5 Sex-Positive Blogs To Read For Sexual Enlightenment

There's pornography, and then there's smut for the smart — you know, the kind of (c)literate writing that can both turn you on and make you think with its inimitable wit and tone. Although a lot of sex positive theory can be dry and academic, there are plenty of sex-positive blogs that are the exact opposite, infusing informative personal essays, sex toy reviews, op-ed pieces, news and the like with just enough sleaze to make it go down easy.

As the editrix of a sex-positive blog (shameless plug!) I firmly believe that the world needs not just more sex positivity, but more sex-positive writing in its myriad forms. You can talk the talk all you want, but it's even better when you can broadcast it worldwide to the horny masses using the interwebs. Whether you're discussing the ins and outs of the female orgasm, dating, relationships, sex toys, the politics of sex work, slut-shaming, or STDs, there can never be enough sex-positive perspectives to lead our sad, repressed country to sexual enlightenment.

Here are five sex-positive blogs you should check out, because sharing is caring, and never more so than when it comes to matters of your part(s):

1. How To Make Me Come

This unique tumblr features contributions by women detailing their orgasmic exploits. The anonymous essays are both heartwarming and partwarming, giving voice to diverse perspectives on female sexuality and sexual pleasure.

2. F*ck Feast

Oakland-based sex-positive feminist Pilar Reyes runs this site, which alternates between engaging narratives of her sexploits, vintage porn, sex toy reviews, and incisive political commentary.

Wattpad on Cosmo: Steamy Nights With a Gorgeous Firefighter

Quinn watched her for a moment and brushed his thumb over her chin.

She took his hand and kissed his palm as she pushed back against him, forcing him to retreat a step.


"But I have one rule I will never break," she said.

"And that would be?"

"No sex in the kitchen."

He raised his eyebrows. "Crissy, we've talked about this. If you're not ready..."

She placed her hand against his cheek and kissed him, lightly, sweetly.

"I am," she said.

"That's really not why I invited you here. I promise."
for," she said, taking a ste floor.

Quinn placed p forward, pushing Quinn back another step. He bumped into the table and sent a bag of groceries sprawling across the table
 and spilling onthehis hands on her hips an d here ld  at a safe distance.

"Are you sure? Absolutely sure?"

She hooked two fingers in his belt loop and tugged him closer. "Stop asking me that and keep doing what you were doing earlier."

He hesitated for only a moment as he studied her before he took her hands and walked backwards into his bedroom. It was a tiny, tiny bedroom, stacked with boxes, some still sealed, others with clothing and shoes spilling out of them, and still others lying empty. But there was a bed, sitting on the floor, with a pile of disheveled blankets and pillows. It was far from familiar for either of them, this new territory they were heading into together, but it was comfortable and it was soft and she had Quinn by her side. Crissy needed nothing else.

Teen sex may hurt health later as adults

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 (UPI) -- Sex during adolescence may have lasting negative effects on the body, most likely because it occurs when the nervous system is developing, U.S. researchers say.

Study co-author John Morris, a doctoral student in psychology at Ohio State University, Zachary Weil, research assistant professor, and Randy Nelson, professor and chairman of the department of neuroscience, said their research used laboratory animals, but their findings provide information that might be applicable to understanding human sexual development.

Researchers paired adult female hamsters with male hamsters when the males were 40 days old -- the equivalent of a human's mid-adolescence.

The study found that male animals with an early-life sexual experience later showed more signs of depressive-like behaviors as well as lower body mass, smaller reproductive tissues and changes to cells in the brain than did hamsters first exposed to sex later in life or experienced no sex at all.

Among the cell changes observed in the animals that had sex during adolescence were higher levels of expression of a gene associated with inflammation in their brain tissue and less complex cellular structures in key signaling areas of the brain. They also had stronger immune response, suggesting their immune systems were in a heightened state of readiness even without the presence of infection -- a potential sign of an autoimmune problem, the study said.

The findings were presented at the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington.

Study: Sexual content in movies encourages earlier sex, more casual partners

LOS ANGELES – While it has long been assumed that risqué movies can cause risky behavior, there is now scientific data to back it up.

