situations just seem ridiculous! The final thing I get a lot of good feedback on, besides the natural-looking actors, is the natural sex. I try and portray something akin to the type of sex people are actually having – none of this athletic, choreographed, fantasy sex for fantasy’s sake alone.

3. The films you make are often highly artistic. What’s your reasoning behind that?

It has always been my goal to merge traditional filmmaking with explicit content. Most filmmakers (in the US anyway) spend lots of time and money on aesthetics, characters, stories, and shy away from sexual content for ratings & audience reasons. Even if the sexual content is extremely graphic, as long as it’s not totally explicit, it’s acceptable. Meanwhile in mainstream porn, there is an obvious lack in any of the qualities listed above, but an abundance of sex, sterile and scripted though it may be. It’s either one or the other these days, with just a few notable exceptions: titles like 9 Songs, Shortbus, and Matinee. It’s among these pioneering directors that I wish to create, which means I strive for harmony between quality camerawork, an original soundtrack, fresh stories and scripts, rounded characters, believable situations, and beautiful sex.

4. What are some misconceptions or myths about the porn industry that you wish to debunk?

I think the single biggest misconception that I have to debunk regularly (to people’s disappointment), is that I am indeed running a business. People assume that, because I’m in the adult industry, that sexy naked people run around Lust Films having dildo-fights or something. I have to explain that, no, it’s an office – my time on the set while making a film is miniscule compared to the amount of time I’m at my desk or traveling – where regular staff, not actors, are hard at work. Sorry! We do have a lot of fun, but everyone is fully clothed, and very professional.

5. Are your films made specifically for women or do they aim to connect with an audience that includes men as well?

I started out making films that communicated my vision of sex and the erotic, and because it was a feminine view, I attracted an enormous following of women viewers. The original aim was to offer something that appealed to women, since so little of the adult industry is concerned with that. In the years since releasing my first film, a significant number of men have joined my following as well. And after women, couples are my greatest viewership. I think this shows that my films appeal to anyone who wants something different from porn, and I’m glad that both genders are included in this.

6. Do you think feminist porn is couples-friendly?

Absolutely! I get a ton of positive feedback from couples saying that they had a great experience. Whether it was the first time they’d ever explored porn together, or just the first time they’d seen that specific film, they enjoy our films! Watching an erotic film together could be the ultimate fantasy for some people, or it may open doors to new ones – like exploring fetishes, trying new positions or even making a film of one’s own! The key here is communication, and watching films together can really get the ball rolling, especially if you’re having a hard time explaining what you want, or what you fantasize about trying.

7. What do you think the future holds for the small but growing feminist porn market?

The term ‘growing’ is key here. All different types of indie porn are expanding thanks to the modern producer-consumer relations, technology, and sheer exposure. As the audience expands, more quality, varied films will exist, so that maybe someday everyone can find a type of erotic content that suits them. I think the future will see more indie films becoming household names (like those from the ‘golden age’), a massive increase in women enjoying porn and erotica, more interest and sales in products for female pleasure, and the overall re-thinking of human sexuality to include more feminine elements.

8. What are you excited about in the next 6-12 months?

I am in the middle of a few projects at the moment, so there’s a lot to be excited about! An erotic novel I just finished should be published early in the New Year. I’m also in the pre-production status with a new film, which will be completely unlike my others in a lot of ways. You’ll have to stay tuned for more updates on those!

More about Erika Lust

Erika Lust is an award-winning writer and erotic film director. She was born in Sweden in 1977 and currently lives in Barcelona, where she founded Lust Films in 2004.

Erika made her first film, The Good Girl, in 2004. The Good Girl, was distributed for free on the Internet and downloaded 2,000,000 times in the first few months after its release, winning the NINFA prize for the Best Short Film in the 2005 Internacional Erotic Film Festival in Barcelona (FICEB). With such a great response to her first film, she quickly moved on to bigger projects.

In 2007, Erika wrote and directed her first feature film, Five Hot Stories for Her, a compilation of five short films created specifically for women and couples. The Good Girl was included in this quintet. Five Hot Stories for Her took away the prize for Best Screenplay at the Barcelona Erotic Cinema Festival (2007), Best Film for Women at Venus Berlin (2007), Honourable Mention at CineKink New York (2008), and Film of the Year at the Feminist Porn Awards in Toronto (2008).

Next came Barcelona Sex Project, an independent experimental documentary exploring the lives, personalities, and orgasms of six Barcelona residents, which was awarded Best Erotic Documentary at Venus Berlin (2008) and an Honourable Mention at the Feminist Porn Awards in Toronto (2009); Life Love Lust, the highly anticipated follow up to Five Hot Stories for Her, and the publication of three books: Good Porn, The Erotic Bible to Europe, and Love Me Like You Hate Me. Erika’s latest film, Cabaret Desire, was released in October 2011. An adult film set in Barcelona’s ‘Poetry Brothel,’ she’s fond to call it “my biggest project to date, my best, I think, and my most personal.”

From there, Erika has worked on numerous other films, of which you can find out more on Lust Cinema. Also, follow Lust Films on Facebook and Twitter @erikalust.

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The Psychology of BDSM

What's BDSM all about? Where does it come from? Maybe you are confused as to why people engage in such activities or don't get why people do it. Sure, Fifty Shades of Grey put a face to the acronym. But BDSM been existed way before Christian Grey was flogging Anastasia Steele. Even though the book "normalizes" what used to be an unconventional sexual practice, many are still confused as to why people do it, or if they are even normal — whatever that means.

Clarisse Thorn, a pro-BDSM, sex positive writer is here to dive into the historical and psychological aspect of BDSM. It is about time we educated ourselves on BDSM and see why it's really just a fabulous sexual outlet for couples, vanilla or kinky.

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BDSM is a 6-for-4 deal of an acronym: Bondage, Discipline, Dominance, Submission, Sadism and Masochism. It's sometimes referred to as S&M, B&D, leather, or fetish. As an S&M writer and educator, I get lots of questions about the psychology of S&M. People ask whether it's a disorder, how psychologists would describe it, etc. I'm an advocate, not a psychologist, but I've read up on the history and done my best to keep tabs on current research.

