Articles about Sex and Relationships
Feminist views on sex and relationships.
What have I done: escaping domestic violence
When Amanda Prowse set out to write a novel about an abusive marriage, she spoke to women who had experienced violent relationships. The number of women who came forward to talk to her confirms how widespread domestic violence is
Amanda Prowse // 22 April 2013
Categories: Features, Sex and Relationships, Violence
The poly-feminist manifesto: towards a feminist non-monogamy
Some argue that non-monogamous relationships are inherently patriarchy-busting. But in practice that's not the case. A group of workshop participants pieced together this manifesto to change all that
Various Authors // 23 May 2012
Categories: Sex and Relationships
No access to the women's room
Going clothes shopping as a disabled woman is a nightmare, says D H Kelly
D H Kelly // 30 January 2012
Categories: Body and Health, Fashion and Image, Sex and Relationships, Stereotypes, Work and Play
She gives me fever
Porn is not for everyone: but it can be for feminists, Mia Engberg tells Sophie Mayer, as her programme of shorts screens in London
Sophie Mayer // 13 January 2012
Categories: Body and Health, Culture and Media, Features, Interviews, Sex and Relationships, Work and Play
On a planet far, far away...
The gender politics of Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus was eye-rolling enough. But some people look beyond the solar system entirely for their guidelines on sex and relationships, to a fictional planet where men are dominant and women are wives, sex slaves or rebel 'panthers'. Kit Marsters reports
Kit Marsters // 20 December 2011
Categories: Sex and Relationships
You can be anti-porn and pro-sex
I'm no censor, says Lisa Saunders. She talks through some common misconceptions about anti-porn/pro-sex feminism
Lisa Saunders // 13 December 2011
Categories: Culture and Media, Feminism, Sex and Relationships
Breaking up with romance
It's not you, it's me. Lex Delaney explains why she is taking a 12-month break from romance to concentrate on herself
Lex Delaney // 28 June 2011
Categories: Sex and Relationships
Empowering just one person: An interview with Zoe Margolis
The outspoken feminist and author of Girl With a One Track Mind and Girl With a One Track Mind: Exposed spoke to Catherine Redfern about feminism, sex, activism and writing
Catherine Redfern // 16 September 2010
Categories: Activism, Features, Feminism, Interviews, Sex and Relationships
Painful vagina? Your poor husband!
S's experience with vulvar vestibulitis - which makes penetrative sex painful - highlighted the phallocentric medical establishment and limited definitions of sex
S // 14 March 2010
Categories: Body and Health, Men, Sex and Relationships, Soundbites
Piggy banks and budget cuts
Cuts have become politically popular again, but the new thrift is targeted at the most not least vulnerable, says Clare Gould
Clare Gould // 16 December 2009
Categories: Family, Politics and Current Affairs, Sex and Relationships, Work and Play
Feminism and the vampire novel
Much has been written about sexism in the Twilight books and film. Here, Caitlin Brown puts the series in context of other popular vampire fiction
Caitlin Brown // 8 September 2009
Categories: Culture and Media, Feminism, Language, Racism, Sex and Relationships, Stereotypes
For the good of the species?
If you believe one story on a popular science news site, there's proof that older men "chasing" younger women benefits humankind (or should that be mankind?) Eirwen-Jane Pierrot considers the impact of these sensationalist claims on women in the real world
Eirwen-Jane Pierrot // 15 April 2009
Categories: Culture and Media, Men, Sex and Relationships, Stereotypes, Violence
Challenging sex object culture: definitely needed, definitely lively and definitely a key issue for 2009!
A recent feature in The Times labelled protests against the Miss University London beauty pagaents "old fashioned". But, argues Sandrine Levêque, if anything campaigns against the objectification of women and girls are more relevant today than ever
Sandrine Levêque // 4 January 2009
Categories: Body and Health, Culture and Media, Feminism, Racism, Sex and Relationships, Stereotypes, Violence, Work and Play
Now That's What I Call Misogyny!