According to a new study conducted by psychological scientists at Dartmouth University, children who watch features films with sexual content have a tendency to start having sex at a younger age, have more casual sexual partners, and engage in unsafe sexual practices.

Using 1,228 participants aged 12-14, the study – entitled “Greater Exposure to Sexual Content in Popular Movies Predicts Earlier Sexual Debut and Increased Risk Taking” – has raised renewed concern over the potentially dangerous affect Hollywood has on adolescents. What many have found particularly disturbing is that the sexual content is not only limited to R-rated films. Researchers found that 68 percent of G, 82 percent of PG, and 85 percent of PG-13 rated movies of the 684 movies included in the study contained sexual situations.

“Impressionable children and teens are influenced by the media they consume. Over 60 years of research and over 3,000 studies now have linked violent media content and aggression, cigarette smoking in films and the likelihood teens will take-up smoking, and more recently, exposure to sexual content in entertainment and early onset of sexual activity in teens,” Melissa Henson, Director of Communications and Public Education at the Parents Television Council (PTC), an organization that monitors connections between a child’s media consumption and their behavior, told FOX411’s Pop Tarts column.

Before recruiting participants, the authors coded the movies for seconds of sexual content, which was defined as any sexual act, from passionate kissing all the way to intercourse. G-rated movies like “The Princess Diaries” contained 42 seconds of sexually-related material, PG-13 movie “Meet Joe Black” had 170 seconds, while another PG-rated movie “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” had 78 seconds.

Sex and Psychology

Sex and Psychology is a popular blog that focuses on providing scientifically-based information on sex, love, and relationships for the general public. The goal is to provide readers with accurate and responsible information that can help correct the numerous myths and misconceptions that actively harm our sexual health and well-being.

This site is run by Dr. Justin J. Lehmiller, a social psychologist, Research Fellow at The Kinsey Institute, and author of the book Tell Me What You Want. Dr. Lehmiller is an award-winning educator, having been honored three times with the Certificate of Teaching Excellence from Harvard University, where he taught for several years. He is also a prolific researcher and scholar who has published more than 40 pieces of academic writing to date, including a textbook entitled The Psychology of Human Sexuality that is used in college classrooms around the world.

Blog content focus on everything from developing and maintaining healthy romantic and sexual relationships to dispelling common sex myths to answering reader’s questions about sex and relationships. It covers a diverse range of topics and is written in an inclusive manner that is accessible to a broad audience.

‘Kabir Singh’ doesn’t just normalise abusive relationships; it rationalises them

When director Sandeep Reddy was questioned about the scene in his film where the character Kabir Singh slaps Preeti, this was his response. He went on to add how ‘physical demonstration’ is symptomatic of being vested in a relationship; that women who found this portrayal offensive and haven’t experienced this kind of love’ have probably never loved.
Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s words might seem jarring, but put them within the Indian patriarchal concept, and you would find a lot of people eschew the same opinion. It is partially because we believe, and are constantly taught, about the superiority of men. Within that frame, comes in the space to make errors more freely, which we label as ‘flawed character’. The reason why Bollywood so often turns to tried and tested trope of bad boy turns good for ‘the girl’. We are made to hopelessly believe in the rectifying power of love, and I don’t entirely counter that. I do believe affection and communication can help people change. My problem with the narrative that Kabir Singh presents is not that it is a misogynistic abusive relationship sold as a story of jilted lovers; it is that the director believes the character is right in doing so. 

When the interviewer asked Sandeep why Preeti didn’t do anything when Kabir kissed her, he said that she could’ve “slapped him” but she didn’t because that was her way of giving “consent”, as evidenced by her silence. Silence may not translate as consent. To interpret it so is unfair. I will not victimize Preeti; this was not her story. But Kabir Singh is a textbook example of an abuser – he treats people around him like they mean nothing. His hypermasculinity is romanticized; he is a great guy stuck in an unfortunate love story and he ensures that he subdues his girlfriend; he forces Preeti to befriend a plump girl because “healthy chicks are loyal; they gel well with pretty chicks.” He has been given some redeeming qualities – great surgeon, apparently liberal, fights for his love and the likes. But they seem forced, as if purposefully added to will the audience into submission, and lull us into a false sense of resonance with the character.