First things first: S&M is not a pathology, and all people who practice S&M are not "damaged" in some way. There aren't many S&M studies, but in 2008, this conclusion was supported by a large and well-designed survey that reached 20,000 people. The survey was done by public health researchers at the University of New South Wales in Australia, and it found that S&Mers "were no more likely [than non-S&Mers] to have been coerced into sexual activity and were not significantly more likely to be unhappy or anxious." Another recent study found that consensual S&M usually increases intimacy for a couple.

I'd like to note briefly that people have told me about using consensual, intimate, trusting S&M activities in order to work through previous non-consensual, abusive experiences that they'd had. There's nothing wrong with that. Indeed, the psychologist Peggy Kleinplatz once published a scholarly article called "Learning From Extraordinary Lovers: Lessons From The Edge," which discusses how therapists can help their clients by studying alternative sexualities. Kleinplatz included a case study of a couple whose S&M experiences helped them process and deal with past abuse.

Still, as the 2008 Australia survey shows us, most people don't practice S&M because they've been abused or because they're unhappy. People who practice S&M have the same record of unhappiness and abusive history as non-S&M people. Yet S&M was first described as a disorder in 1886, when a doctor named Richard Krafft-Ebing published the manual Psychopathia Sexualis. This landmark tome hauled many sexual practices into the light, then attempted to categorize them. Of course, the doctor's ideas hewed close to contemporary mainstream ideas of what was acceptable, and so he thought that basically everything was a disorder -- including, for example, homosexuality.

It's interesting to imagine what our mental health paradigm might be if Psychopathia Sexualis had never existed. It had a huge influence on psychiatry. Later, the psychiatric establishment began publishing a text called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM. The DSM doesn't specialize in sexuality, but it includes quite a lot of it. The first edition of the DSM came out in 1952; it's currently undergoing its fifth revision, and the proposed new language can be found at the DSM-5 website.

Like Psychopathia Sexualis, the original DSM called homosexuality a disorder. This changed in 1973, partly in response to gay activists. But subsequent versions of the DSM are still criticized for many reasons. Our cultural diagnoses of mental illness are shaped by lots of people with very different motives, and truth is hard to find. A 2010 New Yorker article by Louis Menand outlined many critiques of the DSM, such as the allegation that today's psychiatry "is creating ever more expansive criteria for mental illness that end up labelling as sick people who are just different." Naturally, the medical establishment has an incentive to do this, since it makes money selling treatments for illness, and more illness means more treatment.

S&M is currently in the DSM (heh, you see what I did there?). My understanding, however, is that S&M occupies a strange space within the much-edited manual. S&M is no longer listed as all-disorder-all-the-time, though it once was. But if a person has an urge towards S&M, and that person feels unhappy about it, then it is classified as a disorder. In other words, an S&Mer is labeled "healthy" if she's happy about S&M, and "unhealthy" if she's unhappy about it.

Actually, this is basically the spot that homosexuality occupied for a while. And the reason homosexuality was taken out is the same reason S&M should be taken out: because a person who wants a completely consensual type of sexuality, and who is unhappy about it, is probably better off working to change the unhappiness rather than the sexuality. Like homosexuality, S&M is stigmatized and misunderstood. A person who is stigmatized and misunderstood is likely to be unhappy, but that doesn't mean there's something wrong with her.

Within the S&M community, we have ways of working around this problem. Some people are campaigning to change the DSM directly. Others are more indirect. Years ago, the activist Race Bannon made a handwritten list of doctors and lawyers who were S&M-friendly, and began passing it around to his friends. Names were quickly added to Bannon's list, and when the Internet became popular, the list migrated online. Now, the Kink Aware Professionals list is enormous and includes profession categories from accounting to web design -- not just doctors. When I was going through my own complicated and difficult S&M coming-out process, I was lucky enough to find the list. My S&M-friendly therapist talked me through my anxiety and socially-created disgust, rather than diagnosing me with a spurious "disorder."

There's a great organization called the Community-Academic Consortium of Research on Alternative Sexualities; one of their projects is an annual conference to sensitize psychologists and therapists to the needs of alternative sexuality communities. In my home city of Chicago, there's a project based at DePaul University that seeks to change the representation of S&M in human sexuality textbooks. The Kink Representation Outreach Project involves talking to different S&Mers about their actual experience (what an idea!) and getting their recommendations about how these texts might better represent S&M. And finally, if you want some idea of the sparse and scattershot research that's been done on S&M, the blog Kink Research Overviews is a good place to start.

Within the S&M community, there's some talk of S&M as its own "sexual orientation." I have mixed feelings about this, and I've written about those mixed feelings. I think it can sometimes be helpful, but I'd rather move to a paradigm where we encourage people to see any consensual sexual act as awesome, rather than talking like "orientation" is what legitimizes sexuality. Nothing legitimizes sex except consent.

Originally posted at Clarisse Thorn's blog found here.



 Clarisse Thorn is a feminist S&M writer who has lectured from Berlin to San Francisco, and written from The Guardian to Jezebel. She wrote a book about men, dating, and sex called Confessions of a Pickup Artist Chaser; she's also got a best-of collection called The S&M Feminist. She's always writing something new, so check out her list of books.

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Philip Werner Talks Vaginas, Nakedness & Body Image

There's a mysterious negative stigma attached to our bodies in America. Violence and drug-use rule the airwaves, but the thought of a penis or breast being shown is revolting. Why are we so ashamed of our bodies? What happened between the time when we all walked around naked with spears? Well, not all of us are ashamed. GetLusty asked Philip Werner some questions about his book,  101 Vagina and his thoughts on how women perceive natural beauty.

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What is the premise of the 101 Vagina coffee table book project and what inspired you to create it?

The main idea is to break the taboo around vaginas and ease all the body image shame in general. I was first inspired after reading the Vagina Monologues by Eve Ensler as it really highlighted how big an issue this really is. Our entire society is hobbled by these taboos and by this shame around our bodies.

Why do you think portraying pictures of vaginas, or even mentioning them, is still so taboo?

Yes, there is a bizarre juxtaposition where on the one hand sex and bodies are sensationalized and on the other, people feel ashamed and almost afraid of the simple realities of our bodies. Bikini clad women are plastered all around us and yet some people feel uncomfortable with women breast feeding in public. Something has gone wrong somewhere and I honestly don't know how we ended up in this situation where people are afraid of the simple realities of their bodies. Perhaps vaginas are the ultimate symbol of vulnerability, openness, the feminine; all the things that the ideas of power, protection and control feel threatened by. But honestly I don't know.