Molly Lavender is exasperated at gender segregation in music – and the way pop songs valorise abusive relationships
Molly Lavender // 4 December 2008
Categories: Culture and Media, Sex and Relationships, Stereotypes, Violence
'The useless organ'
Maggie Lee tells of the devestating effect her hysterectomy had on her sexuality and more
Maggie Lee // 2 November 2008
Categories: Body and Health, Sex and Relationships
Incitement to rape
Denying women's sexuality won't prevent rape, argues Victoria Dutchman-Smith
Victoria Dutchman-Smith // 13 October 2008
Categories: Sex and Relationships, Violence
HPV vaccination - the debate isn't over yet
St Monica's in Manchester does not want girls vaccinated against HPV on school grounds. Kit Roskelly argues that all schools have a responsibility to protect their pupils' health
Kit Roskelly // 10 October 2008
Categories: Body and Health, Culture and Media, Sex and Relationships
In the name of the father...
For many women, getting married still means changing their name. Sarah Louisa Phythian-Adams has an alternate proposal
Sarah Louisa Phythian-Adams // 20 August 2008
Categories: Family, Feminism, Language, Sex and Relationships
What a load of wank
Hordes of girls dream of becoming glamour models, but are too embarrassed to even talk about masturbation. Sophie Platt rages against a taboo which only affects girls and women
Sophie Platt // 14 July 2008
Categories: Body and Health, Sex and Relationships
Kink 101
BDSM may set off red flags for feminists, says Kit Roskelly. But so does sitting in judgment on women's sexual preferences
Kit Roskelly // 5 July 2008
Categories: Sex and Relationships
Cartoon special...
In a break from our usual text-based programming, a selection of cartoons on the theme of men and women, by Yvonne Howard
Yvonne Howard // 9 June 2008
Categories: Men, Sex and Relationships
A slice-by-slice attack on women's right to choose
The campaign to ban women from terminating pregnancies after 20 weeks is only the beginning, says Kit Roskelly
Kit Roskelly // 11 May 2008
Categories: Body and Health, Sex and Relationships, Work and Play
How to get an activist movement to keep women in prostitution
What use are sex worker groups that give out condoms and showers, but can't help women who want to exit prostitution? Ekis reports from Barcelona on prostitution and the campaign for legalisation
Ekis // 16 March 2008
Categories: Body and Health, Feminism, Language, Politics and Current Affairs, Sex and Relationships, Violence, Work and Play
How the word 'slut' oppresses women
Ever been called a 'slag'? How about 'frigid'? Jennifer Drew explains how such derogatory language is used to keep women in their place
Jennifer Drew // 31 January 2008
Categories: Language, Sex and Relationships, Violence
The F Word Podcast - episode three!
Episode three of The F Word podcast - on the tricky topic of pornography - is out now!
Jess McCabe // 14 January 2008
Categories: Body and Health, Culture and Media, Feminism, Podcasts, Sex and Relationships
Against censorship
Porn should be reformed, not banned, argues Laurie Penny
Laurie Penny // 2 January 2008
Categories: Body and Health, Culture and Media, Sex and Relationships, Violence
Glamour models made me sick
Lads' mags are responsible for my eating disorder, says Hannah Whittaker
Hannah Whittaker // 2 January 2008
Categories: Body and Health, Culture and Media, Fashion and Image, Sex and Relationships
Abortion: still a feminist issue
It is 40 years since abortion was legalised in the UK, yet our right to control our own bodies is still under threat. Irina Lester reports
Irina Lester // 6 October 2007
Categories: Body and Health, Culture and Media, Family, Politics and Current Affairs, Sex and Relationships
Crinolines and corsets... again
Period drama concentrates almost exclusively on the bonnets and Bennets universe of the 19th century novel, while there are few adaptations of more recent material dealing with gender politics and the sexual revolution. Cazz Blase makes some suggestions
Cazz Blase // 5 October 2007
Categories: Culture and Media, Sex and Relationships
Sexual healing?
Penetration is not the be-all and end-all of sex, argues Jennifer Drew, so why does the medical establishment seek to pathologise women who just don't like it?
Jennifer Drew // 1 October 2007
Categories: Body and Health, Sex and Relationships
No porn is good porn?