Indian Cinema has always paid big bucks to see the rise and meteoric fall of the protagonist – the two Devdas movies and even Dev-D caught their fair share of eyeballs. There is something weirdly cathartic about self-destructive men drowning their sorrows in liquor, riding high on the back of unbridled vices of life. Bollywood has birthed and born flawed characters; as an audience, we are mature enough to differentiate between a work of fiction and reality. We are capable of deciding what is right and wrong for us.What is deplorable in Reddy’s statement is the endorsement of abusive behavior, peddled in the package of ‘flawed character’,

Why Meditate? Founder Tips And The Teachers They Love

You can be eating the healthiest foods, using the cleanest beauty products and moving your body regularly, but if you’re not caring for your mind it is hard to consider yourself truly healthy.

Less stress, heightened focus and better sleep are just a few of the benefits associated with a regular meditation practice. Think of meditation as exercise for your brain, working to rewire your thinking to enhance the positive traits like focus and decision-making, while diminishing the negative traits like stress, anxiety and brain fog. Meditating every now and then is a great step and you’re sure to notice small changes after each practice, however a regular meditation practice is the key to experiencing the full spectrum of benefits.

We asked some #ContentApproved brand founders why and how they meditate to achieve the most out of life. Read on for their meditation tips & tricks to inspire you in your own practice.

Meditation Tips from Brand Founders

ZOË LIND VAN’T HOF, WUNDER WORKSHOP

I start my morning with ‘Breath of Fire’ and Sat Nam mantra. Both are rooted in Kundalini Yoga. I find these meditation practices invigorating and they allow me to bring all my attention to the ‘here and now’ before I start a busy day.

I love using the Third Ear App or Insight Timer when I am at home or traveling. There are also several teachers that I love – Guru Jagat, Emily Lacy, Palma Michel and Eleanor Phelan from Sen Wellness.

TATA HARPER

I absolutely have a regular meditation practice! I’ve been practicing meditation for about five years. I find it so grounding, particularly with my hectic schedule.

Depending on the amount of time I have, I’ll do different things and use different techniques. If I’m alone and walking between meetings I’ll sometimes do active meditation. When I have more time, like when I’m on planes, I’ll do chakra balancing meditation. I also practice visual meditation, usually before bed but especially when traveling in different time zones. In the morning, I like to do breathing exercises to start my day feeling more centred.

5 Benefits of Social Media Marketing

There are over 3 billion people with social media accounts worldwide. With numbers that massive, it is impossible to ignore the role that social media plays in our lives. If you run a business today and your company is not on social media, you need to get on it immediately.

Still not convinced? Read on, and we will show you the biggest benefits of social media marketing.

1. Increase Brand Recognition

If nothing else, the benefits of social media marketing allow you to get your company’s name out there. As your brand becomes more recognizable and more popular, it will be seen as more trustworthy and will stick in people’s minds for longer periods of time.

By using tools like hashtags, you can make sure that your posts will be filtered into like-minded timelines and news feeds. This can help you reach a more specific demographic simply by using the right keywords.

On Twitter, you can check out the trending bar to see what people are talking about. This lets you know what is popular at the moment and you can use these trending tags to reach even more people. By having a presence on multiple networks (you should be on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at a minimum), even apathetic social media users will start to recognize your brand.

All companies can benefit from increased brand recognition on social media. Whether you are a global, corporate juggernaut like Coca-Cola or this trusted company operating out of Palm Harbor, FL, social media can be a boon for your business.

2. More Chances for Conversion

At its essence, the point of all marketing is conversion. Conversion is when someone who is exposed to your marketing message performs the desired action, usually making a purchase.

And every post that your social media team makes is an opportunity for a customer to convert. Social media makes it very easy for users to react to posts. With just a tap of the finger or click of a key, users can like, comment, or repost your message. With each reaction comes a new opportunity for someone to visit your site which only increases your chances for conversion.

Rev Up Your Online Sales: How to Craft an eCommerce Marketing Strategy

looking for a new eCommerce marketing strategy?

Did you know that last year eCommerce accounted for over $504.6 billion worth of sales online? And that’s only in the US. By 2023, that number is projected to reach $735.4 billion.

Those numbers tell us one thing, loud and clear. If your eCommerce sales aren’t high, it isn’t because the industry is bombing. The problem lies, instead, with you.