How do you think nude photography and seeing other women nude can help individuals overcome shame and issues with their own bodies?

Well, I think in particular when naked bodies are depicted as they are without Photoshopping, it helps deconstruct these marketing-driven ideals that have been rammed down our throats. If you see someone who is also imperfect, just like you, you feel validated in a way. Somehow it reminds you that, yes, they are OK, and therefore I'm OK.

I was at a nude beach recently and there was a woman who had obviously had a mastectomy. One of her breasts was missing a nipple and both breasts obviously had implants. It took me aback initially, but it was also very reassuring somehow that humans are somehow perfect in their imperfections. She was comfortable, probably having come to terms with it long ago. How unfortunate that we hide our imperfections from each other all the time, no wonder so many people are depressed, trying to live up to some stupid ideals of everlasting happiness and "beauty".

Like with overly skinny models and Photoshopped, airbrushed celebrities, do you think porn puts forth the wrong image of what vaginas should look like and make women self-conscious about their own nudity? What negative side-effects have you seen related to this issue? 

Well, I think this is an interesting issue and there are many sides. "Porn," comes in so many different variations, and anyone that's had a bit of a look around will have seen many different looking vaginas. Yes, in mainstream porn most women are shaved, for example, but home made porn seems to be becoming more popular where ordinary people are just the way they are. Again the problem with porn has been that it's been market driven, rather than community driven. Look at music these days. The big marketing machines are being circumvented by everyone being able to make and upload their own music. It means people are making what they love, rather then just what the big bosses say sells records. I think ultimately the same will happen with porn, people will just make their own and the big end of town will loose it's grip.

But coming back to your question, yes, certainly anything which presents an unreal image to the world will lead people to believing that they themselves are not normal. In Australia we have the terrible situation that soft core porn mags have to airbrush vaginas into a thin slit. No labia are allowed to show. It's ludicrous. Women end up believing that they themselves are not normal and seek out plastic surgery. It's so, so sad that a teenage girl might think her vagina does not look the way it's "supposed" to look.

Besides an inaccurate representation of “normal,” what other reasons have you seen for women being ashamed of their bodies and their vaginas?

Yes, besides all the women's magazines, porn, etc? Well, there is also peer pressure isn't there. So many of the older school feminists blame men for everything, but so often the pressure to conform comes from other girls in school or other women in social circles. Most people want to fit in and be accepted and conform. But this is also where things can change. Often it only takes one person to break out from a group and say, "I'm happy with how I am and I don't think we need to all look the same" for the whole dynamic to change. And this requires courage.

How does portraying vaginas help pave the way for discussion of “taboo” topics like rape and genital mutilation?

Well, I think to a degree there is an indirect knock on effect. If someone feels more comfortable with their bodies as a result of surrounding themselves with positive messages then they will feel more empowered to talk about things. It may be easy to talk about rape or genital mutilation from an academic perspective, but it takes a lot of courage to talk about your own experience of having been violated.

So, for example, say someone has suffered some sort of abuse, or they have some difficulty with their sexuality but they have never spoken about it. Then at some point they come across a "vagina positive" book and they realize that they perhaps don't need to be so ashamed. They may, perhaps, open up to someone about their experience and that could trigger a huge healing cycle for them. Or someone has an irregularity that they ought to get checked out at the doctor but they feel embarrassed, etc. Shame prevents us from talking about things. Seeing material which unashamedly addresses that issue will help ease people's shame.

Remember also that with 101 Vagina, in particular, there is also a message that accompanies every photo. These messages are so diverse, and really it is these stories that give the book it's depth.

Who are the models for the 101 Vagina project? Was it a big step for some of them to be photographed nude and what were their reactions to their pictures?

It started with friends. However, after a few months I had only taken a few photos and I realized I needed to ramp things up. That's when I built the website and Facebook page. I invited every woman I knew in Melbourne, and then things spread from there. Before long the word got out and complete strangers came in to participate. I think the project has really struck a chord with a lot of people.

We understand you are self-publishing the book as of now and raising funds for its first print run. After the book is printed, what kind of reception do you foresee?

Oh, if only I had a crystal ball. So far people have been incredibly positive and supportive and I hope that will continue. Obviously I'd love the book to go as far as it can to have as large an impact as possible. I'd love to get on talk shows, radio shows, etc. Oprah? Ellen? I don't even know who's doing what really, I don't have a TV myself, but yes, I'd love it to go big. And the bigger the better since $5 from every book will go towards women's charities. But I understand the reality that ultimately no one cared about your project as much as you do. Never mind, if I only sell 100 copies so be it. In a way the project has already been successful because it has already touched a lot of people's lives.

Where can our readers go to learn more and how can they support the project?

Please visit the crowdfunding page to support the project here: http://pozible.com/101vagina.

In addition to the 101 Vagina project, you’re also selling a vagina calendar to raise funds for the One Billion Rising event protesting violence against women. Tell us more about it. How did you get involved, and how does this event’s message relate to 101 Vagina’s goal of erasing the taboo surrounding women’s bodies?

Yes, it's an interesting union and one that some people may find a bit jarring, but I really believe that we need to take an unflinching look at the causes of sexual abuse rather than simply lament and be outraged at it's occurrence. I strongly believe that sexual repression and sexual aggression/abuse are connected. I just don't think that anyone who is truly comfortable in their sexuality would ever impose themselves on another person. Rape and abuse are NOT expressions of sexual freedom, but of sexual repression. And sexual repression is closely related to body image shame and taboos.

One Billion Rising is a V-Day event, and V-day was founded by Eve Ensler who wrote The Vagina Monologues, so it's already a natural fit. I got involved because I already knew about V-day and One Billion Rising, and when some friends of mine started planing to organize an event in Melbourne I jumped on board. Regarding the calendar, well I figured that the media often like controversial calendars that are raising money for good causes, so this might be a way to raise the funds needed to stage the event in the most visible place in Melbourne. It's not cheap, we've got to come up with $20,000 and are also looking for corporate sponsors. We can be contacted at: onebillionrisingmelbourne@gmail.com.

Philip Werner is a Melbourne (Australia) based photographer (philipwernerfoto.com), web-designer, mediator, furniture maker (lazydeckchairs.com.au), thinker, engineer, shit-stirrer and perhaps soon-to-be book publisher (101vagina.com).

