What does it mean to be sex positive?
Sexuality and everything under its umbrella has often been viewed as “taboo” in society. Sex is something that’s typically spoken about in hushed tones or something that should be limited to private, intimate conversations.
Sex positivity has changed all of that in recent years.
Being sex-positive helps to break the stigma surrounding sexuality. It focuses on the embodiment of positivity toward gender, sexuality, different body types, and sexual identities without the fear of judgment or without living in shame for simply being who you are or accepting others.
Let’s take a closer look at what it means to be sex-positive, and how you can help to break the sexual stigma.
How Sex Positivity Can Help a Culture
There’s no denying that sex has always been a topic of conversation throughout history. However, it’s been compartmentalized and even “judged” by influencing religions and social groups.
Things like abstinence became extremely popular in Western culture, especially throughout the 20th century. But, the promotion of abstinence also came with a lack of education. If people weren’t having sex, they didn’t need to be educated on sex, right?
Unfortunately, that didn’t go very well. Many studies have shown the promotion of abstinence to be ineffective. Not only were people still engaging in sex, but because they didn’t educate themselves on what to expect or even the potential risks, it contributed to a rise in STDs and even the AIDS virus.
Needless to say, the sex-positive movement was necessary to drop the stigma of sex, to educate people on their own bodies, and to end the shame often associated with a sexual lifestyle.
Why a Sex-Positive Attitude Should Matter to You
Being sex-positive can boost your self-esteem, improve your confidence about your sexual identity, and help you accept who you are and what you want in a sexual lifestyle. It helps you honor your desires and the freedom you deserve to engage in safe sexual behavior.
Sex positivity can also help you discover who you are from a sexual standpoint without the fear of judgment. It’s okay to open yourself up and better understand your fantasies and what gives you pleasure without worrying about how “taboo” it might seem to society.
Perhaps most importantly, sex positivity promotes safe sex. It encourages people to understand the risks and how to protect themselves, including using condoms or other forms of birth control. It also doesn’t shy away from helping people understand the signs and symptoms of STDs and the need to get tested regularly.
The Benefits of Sex Positivity for Others
Aside from the personal benefits of being sex-positive, it should receive cultural promotion for a variety of reasons. Not only does it provide education and can help with STD prevention, but it also encourages people to open up about their sexuality without fear.
In today’s world, we’re seeing more people come forward to express their sexual identities than in generations past. That’s a good thing. But, many of those people still face judgment and criticism.
The sex-positive movement helps to silence that judgment. It helps to ensure equal rights and safety for sex workers, the promotion of gender expression and orientation, and inclusive education regarding reproductive rights.
Unfortunately, the idea of being sex-positive has also been a victim of stigma. That’s largely because people don’t know what it really means. Sex positivity isn’t simply the promotion of a sexual lifestyle. It focuses on safety, education, and openness without judgment.
The more people who understand what it truly means to be sex-positive, the healthier our society is likely to be when it comes to sex education, equality, and perhaps even a dip in STD cases.
Check out our page on sex therapy to learn more. If you think you could benefit from sex therapy contact me to set up an appointment.
