Sex positivity
Hear this word Sex positivity
Also known as: Sex-positive
Image description: Embracing sex positivity
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What Is It?
Sex positivity is a way of thinking about or understanding all people’s sexuality. Sex positivity supports consensual sexual experiences, sexual expression, sexual identity, and sexual rights with inclusive and encouraging attitudes.
As a political movement, sex positivity understands sexuality as a natural part of human expression. It encourages the use of practices that help to make sex safer and more accessible. Some examples of practices include comprehensive sex education, sexual consent, access to contraception and all pregnancy options and, using barrier methods and other strategies for STI transmission prevention, treatment, testing, and STI management.
An Example
Tiffany’s personal care attendant identifies as sex positive. She often advocates in her communities for people’s diverse sexual identities and consensual sexual experiences. When she supports Tiffany, the personal care attendant helps Tiffany to access her sexual expression in ways that respect the boundaries, privacy, and bodily autonomy of Tiffany and her sexual partners.
What to Know
Every glossary word connects to different parts of the Sexuality Wheel. Explore the information below to learn more.
- It can be empowering to have supportive people in your life who believe that people should have romantic or sexual lives that work for them. Some of these supportive people may identify as sex-positive. Some people may not know or necessarily identify with the word “sex-positive,” but they are still very supportive and affirming of all people’s sexual wellbeing and expression.
- Some health care providers may identify as being sex-positive, but some may not necessarily use this term to describe themselves. However, a trusted health care provider still may be inclusive and affirming of their patients’ experiences, identities, and orientations. A trusted health care provider may also understand that a person’s romantic or sexual life may connect with their health care services, medications, or procedures in different ways, and will aim to respect these parts of a person's life, while providing care.
- Sex-positive supportive people can also include mental health professionals, counselors, and people who can connect folks to accurate and inclusive sex education materials such as websites, books, audiobooks, and videos.
Think about
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What did you learn about sex positivity?
To learn more about the body, explore websites, books, and other resources in the Resource Hub or visit other parts of Your Sexual Health Toolkit like our online game, Our Stories, Our Journeys: A Sexual Health Game!
What questions do you have?
Write down or record an audio note with any questions you have to ask someone you trust. You may also find answers to your questions by using websites, books, and other resources in the Resource Hub.