So, the question is how do you fix it? First, you must track down the hole(s) in your system. Chances are the issue resides in (1) your products or services, (2) your customer service, or (3) your marketing campaigns.

For most of you, the issue is your marketing. Don’t worry, the article below details 9 tips from expert marketers to ramp up your online sales. When you’re ready for sales to explode so you can finally take that trip to Tahiti, read on.

1 Use SEO in Your eCommerce Marketing Strategy

If you haven’t heard of SEO before today, then it’s time to learn a new term. SEO stands for search engine optimization. Essentially, it’s a group of mechanical strategies to improve your ranking with search engines.

AIs now run search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo! Though they can process huge quantities of data, they’re still no substitute for a human brain. That is to say, they’re not a substitute yet.

They’re making great strides toward emulating human logic, but they haven’t achieved that goal. Until they do, they need your assistance to accurately match your website to a user’s query. When you do that, you’ll see a rise in your website’s page rank.

Applying for Loans with No Credit

Isn’t it a virtual given in the US lending market that to get a good loan you have to have a good credit score? And if you have no significant credit history at all, doesn’t that equal the same thing (or worse) as bad credit? Not necessarily! You can get good loans with no credit if you know where to look.

Don’t give up on getting approved for a loan or a credit card due to a lack of credit history. You have many options you may not even be aware of, but we at Bonsai Finance can help you located and evaluate your best offers with only a minimal amount of time and effort invested.

Can I Get Good Loans With No Credit History?

Where can I find loans with no credit required? That may sound like a trick question, but it’s not. There are many payday loans and personal installment loans available online that do not require a good credit score or any credit score at all for approval. These types of short term loans are provided by private lenders who are not constricted by the rules and regulations banks are often straight-jacketed with.

The fact is, everyone starts out with zero credit history on their record, and lenders understand that. They realize that just because you’ve never had much of a chance at taking out and repaying a loan, that doesn’t mean you are incapable of doing so.

And it’s the same way with those with poor credit scores. Many times, financial situation beyond their control overwhelmed them many years ago, but they are nonetheless responsible people who have every intention of making all their payments on time.

10 Reasons All Businesses Need a Solid Social Media Marketing Campaign

If you still aren’t convinced that you need to beef up your social media presence, you’ll probably change your mind after
of this post.

1. Web Traffic

Your product is wonderful. You know exactly who your audience is and what you want to say to them. There’s just one problem- how are you going to find them?

Solely relying on Google searches to find customers is risky. Yes, if you sell dog leashes and someone searches for a leash for Fido, you can buy advertising space to reach that person.

But what about the woman who’s casually browsing the internet, not thinking about her dog at all? Google isn’t going to be enough to open her wallet. But she might open her wallet when she sees pictures of awesome-looking leashes on Instagram.

2. Huge Conversion Rates

Traditional advertising is impersonal. Ads are targeted toward large swaths of the population and fade into the background.

Social media advertising, when done correctly, is aimed towards YOU. Your interests, your likes and dislikes are taken into account. This allows people to become more comfortable with your brand.

That familiarity with your brand can lead to impressive conversion rates.

3. Improved Customer Recognition

If you could, you would probably plaster your brand’s logo everywhere in sight. Obviously, that’s not practical in the real world.

Social media is different. Knowledge of your company can spread fast and organically. Because the posts that you share can be seen by thousands or even millions of people, you’ll be able to reach an audience that you otherwise wouldn’t.

How to Play Card Games with Zero Experience

Do you avoid casino table games? Whether you’re new to the casino scene or intermediate, casino card games can be intimidating if you’re not familiar with them.

Not to worry! We’ll show you that playing to win is easier than you think. Read this casino beginner’s guide to learn how to play casino card games, which games to play, proper casino etiquette and more!

Things to Know About Casinos

Before we cover how to play, there is some important background information you must keep in mind.

The Odds are Never in Your Favor

In every casino game, the house (casino) always has the advantage, no matter what. It’s how they can give away millions of dollars and still stay in business.

With casino gambling, you’re fighting a losing battle. That’s why it’s called “gambling.”

All Games are Not Created Equal

That said, it doesn’t mean all games have the same odds. And it pays to know which games have the best odds.