He has traveled the external and internal world extensively and gotten a closer understanding of each in the process. His photographic portrait work demonstrates this awareness through the depth of presence he captures in his subjects, bringing their internal world to light in the external form of their bodies. Follow him on Twitter & Facebook.

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Putting the Fun in Feminism

At GetLusty, we love feminism because it puts us on equal footing professionally. When searching for "feminism" on shutterstock, one of the first images found is below. GetLusty's  Lynn Olejniczak reports.

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Raise your hand if when you hear the word “feminism” part of you goes into a coma. Yeah, me too. First, visions of bra- burning, turtleneck wearing women from the ‘70’s start organizing marches across my brain. Then heavily tattooed lesbians sing Ani DiFranco songs. They begin screaming about men raping the environment, and everything goes black. In reality, this has all and nothing to do with Feminism. But let’s not turn this into a lecture! Let’s put the “fun” back into Feminism! And pick up a few credit hours on the way.

True or False

Q: In Medieval Europe married women enjoyed more rights than unmarried women.

False. Unmarried adolescent girls and widows were able to own property and enter into business in the private sector. It was only when they married that women gave up their rights, merging with their husband, and losing power to his gain. Granted, we’re talking nobility here, and noble women married earlier. Class and economics have been around since the earth cooled. But once the husband kicked the bucket, the widow was able to re-enter the business sphere and generally stayed a widow.

So, what can we take away from this? It sucked being a poor woman in medieval Europe? Sure. But even 600-1000 years ago women saw the difference between their rights as an individual, and their rights in marriage.

Feminism is defined as “the advocacy of women’s rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men.” The word “feminism” wasn’t coined until the 1800’s but the concept has been around much longer than that. Life during European, Roman, Greek, Islamic wartime is tough. The winners survive, and make the rules. Mostly men fought, killed, and got to make those rules. If going into labor was revered as much as killing people I doubt the word Feminism would even exist.

Women gain freedom in childbirth

Ding-ding-ding. True, well sort of. Before pregnancy was considered a medical condition, and only doctors (read: men) could deliver babies, you called the midwife. When a woman became a midwife, she was granted the freedom of tending to the laboring mother. The midwife is the one with the “freedom.” She enjoyed certain amount of time away from the household, she received some respect and even power in the community. Unfortunately, when overseeing a magical act of a delivery gone wrong the midwives were often accused of witchcraft.

A large part of feminist rhetoric is aimed at a woman’s right over her own body. Reproductive and contraceptive rights were obviously in the forefront of this year’s elections. The definition of rape and the results thereafter were also at great debate. Men and women loudly voiced their opinions proving that one doesn’t have to be a woman to believe a woman has rights over her own body. But Feminism isn’t only about the sexual rights of women. It can include the rights of the LGBT community, a stand on pornography (both for and against), opinions on prostitution and trafficking. It concerns a woman’s health rights, and rights regarding sexual harassment and abuse. Feminism does not have to include man:bad, woman:good any more than religion has to include fire and brimstone. But just like radical religious zealots there are radical feminists. Unfortunately when most people hear the word “feminist” they envision the radical, woman-only type.

78 year old feminist, Gloria Steinem has retired

False. OK, that was a lay-up. At the 40th anniversary of Ms. Magazine, Steinem made a very insightful point. She said, “...All great social justice movements must last something like a century if they are to be really deeply absorbed into the culture and understood to be normal and natural.”

The Industrial Age (1750-1850) eventually led to the fight for workers’ rights. The current attitude of the majority is that workers are entitled to proper pay for proper work, time off, enforcement of child labor laws, and safe working conditions. Unfortunately, this fight still takes place but usually because people try to skirt the laws that were established to uphold what was believed to be normal and natural. Women’s rights, civil rights, LGBT rights are still considered young movements in comparison. 

Feminism today is generally more inclusive. Color, nationality, religion, and class encompass the push for equal representation for women. Recent electoral history proves there are still examples of laws oppressing women. But Feminism today is not only about the law. It's about changing the thought process that says men have superiority over women (read: equality). It challenges the notion that women don’t know enough to govern their bodies. It urges recognition of the influence of women in art, literature, music and architecture without encouraging separation.

The hurdle we must get over in understanding Feminism is not assuming that women are fighting to usurp power but to be included in it: equally. But if Gloria is right, we still have another 60 years before we are close.

Class dismissed.

One organization GetLusty has supported in the past is WORD: Women Organized to Resist and Defend. They're a liberal organization that here in Chicago, nationally and international have organized grassroots protests in support of women's reproductive rights. They're pretty awesome and completely volunteer run (only starting mid-2012, they've done quite a bit so far).

Speaking of feminist sex, have you 'Liked' GetLusty on Facebook yet? We're giving away a Tiani 2 to a lucky 'Liker' by December 1st. We're also on Pinterest and Tumblr, as well as Twitter @getlusty. What?! You're on those platforms and aren't in tune with our awesome content? Have amazing sex. Get lusty.

Lynn Olejniczak is a native Chicagoan who loves her city and everything it has to offer. She spent 10 years as a NASDAQ trader in Chicago and New York in the 90's, then went back to college when "the rules changed and I realized no one was going to pay me lots of money to swear at them anymore."

She loves good food, and a perfectly poured Guinness at any Irish pub in the city. Her Beastie Boys CD's rest comfortably next to her Misfits vinyl, and she believes Underground Garage is the best radio program known to humankind. Armed with degrees in History, and a love of Urban Planning, Lynn is currently writing and researching a book on the 80's Chicago bar scene. Get in touch with Lynn at editorial@getlusty.com.

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Vulvas & Porn: Why Their Relationship 'Is Complicated' (NSFW) (Part 1)

At GetLusty, we feel like porn can be beautiful. Feminist porn that is. What about mainstream 'traditional' porn? At GetLusty, we like to talk about erotica of all kinds. We've touched on the potential negative affects of too much porn for men. but now we want to take a look at how porn might be skewing the perceptions of women. We're glad to have the perspective of Hylton Coxwell, author of Vulva 101. The first in a two part series, Hylton defends the porn industry against what he calls "quasi-feminist" blogs.

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It’s porn’s fault! 

At least that what we’re often told. Whether about corrupting morality, or the more recent hot topics of pubic hair removal and labiaplasty, the notion that pornography has the ability to manipulate human behavior has been assumed to be the truth. But is this really the case—can it actually compel people to shave daily or have parts of their genitals surgically removed?