Is it possible to reconcile an appreciation for porn with feminism? Searching for answers, Abby O'Reilly interviews Anna Span, the UK's first female porn director
Abby O'Reilly // 1 October 2007
Categories: Culture and Media, Sex and Relationships
'Who... me? I'm just a housewife'
Feminism is not just for women with high-flying careers, and feminists must do more to engage women who feel alienated from the movement, argues Samantha Jay
Samantha Jay // 30 September 2007
Categories: Activism, Family, Feminism, Sex and Relationships, Stereotypes, Work and Play
Maid of the manor
Despite all our advances, men still dominate public life. But if they are so smart, asks Amity Reed, why can't they fathom how to do the housework?
Amity Reed // 30 August 2007
Categories: Men, Sex and Relationships, Work and Play
Abby Lee - girl with (not just) a one-track mind
Sex-blogger Abby Lee faces down the double standard that would label her a slut on a regular basis. She speaks to Abby O'Reilly about being 'outed' in the press, fan mail and her new role as spokesperson for the next sexual revolution
Abby O'Reilly // 8 August 2007
Categories: Sex and Relationships
Coitophobia: who do you trust?
Maria Roberts explains why she bypassed writing about the experience of domestic violence, to craft a play about two women pulling themselves together after their escape
Maria Roberts // 8 August 2007
Categories: Culture and Media, Sex and Relationships, Violence
'Honey! Your vagina needs a mint'
The Vagina Institute purports to provide a public service to curious women. But Samara Ginsberg detects a rather different agenda
Samara Ginsberg // 7 July 2007
Categories: Body and Health, Fashion and Image, Feminism, Sex and Relationships
I did it my way
The word spinster seems woefully out-dated. But, when Emma Hadfield exited a long-term relationship, she found some people still can't come to terms with women who choose to stay single and child-free
Emma Hadfield // 7 July 2007
Categories: Family, Feminism, Sex and Relationships, Stereotypes
Yummy-mummy or pramface?
Baby-making has become a high-pressure pursuit, argues Abby O'Reilly. Celebrity 'yummy-mummies' only raise the stakes further and obscure the realities of child-birth and motherhood
Abby O'Reilly // 7 July 2007
Categories: Body and Health, Culture and Media, Fashion and Image, Sex and Relationships
A Bride by Any Other Name
When Eleanor Turner announced that she would not be changing her name after walking down the aisle, and instead her new husband would take on her surname, reactions ranged from shock to annoyance. She considers why breaking with tradition provokes such strong feelings
Eleanor Turner // 2 May 2007
Categories: Family, Language, Sex and Relationships, Work and Play
The farmer wants a wife, the wife wants a wife
Women don't want to be lumbered with the housework, but men aren't willing to pick up the bucket and mop. Right? JC Sutcliffe asks why women perpetuate the myth that men are incapable of doing domestic chores
JC Sutcliffe // 29 March 2007
Categories: Men, Sex and Relationships, Work and Play
Flicking the Bean
Thanks to the media and canny advertising agencies, we are surrounded by sexualised images of women. Abby O'Reilly asks why actual female sexual pleasure is still taboo
Abby O'Reilly // 1 March 2007
Categories: Body and Health, Sex and Relationships
Sex and the Music Video
Like the rest of us, Fay Bound Alberti can't seem to escape the soft-core pornography that's become part of everyday life. She ponders what it all means for women, men, girls, boys, and relationships.
Fay Bound Alberti // 1 February 2007
Categories: Culture and Media, Sex and Relationships
A Real Alternative?
As feminists fight to expand the frontiers of sexuality beyond the one-size-fits all, bland world of lad-mag culture, do 'alternative porn' sites have something to offer the feminist cause - or are they the same old objectification with extra tattoos? Jessica Bateman discusses some of the possible pros and cons of 'alt-porn'.
Jessica Bateman // 3 January 2007
Categories: Sex and Relationships
The Food of Love?
When a man insists on paying for all your meals, what's the real motive? Claire McGowan examines why she fights for the right to pay her own way.