Most people who don’t have experience with table games shy away from them and stick to the slots and other electronic gaming machines. But the odds of winning electronic gambling machines is much lower than the odds at table games.

By learning casino card game strategies, you have a better chance of gaming the system. But your success will always depend on luck and, as such, you never have a guarantee of winning.

IBIZA LOVE - STORY

The first time I saw Sicilia she was standing around the back of the bike sheds puffing on a cigarette. Her school skirt was rolled up showing off her long tanned legs, and her hair was in a high ponytail, held there with a tartan scrunchy.

She was talking with a group of friends and it was clear she was the coolest in the bunch, the one they all wanted to be like. Not that she was aware of that, the one thing I knew about Sicilia was she had no idea of the effect she had on the people around her.

“You’re a lucky bastard sitting next to her in Geography,” Martin, my best mate said as he shook a ciggie from a packet. “I’d give her one any day.”

His words irked me. Sicilia was worth more than a quickie, or a blow job after the school disco, or a frisky afternoon bunking off down at Farmer Drayton’s old barn. She was intelligent, caring, she had a keen sense of humour and dreams of becoming a nurse. She loved her dog, Poochie, and worried about her older brother who was recovering from a serious car accident that had shaken the whole family.

“Yeah,” I muttered, wondering if I should go and talk to her.

“Here.” Martin handed me a fag.

“Thanks.”

“Think I’ll try my luck,” Martin said, lighting up.

“With what?” My heart sank. I knew what he was talking about. He was going to try his luck with the only girl in the school I had any interest in. And being that he was tall, blond and had that surfer dude look going on, he’d likely have success.

“You know, getting in her knickers,” he said. “Trying my luck at that.”

I frowned and squeezed the cigarette in my hand. It snapped.

“Hey, watch it, I paid good money for that.” He took it from me and tried to fix it.

“You really think she’d let you anywhere near her knickers?” I hoped my tone held enough doubt that his confidence would be shaken.

How to Create Great Writing for Social Media Marketing Posts

Social media marketing is more important than ever. Chances are that social media is where your audience is — around 56% of adults use more than one social media platform. That number climbs when you only look at adults ages 18-34.

Despite this, some businesses still don’t put a lot of thought into how they create posts for social media. Posting without a strategy is a good way to leave money on the table and miss out on potential business.

Check out these tips on writing for social media to make sure that your business is up to speed.

Understand Your Audience
Who are you trying to reach, anyway?

Deciding who you’re “talking to” is one of the most important parts of writing for social media. You can determine this by looking at your current customers or what problems your products or services solve.

Figuring out your audience will help you decide what kind of voice and tone you should use in your posts. If you don’t have time to do this, companies like Reliant Social can help you do the research.

Keep Your Voice Consistent

Once you’ve decided on your voice, stay consistent! You don’t want to adopt a professional tone one week and then switch to a conversational one the next.

That gets confusing to your audience and makes your brand inconsistent.

Even though your social media account represents a business, people still expect it to have some kind of personality. Remembering this will help you create better content.

Follower Frenzy: 5 Amazing Social Media Tips for Getting Followers

Are you trying to grow your social media following?

Gaining new, authentic social media followers can be a challenge, especially in a time when it’s easy to pay to gain followers overnight. But buying followers is never the way to go, especially if you’re looking to increase engagement, convert customers or work with brands on sponsored content.

Now it’s getting easier and easier for people to spot who has a genuine following and who has purchased their followers. How do you gain true followers when most social media outlets are crowded? Keep reading to find out ways to organically get new followers.

The Best Social Media Tips 

Getting organic social media growth can be difficult, but it’s worth the time and effort. Here are five great social media tips to gain more followers:

1. Post High Quality, Shareable Content 

Social media is a crowded space, so people have high expectations when it comes to content. To get the most likes, shares and comments, you need to create high-quality content that people will respond to.

If Instagram is your outlet of choice, invest in good equipment or learn photo editing. For Facebook, share things that are funny and engaging. Videos are also popular on outlets like Facebook. Know what your target audience likes and give them what they’re looking for.

2. Engage With Other Accounts 

Getting new followers is all about being active and engaging on the social media platform you’re trying to grow. So don’t just be a ghost on the platform, actively engage in what others are doing. Comment on posts that you admire and like or share content often.