Though I’ve read it in medical literature, today quasi-feminist blogs are the biggest pushers of that idea. I say ‘quasi’ as there’s a big difference between believing women have sole control over their bodies, choices and sexuality, versus simply being angry with individual men. The latter also presume women are gullible and easily manipulated, by those evil male pornographers, into doing things like shaving their pubic hair or having parts of their labia removed.

Here’s a few direct quotes:

“Sometimes they are influenced in these views by having seen misleading pornographic magazines or videos – in which the ‘heroine’s’ vulva appears impossibly neat and tidy!” “Often times the only point of reference women have is what they see in porn. And what they see is dyed, shaved, airbrushed and sometimes surgically altered. What they see does not occur naturally.”

That sounds good on the surface, except it’s not true. That’s not what you see in porn, and is so far from reality I must question whether the authors of those statements have ever actually viewed porn. It’s not based on evidence. They just made all that up, or repeated something someone else made up.

Don’t believe me? 

Just google the words ‘vulva’ or ‘pussy’ or any of the other common slang terms and what you’ll find is a real cross-section of how vulva actually look. You’ll likely end up on thumbnail gallery posts (pages of small images which when clicked view the full-sized pictures). And probably, you'll encounter more than a few blind links. But you’ll see long lips (labia minora), short ones and barely there ones, shaved, trimmed, hairy and a respectably wide range of body types and ages.

In essence, you’ll find the same range of vulva appearance, labia size and pubic hair in porn as you do in the general population. While researching for this article, I viewed thousands of random vulva images, and not a single vulva would be out-of-place in Vulva 101. All were naturally occurring—not one was dyed, Photoshopped or manipulated to alter the shape, size or color of labia. The only ones I found that were surgically altered were those of transgender women.

It’s important to note: virtually every image you see (of any subject, in print and online) has been “Photoshopped” to some degree, mainly to ensure the image looks good color-wise on-screen or on various combinations of ink and paper types. I spent more than a decade Photoshopping hundreds of thousands of images, and ‘darkrooming’ them before that, in my career so doctored images are pretty easy to spot. If there are misleading vulva images in pornography, I’m having a seriously difficult time finding any.

Pornography is not a manipulator, it’s simply a mirror of what exists. There’s no agenda, no one is trying deceive you as to what vulva actually look like.

Illegal vulva

No one at least, except for some governments. There are countries with strict laws prohibiting the sale of images showing vulva (and penises too). Japan, for instance, forces porn producers to blur out vulva entirely and Australia requires on-the-shelf erotic magazines to not show any inner lips. Producers comply, not because they want to or because they think lips are obscene—in fact they hate the laws and the expense incurred by all that retouching—but because they have to in order to sell their products.

Prepubescent myth

Another argument often thrown around regarding the lack of pubic hair in porn is that it makes women look like little girls, and men want women to look prepubescent. This concept is as absurd as it is insulting. It ignores the fact that adult, shaved vulva don’t look like those of little girls and it totally disregards women’s motivation for shaving, and their right to do so.

While working on Vulva 101, I spoke with hundreds of women about this. When asked why they chose to remove some or all of their pubic hair the answer was a resounding, “I like the way it feels, and it’s easier to keep clean.” Coincidentally, these are some of the same reasons humans have been removing pubic hair for thousand of years.

Vulva Puppets

And then there’s the Vulva Puppet, and other abstractly colored vulva trinkets, sometimes regarded as the antithesis to the “unnatural” images of vulva in “male-centric” porn. Well-meaning as they may be, as teaching tools they are worse than useless and border on the comically ridiculous. They only serve to illustrate what real vulva don’t look like and sadly reinforce the perception that actual vulva are too graphic or obscene to be viewed.

So where do people get the idea that porn causes women to believe they must shave their pubic hair, or that their labia are too long and need to be surgically removed? They certainly don’t get the idea from viewing porn, that much is clear. Instead the idea comes from not viewing porn. It’s an idea based not on fact but on ignorance and fear.

It’s a lie, often repeated and easily believed. In Part 2, we delve deeper into the subject of porn and vulvas. Our two favorite topics.

With a background ranging from journalism, publishing and photography to computer programming and languages, along with an insatiable curiosity of the world around us, Hylton Coxwell explores a hidden topic in his first book ‘Vulva 101’. Born in 1976 near Belleville, Ontario (Canada), Hylton moved to Hiroshima, Japan in the mid- 90’s to study Japanese and various martial arts. Having returned to the Belleville area, he now teaches self-defense classes, mostly to women, and owns several small businesses. Follow Hylton on twitter @Vulva101. You can also email him at info@vulva101.com, or subscribe to his Facebook page.

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Our 10 Favorite Feminist Porn Stars

We love porn! If you do too, and we assume you do, otherwise you wouldn't be reading this article, then you need to know about the following women. These aren't any ordinary porn stars. These are our top ten favorite feminist porn stars. GetLusty's Stephanie Kathleen takes a peek into the provocative lives of some incredibly unique feminists.

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#1 Dylan Ryan

The gorgeous and outspoken Ryan began her film career in 2004 at the urging of director and producer Shine Louise Heart. In 2009, she was the recipient of a Feminist Porn Award for Heartthrob of the Year. One of the top stars of the queer porn genre, Ryan strives to make unique and authentic films. Check out her blog, triple-xxx-ploits, to see her recent interview with Tristan Taormino. Also, follow her on Twitter @thedylanryan

#2 Belladonna

Since beginning her career in the adult entertainment industry in 1999, this stunning film star has practically revolutionized the industry. In 2003, she started her own production company, Belladonna Entertainment. She now produces and directs some of the most popular hardcore adult films in the world. We couldn’t possibly omit her from our list of favorites, as she is clearly a badass. Follow her on Twitter @BelladonnaENT

#3 Lily Cade

Though she is somewhat new to the adult film scene, this one-time dominatrix has already made a name for herself. A rising star in the lesbian porn genre, Cade made her directorial debut in 2011 with Art School Dykes. The film was nominated for a Feminist Porn Award. When she’s not busy filming, Cade is an outspoken activist. Yea, she pretty much rocks. Follow her on Twitter @lily_cade