Claire McGowan // 16 November 2006
Categories: Sex and Relationships
Declaration of Independence
You're female, successful, single, and prefer your life that way. So why are you still seen as an object of pity? Abby O'Reilly argues that women are still put under immense pressure by friends, family, and the dominant culture to 'bag a man'.
Abby O'Reilly // 26 September 2006
Categories: Sex and Relationships
New Rights, Old Wrongs
Civil Partnerships being restricted to same-sex couples is more than a strange and irritating political decision - it's an indefensible refusal to create real legal equality for all citizens. Susan Hunter explains how the Equal Partnership Campaign is fighting to end 400 years of sexual segregation - and how you can help.
Susan Hunter // 29 May 2006
Categories: Politics and Current Affairs, Sex and Relationships
Oh, Mr Darcy!
Why do so many heterosexual women still find the Darcy figure attractive? Sheryl Plant ponders the influence of romantic fiction on women's expectations of love and relationships. She discusses how lusting after the dominant male archetype can be interpreted both as resistance to patricarchy and compliance with it.
Sheryl Plant // 29 May 2006
Categories: Sex and Relationships
Why men suck (and the women who have to)
When teaching English in Cambodia, a country with a pervasive, exploitative sex industry, Laura Carr was shocked to discover that almost all her western male friends were happy to participate.
Laura Carr // 17 September 2004
Categories: Men, Sex and Relationships
Just a Stripper
Can sex work ever be truly radical when money is involved? Exploring how feminists and feminist sex workers are often forced into opposing camps, Natasha Forrest argues that a simplistic 'for or against' divide does not reflect the true complexity of the issue.
Natasha Forrest // 11 August 2004
Categories: Sex and Relationships, Work and Play
Every Girl Wants a Stalker
Films, pop songs and mainstream popular culture all push the same message: that men must pursue women to ridiculous extremes, even if the attention is unwanted. Yet if women pursue men, they are seen as desperate, needy, and sad. Rachel E exposes the double standard.
Rachel E // 1 August 2004
Categories: Men, Sex and Relationships
Why It's time for the 'battle of the sexes' to end
Lad culture has done nothing more than perpetuate petty hatred between the sexes. Enough is enough, says Laura Baldwin.
Laura Baldwin // 20 July 2004
Categories: Culture and Media, Men, Sex and Relationships
Growing up or giving in?
Ms Razorblade is sick and tired of being told that being a lesbian-feminist and a vegan is boring, prudish, and dull, dull, dull. Is refusing men, meat and porn a sign of immaturity - or is 'growing up' really just giving in?
Ms Razorblade // 20 July 2004
Categories: Body and Health, Feminism, Sex and Relationships
Contraception and Control - Teenage Rights
Megan argues that teenagers deserve the same control over their bodies and rights to contraception as any other women - without having to go through their parents.
Megan // 1 June 2004
Categories: Body and Health, Sex and Relationships
A Perfect Delusion
What effect are men's magazines having on men's views of women and heterosexual relationships? Samantha Lyster thinks men who fall for the magazines' propaganda about women are setting themselves up for a fall.
Samantha Lyster // 19 April 2004
Categories: Culture and Media, Fashion and Image, Men, Sex and Relationships
Are you married? If not, why not?
Why isn't she married? Because it's a patriarchal, homophobic institution, and always will be, says Victoria Dutchman-Smith.
Victoria Dutchman-Smith // 19 March 2004
Categories: Sex and Relationships
The Feminist Minefield?
Lorraine Smith doesn't think feminism is incompatible with a penchant for pornography. She argues that the industry is finally beginning to benenfit women, both as participants and viewers.
Lorraine Smith // 19 December 2003
Categories: Culture and Media, Sex and Relationships
Body Language Speaks Volumes
Reading feminist research on the subject of non-verbal behaviour was a revelation to Anna Sandfield. Here she explains how women and men's subconscious body language (touching, sitting, even smiling) can reinforce gender roles - without even being aware of it.
