I just posted briefly about Paradox’s idea of “sexuality feminism”, as opposed to the problematic term “sex positive feminism”.

When I read this:

“When I was growing up, I was socially attacked and ostracized for being a woman who was openly interested in sex. This hurt me.”

I suddenly remembered that in my 6th form yearbook, I was voted “second most likely to be a stripper”. Based, I think, on the fact that I was openly interested in sex and had various relationships during my time at school. I was sort of aware that some people looked down on me for this, but I was really floored. I’m kind of surprised that the yearbook, which I seem to remember had to be approved by teachers, included this category at all. (Incidentally, I couldn’t find a photo already online from that year, but this was my stripper-esque presentation at 16).

But it didn’t stop me being horrified and hurt by the slut-shaming yearbook thing; like Paradox says later in her post, I think that the reason other students viewed us (any girls who express an interest in sex) like this was that the concept that a teenage girl could be interested in sex for herself, not for some display for an imagined (male) audience just didn’t actually register.