#4 Judy Minx

It’s hard not to love Madame Minx. The French adult film actress is also a sex performer, a sex educator, and a queer/feminist/sex-positive activist…and she’s only 23! Oh, and did we mention she also holds a degree in English? Keep an eye on this porn prodigy, as we’re sure to see a lot more of her in the future. Follow her on Twitter @judyminx

#5 Ela Darling

This former librarian decided to make a major career change three years ago and began starring in lesbian, bondage and fetish porn. Prior to pursuing a career in porn, Darling earned both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree. We gladly include her among our favorites because we think self-possessed, intelligent porn stars are incredibly sexy. If you don’t believe us, check out her website and see for yourself! Follow her on Twitter @ElaDarling

#6 Bobbi Starr


This pro-sex feminist porn star began her career doing bondage and submission scenes for internet-based companies. We love Ms. Starr’s philosophy when it comes to feminism and porn: “I believe that if women realize that sex is something that is there for them as well, then it is not necessary to hate sex to be a feminist. It is not just pleasurable for one person but is pleasurable for that person's partner as well.” She currently writes, directs and performs for the website Electrosluts, which she created. Check out her work here. Follow her on Twitter @Bobbistarr


#7 April Flores

A star of the BBW scene, April Flores describes herself as “a fearless voluptuous star with scarlet hair, proponent of the queer community, feminist, sex-positive activist, outspoken advocate of body diversity, glamorous art model, avid kink fan, Sub and Dom both, and all around powerful woman.” With numerous magazine covers and modeling appearances to her name, Miss Flores considers herself an activist for positive body image. Visit her website and you’ll quickly see why she made our list of favorites! Follow her on Twitter @Fatty_D

#8 Madison Young

Indie porn pioneer Madison Young considers herself “one of the world’s kinkiest feminists. “Her films are known for exploring the more artistic and authentic aspects of the pornographic experience. She also runs a nonprofit art gallery and performance space, which serves the LGBT and Kink communities. Do yourself a favor and pay a visit to her website. Now! Follow her on Twitter @madisonyoung

#9 Kelly Shibari

Not only is Kelly Shibari a prolific BBW porn actress, she’s also a successful businesswoman with a MENSA-level IQ. She also runs her own PR and social media marketing firm. In short, the woman is driven and she knows what she wants. Through her websites she is revolutionizing the BBW and BDSM genres. Our interview with Kelly is coming out soon. Stay tuned! Follow her on Twitter: Follow her on Twitter @KellyShibari

#10 Maggie Mayhem

As one half of the dynamic duo behind the porn website Meet The Mayhems, Maggie Mayhem is a porn star with an eclectic style. In her words: “When it comes to sex, Maggie identifies as a queer, slutty kinkster. Neither wholly dominant nor submissive Maggie is always on the lookout for wild, adventurous fun with anyone who sparks her interest.” We’re crushing on Maggie not just because of her amazing on-screen talent, but also because of the dedicated work she has done and continues to do in the way of HIV prevention. Check her out! Follow her on Twitter @MsMaggieMayhem

We're excited to have Stephanie Kathleen on as a staff writer! Stephanie has long believed she is a gay man trapped in a woman's body. She is a lover of good food, good sex and good grammar. A recent transplant to Chicago, she spends her free time with her super-duper-fly boyfriend and their three "kids" (2 cats, 1 dog). She has a blog. She's still trying to get the whole Twitter thing down. You can follow her @Vanderfloozie. Want to get in touch with her? E-mail stephanie@getlusty.com.

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Carol Queen Opens Up on Sex & Sexuality

Here at GetLusty, we love talking to experts. From sexologists to therapists and in between. Well, Carol is way past that. Here, we call Carol, "The Queen of Sex Ed." She's been involved in sex education since the 1970s.

Today, Carol dishes out some of the best things she's encountered. We caught up with this busy lady and asked her a few questions of her most interesting moments of recent. Check out several of the questions GetLusty's Erica Grigg asked in our GetLusty interview below.

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How did you get into sex education?

The pretty short answer is, I have been a member of the LGBT community since the 1970s (I'm bisexual). Back in the day, college gay groups would do panels and lectures to give non-biased information about these issues. I liked doing those, and then just a few years later I was doing many more, in the context of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. That's when I realized sex education was both a calling for me, and a possible profession. I moved to San Francisco and started working on my PhD in sexology at the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality, as well as volunteering with San Francisco Sex Information, a non-profit sex ed hotline which trained its volunteers extensively--I was its co-training coordinator for a while.

Around that time I met Joani Blank, founder of Good Vibrations. She hired me to work one day a week in the store, but when they found out I was training in sexology I was asked to create GV's Continuing Education program. The full range of our ed programming grew out of this (except the classes aimed at the public -- we were already doing those), and when I got my doctorate, my job title changed to "Staff Sexologist" -- to our knowledge, we were the first adult company to have a trained sexologist on staff. Now my job involves overseeing our educational programming, supporting frontline staff who get tough or unusual sex questions from customers, representing the business to the press and public, and answering customer questions, which I do here.

Subsequently my partner Robert and I, who had been doing classes together in SF and all around the country, created a nonprofit, the Center for Sex & Culture, to host such classes and other events such as community organizations' meetings, cultural events about sex, etc. We also have a library and archive plus a gallery. More info about that at Sex & Culture -- there are class and event listings, plus more about the non-profit, and "donate here" button, etc.

Would you call yourself the 'queen of sex ed' (because we're thinking that'd be an apt title for you)?

That's cute! While it's not my own moniker for myself, I'm good with it.

What's the most interesting story you have of a couple coming to you with sexual issues?

What comes to mind is a GV customer who reached out to me with a thorny issue in his marriage. His wife, an attorney, had semi-recently had their first child; the child's first birthday was looming soon, and she had not been open to having sex with her husband since before the birth. I asked him whether this was a huge change from an enthusiastic sex partner (prior to her pregnancy) and he said no, not really, she was always fairly lukewarm and perhaps somewhat uncomfortable about sex.

Many elements of this story are not too uncommon, either: Our Mommy Playdates attract young moms, some of whom really struggle with "getting back in the saddle" after having babies. And of course there are plenty of women who have never (so far!) discovered the key to loving sex; those women don't all stay single, though, and this can be a thorny issue in a relationship.

What did you recommend for them?