3. Post Frequently and Consistently 

If you want to gain followers you have to post frequently and consistently. You can’t post once a week and then disappear for months at a time. Social media algorithms determine who sees your posts, and many of them will punish you for not posting very often.

Facts on Female Sexual Problems

Long considered a taboo subject, women's sexuality is now openly discussed and portrayed on television, in magazines, and on the Internet. Most importantly, women themselves are becoming increasingly aware of their sexuality and their sexual health. Women of all ages are learning more about their sexuality.

What is "sexuality"? For a woman, as for a man, sexuality encompasses a very broad range of physical activities and psychological experiences. These activities fulfill an important physical and emotional need for closeness and intimacy.

Sexuality doesn't include just your sexual practices. Your feelings about yourself, how you relate to others, and about sex and previous sexual experiences are part of your sexual makeup.
Your feelings about your partner and your relationship definitely affect your sexual satisfaction.
Women's interest in sex and responses to sexual stimulation vary widely. Although most women's sexual responsiveness peaks in the late 30s and early 40s, a woman can have satisfying sexual experiences throughout her life.

The quality of her experiences is affected by individual differences, by life situation, by age and hormonal levels, and by overall health and well-being.
A sexual problem is anything that interferes with a woman's satisfaction with a sexual activity. When this happens, it is often referred to by health professionals as female sexual dysfunction (FSD).

Sexual response cycle

To understand why sexual problems occur, it is important to understand the sexual response cycle. This cycle is the same in both men and women, although at different rates and, obviously, with different physical changes. The cyclehas  four steps.

Desire (excitement phase): Desire is a sexual "charge" that increases interest in and responsiveness to sexual activity. You feel "in the mood." Your heartbeat and breathing quicken, and your skin becomes reddened (flushes).
Arousal (plateau phase): Sexual stimulation -- touch, vision, hearing, taste, smell, or imagination -- brings about further physical changes. Fluids are secreted within the vagina, moistening the vagina, labia, and vulva. These fluids provide lubrication for intercourse. The vagina expands, and the clitoris enlarges. The nipples become hardened or erect.

5 Ways to Achieve Better Sex in a Relationship

"Sex is ... perfectly natural. It’s something that’s pleasurable. It’s enjoyable and it enhances a relationship. So why don’t we learn as much as we can about it and become comfortable with ourselves as sexual human beings because we are all sexual?" ― Sue Johanson

Much of relationship research  has focused on general relationship satisfaction, which is an area of clearever, research may not have looked in depth at sexual outcome measures and whether there are ways to specifically cultivate better sex. While sexual satisfaction and healthy communication contribute str importance. Howongly to greater overall relationship satisfaction, sexual communication is likely to be very different from general relationship communication (Mark & Jozkowski, 2013), and it may be incorrect to assume that working on improving general communication quality alone will improve sexual communication.

With some exceptions, couples therapy tends to focus on general relationship issues, and may leave sexual issues less directly addressed. For example, according to a 2003 study, while the vast majority of health/mental health professionals noted the importance of addressing sexual issues in treatment, most reported that they were poorly trained and unlikely to discuss sexual issues with patients (Haboubi & Lincoln, 2003). Another study found that even licensed marital and family therapists felt uncomfortable with and unprepared to discuss sexual issues (Harris & Hays, 2008). It may be that professionals addressing relationship issues have assumed that if general communication and relationship satisfaction improves, then sexual communication and sexual satisfaction will follow suit. However, this has not been shown to be the case.

I have found in my professional experience that unless clinicians are specifically trained to address sexual issues, they often will not bring them up with patients, sex therapists being the obvious exception. Considering how important sex is for many couples, it is concerning that therapists may not be addressing sexual issues directly with couples as much as would be useful. As with other taboo subjects, it may be that therapists and clients both tend to shy away from difficult areas ― sexuality, trauma and abuse, money, and race and cultural issues, to name a few ― and stick to what is more familiar and comfortable. While training can help prepare mental health professionals to feel comfortable bringing up issues more easily avoided, it is also important to recognize that timing and diplomacy are essential in order to effectively assist with sensitive issues.