What does gender positivity mean?

 What does gender positivity mean? This is how experts explain it

An active sex life is actually good for your health.

If you have been watching "Single Girls" this season, you might hear a term over and over again: sexually positive. Several men who participated in the show described the current single girl as "sexually active", 30-year-old Katie Thurston, who is known for talking about sex very comfortably.

Even if you don’t watch "Single Girls," you might hear the word "sexually active" elsewhere. This includes Twitter, because people are joking about turning this season into a drinking game: every time someone says "sexually positive", have a drink.

But what does it mean to be sexually active? This is how the experts explained.

What does "sexually positive" mean ?

Sexually active people are willing to learn more about their own bodies, the bodies of others, as well as consent, intimacy, and how to communicate on sexual topics. Rachel Needle, a psychologist in West Palm Beach, Florida (Rachel Needle) With psychologist Modern Sex Therapy Institutes, a company that trains couples and sex therapists around the world, the co-director told Health.

This also means that they are willing to embrace and explore their own and others' sexual orientation-including sexual behavior, gender, sexual identity, and anatomy, in a respectful, non-judgmental way, without shame.

But sexual positivity is not only related to sexually positive experiences and thoughts. Dr. Theo Burns, a psychologist practicing in Los Angeles and director of clinical training at Antioch University in California, told Health that being sexually active can also be a fight for people working in the sex industry to ensure that they have equal rights and that they 'S work is legalized. It can include advocating accurate sex education, not just abstinence or fear-based. Sexual positivity can also focus on understanding sex in the media-pornography, movies, or advertisements often portray certain types of people while excluding others.

Being sexually active can also mean being a person whose friends can come out or go, “their own fear, their own inner shame, and sometimes their own shame,” Burns said. Someone might call you as a sexually active person and say, "I'm really nervous to try this new experience with my partner, I want to talk to someone," he explained.

Related: How many erogenous zones are there on women's bodies? The following is what the experts say

What-Does-Sex-Positive-Mean-GettyImages-1219741329-125376035

Photo Credit: Getty Images / Photo Illustration provided by JO IMPERIO

What is not sexually positive

"Sexually positive does not necessarily mean that your frequency of sexual behavior, sexual contact, or sexual arousal increases, but it does mean that you are open to participating in sexual behaviors, conversations, and non-judgmental. People are open," Burns said.

Dr. Rosara Torrisi, a certified sex therapist and director of the Long Island Sex Therapy Institute, told Health that being active does not mean you ignore the need for consent. "This is not to encourage people to have a specific sexual orientation, minimum or maximum number of partners, or to engage in certain behaviors during sex," she said. "Any expectation and pressure on sex is essentially anti-sexuality." Agree is always necessary.

Why are there more talks about sexual positivity these days?

Sexual positivity is not just a concept that people agree with-it is also a political and social movement.

"One thing that really started this movement was the idea that sex is often talked about as secret, shameful, unhealthy, and public sex in any way-whether it's talking about it or in Talk about it-there is a problem," Burns said. "So the [sexually positive] movement basically tries to say,'Hey, wait a minute, this is part of our normative development. It's not necessarily unhealthy or shameful, but having these conversations is a sexual process in terms of consent and trust and communication. Partly, nothing is wrong or unhealthy.'"

This is a long-standing movement. Recently, however, celebrities like Lady Gaga, Amber Rose, Jessica Biel, and Lizzo have been talking publicly about their experiences in slut humiliation, sexuality, sexual assault, physical acceptance, and sexual health and responsibility, which have inspired more about The dialogue of sexual positivity, Burns explained. Yes, even single girls have expanded this trend.

"This is not some of the agenda for my participation in the show. It's just who I am and who I have always been," Thurston said during the podcast Bachelor Happy Hour earlier this year, where she worked as a colleague after the audience was first introduced. Sexually positive attitudeThe new bachelor. "It wasn't until afterwards that I realized how important this is-it excites me because I believe that it is 2021 and women should be able to easily talk about their sexuality."

"I'm glad to be able to talk about it," Thurston continued. "Hope this means that other women will begin to open up soon, because sexual positivity is important in a relationship, [you and] your own relationship, in your self-care, and many different things, especially in This [ongoing COVID-19] pandemic."

Related: How to spice up your sex life: Expert tips for being happier and closer to your partner

Active sex is good for health

According to Burns, sexual positivity "is actually very healthy and has been recognized by various organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO)." In fact, the World Health Organization stated that “adopting a positive and respectful attitude towards sexual behavior and relationships” is essential to sexual health.

"When our sex life is active, our sex life will be healthier," Needle points out. "For many people, sexual health includes being satisfied with their sexual behavior, making decisions and communicating with them." Sexual health also means enjoying sexual pleasure, access to medical care (including reproductive health), and Our partners have better communication skills so that we are more likely to get what we want and need, and know how to avoid unintended pregnancy and minimize the risk of sexually transmitted infections (and receive treatment when needed).

According to Burns, having a positive sexual view can also enhance your mental health. "This can mean a reduction in isolation, which can lead to things like depression and anxiety, [and] a reduction in shame and stigma, which can also lead to building resilience," he said. He added that when we eliminate stigma and shame, we usually show better health-related behaviors.

Related: Why am I always horny? These 3 reasons can explain it

How can you become more active?

First, know that anyone can be sexually active. "Sexual positivity has nothing to do with your sexual behavior, identity, etc., but more about your views on sex," Torrisi said. "You have only had sex with yourself, a million people, or no one. Positivity is a set of values ​​that tolerates and cultivates your own sexual behavior with others. It is not just for polygamous and licentious people. ."

Overall, the United States "has improved its understanding of sexual consent, pleasure, function, identity, orientation, behavior, and expression," Torrisi said. But there is still work to be done. "We are still struggling to deal with the dual reality of sex in this country," she said. "We are obsessed with sex on the one hand, and we are afraid of sex on the other. Both ends of this range are not sexual positivity. Recognizing the nuances, the reality of the lives of billions of people, everyone has their own valid truths, and now this is Sexual positivity."

It also helps to understand the culture in which many Americans grew up. "In this culture, we are often seen as image bombing that we should consider sex but never talk about," as Burns said. Next, he recommends considering whether you want to see a therapist, read some books, or visit different websites to help you understand what sex positive will look like to you.

"Sexually positive does not necessarily mean that [you] will engage in certain sexual encounters-although if this is what someone wants to do, it is great, awesome, as long as they are safe, agreed and Communicative," Burns said. Instead, he said, it may just mean being more open to sexual curiosity and experiences of others and yourself.