Well, every couple has two participants, of course. And in a situation like this, each has to understand their perspective and what they bring to the situation. To (hopefully) help this couple, there were a number of elements I had to bring up. The first was explaining to the husband that pressure or wheedling would never work; gently educating him that her lack of comfort about sex would be something he'd have to be understanding and supportive around, or she'd have NO incentive to change. Finally, advising that she be frank with her doctor about the post-partum elements (I didn't think that was the main problem, but it could certainly have been exacerbated by hormonal changes, and any precipitous drop in sexual interest could be a symptom of a medical problem).

Plus there was her original lukewarm feeling about sex; was she without correct sex education and unable to understand (and convey to her husband) they way her arousal worked? Had she perhaps been abused or had other negative sexual experiences, including growing up in a household where sex was represented as shameful? Was she non-orgasmic? I recommended a number of books for her. In a situation like this, she really must take some responsibility. While I don't believe that it is in any way the role of a wife to please her husband, a marriage without sex is not appropriate unless both partners want that or unless the issues involved are spelled out. If she has no interest in ever changing her relationship to sexuality, he deserves to know this. I also recommended they see a sex therapist, if she would go.

What's the most interesting thing you've learned about sex lately?

Just two weeks ago I was at a great conference at Widener University in PA -- it has one of the most substantial sex ed professional programs anywhere, and the conference was specifically for those who are interested in sex education as a career. I was there to keynote it, which was a real honor, especially because one of the biggest stars in sexology was present, Beverly Whipple. She is the professional and most associated with information about the G-spot; she has continued to research it and stays in touch with others who also do such research. It is finally being officially regarded as "the female prostate," and her update was that actual G-spot ejaculation is not super-copious and that when G-spot ejaculators gush a lot of fluid and make a huge wet spot, that fluid is now thought to be very dilute urine. It's not yet understood just how the urine, in a situation of arousal like this, becomes so dilute; there is still much to learn about this part of our anatomy.

What's your favorite book around sex education?

I have so many faves! I really can't pick just one, at least not for long, since great new books keep coming out. I think my current favorite book is Jaclyn Friedman's What You Really, Really Want. It's about limits and desires, really an excellent way for (especially) young women (but really everyone) to think about integrating sexuality in a healthy and fulfilling way into their lives. I love this book! It's one of the ones I recommended to the low-desire wife I mentioned above. Your readers might also be interested in the recommended book lists I've compiled both for my own website and on the Good Vibes site.

What are you most looking forward to over the next year?

I have a fantastic working trip planned for next spring; will go to South By Southwest in Austin, TX (my first time there!) to do a panel about the history of sex in technology, followed by a trip to CatalystCon East -- Catalyst is one of my very favorite sex conferences (here's a list that includes it plus some others). I travel two or three times a year to sexuality-related events, and it's one of my favorite ways to take the pulse of community interests and discussions about sexual topics.

Plus, I have a new book I'm getting started on! Not sure how soon it will come to fruition, but its working title is The Elements of Sex-Positivity.

More about Carol Queen:

Carol Queen is a writer, educator, activist with a doctorate in Sexology and an organizer in the GLBTQ community with some of the first youth-oriented approaches. She publishes a regular sex and relationship column on Good Vibes.

She is an owner/worker at the Good Vibrations toy and book emporium and The Center for Sexuality and Culture where she provides training and educational workshops for the staff and public. Her list of books can be found here and more information on Carol Queen can be found on her website CarolQueen.com. Follow Carol on Twitter @carolqueen and 'Like' her on Facebook.

In 1975, Carol helped found GAYouth (one of the first groups for underage Gays and Lesbians in the nation) in Eugene, Oregon. She served as director of the Gay and Lesbian student union at my university later in that decade and was on the steering committee of Eugene Citizens for Human Rights, founded to preserve gay rights which were under attack from right-wing forces. In 1988, she was director of education at the community-based AIDS education and support project in Eugene. Her training (after graduating with a major in sociology, a Phi Beta Kappa, and a stint in graduate school) comes from the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality, San Francisco's graduate school of sexology - and, of course, from the school of life.

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Your Vagina is Beautiful: 10 Artful Pics (NSFW)

Dear Readers,

It's getting towards the end of Orgasm October, so we wanted to emphasize the importance of your vulva and vagina! Sometimes we as ladies don't think our vulvas and vaginas are pretty. Not true.

They're lovely in all shapes, colors and sizes. Here's a compilation of pictures from our favorite blog, the Beauty of Vagina's Tumblr.

We're also very inspired by the gorgeous Vulva 101 coffee table book we recently received in the mail. Check out these gorgeous pictures! Enjoy your vulva's, vagina's and your body.

We've included this top picture so you can share this page freely on social media. Do share your vulva love!

With love,
Erica Grigg
Chief Lust Officer & Editor

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Love what you're reading? Don't forget to sign up for our beta launch starting December 1!

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30 Must-'Like' Sex-Positive Facebook Pages

Facebook is a great place to connect with like-minded people and get daily updates from your favorite sex-positive communities and businesses.

GetLusty for Couples loves seeing our articles being 'Liked' and shared by our viewers and we love to share other people's articles as well. Here is a list of 30 sex-positive Facebook pages that we love seeing posts from everyday!

Be sure to 'Like' them on Facebook and get their awesome updates on your feed! Speaking of Facebook, have a spare minute? End boring sex and enter to win a VulvaLoveLovely creation by 'Liking' GetLusty for Couples on Facebook!

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Without ado, below are our best recommendations for sex-positive individuals and pages on Facebook! 

1. The Mama Sutra

"Mother of two girls. Holds a Bachelor of Science (Psychology) and a Certificate in Women's Studies from UW-Madison. Graduate of IASHS as Master of Human Sexuality. I strive to normalize conversations about sex and sexuality between parents and their children."

2. Bring Back Desire

"Mission: To help women rediscover their sensual pleasure and fulfillment while creating deeper and more intimate relationships, with their beloved Self and their beloved partner."

3. NotSoSecret

"Mission: We're coming, we're coming... but not quite yet. To shine a bright light on feminine sexuality in a way that inspires women to enjoy the fullest possible spectrum of awesome sex in a way that is informative, entertaining and inspiring."

4. Pleasure Coach

"The Pleasure Coach is for women, men and couples, who come from all walks of life, different backgrounds and philosophies. However, even with all of that, they can be invited to come here and find information about sex, sexuality, intimacy and much, much more about the intimate side of life."