Anna Sandfield // 19 October 2003
Categories: Men, Sex and Relationships
There is no Groom
Can a traditional wedding ever be compatible with feminist principles? Beth Anderson negotiates the minefield of surnames, dresses, cakes, throwing the bouquet and "bad luck" - and chooses not to blindly follow tradition.
Beth Anderson // 19 October 2003
Categories: Sex and Relationships
The Name of the Game
Can you be a 'Mrs' and a feminist at the same time? Mrs Angela Everitt explores.
Angela Everitt // 19 October 2003
Categories: Language, Sex and Relationships
Sexual Healing
Ben Thurgood wonders why the feminist concept of equality in sex hasn't entered into the mainstream - after all, equality is just common sense, surely?
Ben Thurgood // 19 September 2003
Categories: Men, Sex and Relationships
Reproductive freedom in the UK.
Andy Roberts wonders why so few of us are aware of the threats to reproductive choice in the UK.
Andy Roberts // 16 June 2003
Categories: Body and Health, Sex and Relationships
25 Burning Questions
Holly Combe answers the questions men are "too embarassed to ask"
Holly Combe // 16 April 2003
Categories: Men, Sex and Relationships
Dysfunctional, moi? The Myth of Female Sexual Dysfunction and its Medicalisation
Jennifer Drew tears apart the the myth of 'female sexual dysfunction', and looks at how female sexuality is becoming increasingly medicalised.
Jennifer Drew // 16 April 2003
Categories: Body and Health, Sex and Relationships
Smug Intentions: Richard and Judy on Chivalry
Holly Combe examines the hidden motives behind the calls for a return to chivalry. When Richard and Judy joined the debate recently, did they really have anything constructive to add?
Holly Combe // 16 February 2003
Categories: Men, Sex and Relationships
What's Up Baby?
Missmogga explains why she objects to the commercial sex industry and modern culture's representation of black women.
Missmogga // 16 October 2002
Categories: Culture and Media, Sex and Relationships
More responses to 'Whose Slut?'
Natasha Forrest's article "Whose Slut?" in The F-Word in July prompted many responses - probably the most on one specific article this site has ever had. Here are the latest comments received during August-October.
Various Authors // 16 October 2002
Categories: Sex and Relationships
Bend Over Girls - he's in Freak Mode
Society needs to stop thinking of men as slaves to their sexual urges, argues Holly Combe. She examines the damaging common idea that, once aroused, men become an unstoppable force that it would be rude - even immoral - to try to stop.
Holly Combe // 16 September 2002
Categories: Men, Sex and Relationships, Violence
Response to 'Whose Slut?'
Natasha Forrest's article "Whose Slut?" in The F-Word in July prompted many responses - probably the most on one specific article this site has ever had. Here are the comments received and below, Natasha responds.
Various Authors // 16 August 2002
Categories: Sex and Relationships
Whose Slut?
The female body has always been associated with sex, ensuring that even straight women find images of women sexy. Natasha Forrest explains why censorship is not the answer and how objectification is not necessarily a bad thing.
Natasha Forrest // 16 July 2002
Categories: Sex and Relationships
Big Brother, Virgins, and Female Singleness
Kristin Aune looks at society's attitudes to virginity and celibacy.
Kristin Aune // 16 June 2002
Categories: Culture and Media, Sex and Relationships
Pornography
Rearrange the words "worms", "can", and "of" into a well known phrase or saying...
Catherine Redfern // 16 January 2002
Categories: Sex and Relationships, Soundbites
Why Irma Kurtz is wrong about rape
In the June 2001 issue of British Cosmopolitan, the agony aunt Irma Kurtz replied to a reader's letter about rape. I think Irma's advice was irresponsible, insensitive, and re-iterates all the old myths about rape that we have tried so hard to break down over 30 years of feminism.
Catherine Redfern // 13 July 2001
Categories: Culture and Media, Sex and Relationships, Violence
The Morning After
In January Baroness Young tried to stop emergency contraception being sold over the counter in chemists. Here's why the House of Lords were right to reject her arguments, says Catherine Redfern.
Catherine Redfern // 18 March 2001
Categories: Body and Health, Sex and Relationships