5. Lady Cheeky

"Writer and sex-positive activist Lady Cheeky started her erotica and sensual images blog in 2010 as a way to communicate with her faraway lover. Since then, Lady Cheeky has evolved into a place of candid self-discovery for her and her readers."

6. Good Vibrations

"Mission: Good Vibrations is a diverse, woman-focused retailer providing high-quality, sex-positive products and non-judgmental, accurate sex information through our clean and comfortable stores, catalog, web site, wholesale division, product and movie production lines in order to enhance our customers’ sex lives and promote healthy attitudes about sex."

7. The Turned On Woman

"Mission: To awaken. Ourselves and others. To start fires. To ignite. To catalyze. Turned-on women are changing the world. Your presence is requested."

8. The Feminist Porn Archive and Research Project

"Canada’s only funded academic study of feminist porn, the Feminist Porn Archive and Research Project seeks to document, research, support and collect materials, films, videos, dvd, online websites, posters, magazines and 'zine, news and articles about porn made by feminists."

9. Cliterati

"The original erotica site for women: sex-ed for adults, artcore (erotic art of all kinds), sex news, analysis and comment, reviews, advice and style."

10. The Center for Sexual Pleasure and Health

"A physical space for adults to learn medically accurate information relating to sexual pleasure, health and advocacy."

11. The Passion Doctor

"This page is for couples & singles who want to have more passion in their lives. -Dr. Adam Sheck"

12. Woodhull Sexual Freedom Alliance

"Mission: To Affirm Sexual Freedom as a Fundamental Human Right"

13. Sexy Living with Dr. Carlen

"As a Sexologist, 'Sexy Living with Dr. Carlen' is the creation of a safe space in order to discuss concerns, desires or general questions in regards to your relationship with your partner, yourself, and others."

14. Sexy Grammar

"Arouse The Writer: Custom Edits, Private Sessions, and Intimate Workshops for academics, entrepreneurs, and creative writers since 2003."

15. Ducky Doo Little

"Ducky is a frequent guest lecturer and performer for events that focus on welcoming new students, safer sex practice, STD education & awareness, health & wellness resources on campus, LGBT rights, sexual assault prevention, intimate partner violence awareness, alcohol & substance abuse awareness, and boosting self-esteem."

16. ErogenoUS

"Navigating the erotic life of one woman, without a helmet or a safety harness."

17. Hey Epiphora

"Mission: To conquer the world one sex toy at a time."

18. Joan Price 

"Enrich your sex life with the expert tips and real-people stories in Naked at Our Age: Talking Out Loud about Senior Sex, my award-winning book about sex & aging."

19. The Sensual Life 

"Mission: The Sensual Life is nothing more…or less…than a reminder that life itself is a sensual journey. And that living a sensual, turned-on life includes feeling and experiencing everything… work, art, music… arguments, lovemaking, eating… poetry, dance, stories… walking down the street, gardening, being quiet… …as an expression of our sensuality, alive in the world."

20. Make Love Not Porn

"We like great porn. We like great sex. They're not always the same thing."

21. Feelmore510 

"Oakland's 1st Progressive Adult Store located in the Uptown District of Downtown Oakland. 1st Impressions are very important. Give us a try."

22. My Sex Professor 

"Mission: We aim to help you learn how to have better sex and optimal sexual health and pleasure. Toward this goal, we want you to have top-notch information about sex, your body, other people’s bodies, communication, relationships, tips, tricks, techniques, gender, sexual orientation, sex research, health and wellness, and the latest and greatest sexual enhancement products. We’re here to help, to educate and to entertain."

23. The Body is Not an Apology 

"Mission: The Body Is Not an Apology is a resource to promote, demonstrate, and assist in the development of a global movement toward radical self love and body empowerment. We believe that each time one of us unapologetically owns our beauty, loves our scars, heals our shame; we in turn give others permission to do the same! We believe that discrimination, social inequality and injustice are manifestations of our inability to make peace with the body, our own and others. Through education, personal transformation projects and community building, The Body is Not an Apology fosters global, radical, unapologetic self love which translates to radical human action in service toward a more just and compassionate world."

24. Sex Nerd Sandra 

"Currently, Sandra works and teaches at an adult boutique in Los Angeles. She enjoys teaching workshops to curious couples and singles on a wide range of topics. When not facilitating sexually-charged laughter for large crowds, she enjoys sassy and meaningful discussionswith her coaching clients."

25. Rachel Kramer Bussel 

"Rachel Kramer Bussel is a New York-based author, editor, blogger and event organizer. Rachel conducts reading and erotic writing workshops worldwide."

26. Early to Bed 

"Early to Bed is a feminist sex toy shop in Chicago. Women-owned and oriented, boy and trans-friendly, the store has a relaxed atmosphere that is different from your average sex shop."

27. Tristan Taormino 

"Tristan Taormino is an award-winning author, columnist, editor, and sex educator. She is the author of seven books and editor of twenty-five anthologies, including founding series editor of the Lambda Literary Award-winning Best Lesbian Erotica. She runs her own adult film production company, Smart Ass Productions, and she has directed and produced twenty-four adult films. She was a syndicated sex columnist for The Village Voice for nine and a half years, and writes an advice column for Taboo Magazine. She is the host of “Sex Out Loud” on The VoiceAmerica Talk Radio Network. She lectures at top colleges and universities and teaches sex and relationship workshops around the world."

28. Petra Joy Films 

"Porn from a female perspective!"

29. Megan Stubbs 

"Dr. Megan Stubbs is a Grand Rapids-based Sexologist. She holds a doctor of education in Human Sexuality from San Francisco’s Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality and a degree in Biology from Grand Valley State University. She is also Board Certified by the American College of Sexologists (ACS)." 

30. Sexual Intelligence Blog

"Sex -- and Culture, Politics, the Media -- and Sex, by Dr. Marty Klein"

Comments, questions or other recommendations we missed? Comment below!

Don't forget to also 'Like' GetLusty for Couples on Facebook, too!

Rachael is our own marketing specialist and on special occasions a writer. She spends her time researching and creating art revolving around sci-fi, the internet, and now sex! Rachael lives and works in Chicago with her boyfriend and kawaii pet guinea pig Tony Hawk. Find out more at rachaelmilton.net.
 Have any questions? Get in touch via rachael@getlusty.com.

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