Sex (and Sexuality) in the News: Weekly Roundup — Sep 11, 2023
Unsplash: Minh Dang
Stay informed and entertained with our curated weekly roundup of 'Sex (and sexuality) in the News.' Explore articles, updates, and trends related to human intimacy, relationships, and identity, including insights into legislation, law, and censorship, as well as engaging topics such as enhancing your sex life and experiencing deeper levels of pleasure. Article summaries were co-written with the help of ChatGPT.
Is Instagram shadowbanning LGBTQ and sex ed accounts?
This examination of Instagram's shadowbanning controversy provides insights into the challenges faced by LGBTQ and sex educator accounts on the platform. It sheds light on the frustration and financial setbacks experienced by content creators who believe they are unfairly targeted, even when their content adheres to platform guidelines. Despite promises of transparency, Instagram's practices continue to raise concerns, particularly regarding the platform's impact on marginalized communities and its role as an arbiter of what society is willing to tolerate in a climate where expressing LGBTQ joy is increasingly fraught with danger.
Mashable • Anna Iovine
California just became the first state to declare a Transgender History Month
California's State Assembly has passed House Resolution 57, designating August as Transgender History Month beginning in 2024, making it the first state to establish such recognition. The resolution aims to create a culture of research, education, and scholarly recognition of transgender history, emphasizing its importance for future generations. While largely symbolic, such declarations become significant symbols, especially in the context of LGBTQ+ curriculum debates.
them • James Factora
No ‘slut’, ‘prostitute’, ‘hooker’: Supreme court’s new toolbox for combating gender stereotypes
The Supreme Court's "Handbook on Combating Gender Stereotypes" is hailed as a significant move toward dismantling ingrained biases in legal judgments in the pursuit of gender equality. The 30-page guide aids judges and legal professionals in using unbiased language and concepts when dealing with gender-related cases. Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, emphasizes that the handbook aims to assist judges in making impartial decisions without criticizing past judgments. The initiative is seen as a progressive step, with calls for broader public education and awareness campaigns to ensure its success.
Outlook • Surbhi Singh
Women’s sexual desire is widely misrepresented, here’s what we actually know
Sexual desire, often confused with libido and arousal, is a complex and dynamic aspect of human behavior. It's not just about high or low sex drive; desire can fluctuate. The dual control model of sexual response explains how excitatory and inhibitory processes affect our responses. External factors like physical conditions, psychological issues, and distractions can impact desire. Understanding this science can lead to happier and more fulfilling sex lives, dispelling common misconceptions and promoting better sexual well-being.
BBC Science Focus • Dr. Michelle Griffin
The first ai-generated images of real orgasms are here
Sexual wellness companies Lovehoney and Womanizer have teamed up to create the world's first AI-generated images of real human orgasms. Through a unique study involving heart-monitoring sensors, five men, and five women, while using sex toys, data was collected and transformed into visuals using AI. These revealing images challenge the idea of a single "normal" type of orgasm, showcasing the diverse range of experiences. Gender differences in orgasm types were minimal, but the AI's representation of female orgasms did reflect societal norms, revealing an interesting gender bias.
Marie Claire
Many states don’t require schools to teach sex ed. A new bill hopes to change that.
A new bill, the Real Education and Access for Healthy Youth Act (REAHYA), aims to revolutionize sex education in the United States by incentivizing states to provide inclusive, trauma-informed sex education in schools. Currently, only California, Oregon, and Washington require comprehensive sex education in all schools, leaving many students without medically accurate, LGBTQ+ inclusive, and age-appropriate sex ed. REAHYA seeks to bridge this gap by offering federal funding for high-quality sex education, focusing on marginalized youth's equitable access to comprehensive, culturally responsive, and trauma-informed instruction. The legislation also addresses topics like gender identity and interpersonal violence, empowering students to make informed decisions about their bodies and sexual health.
The 19th • Nadra Nittle
Australia will not force adult websites to bring in age verification due to privacy and security concerns
The Australian federal government has decided against mandating age verification for adult websites due to concerns about privacy and technology immaturity. Instead, the government has tasked the eSafety commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, with collaborating with the industry to develop a new code aimed at educating parents on accessing filtering software and restricting children's access to inappropriate material. The decision reflects the recognition that various age verification technologies come with privacy, security, and implementation challenges, and the government wants to ensure that any such technology is effective without risking adults' personal information.
The Guardian • Josh Taylor
Why size and sex matters in healthcare
Medical devices primarily designed for average-sized males pose significant challenges for women's health. For instance, artificial hearts fit a small percentage of women, impacting their survival rates. Female colonoscopy procedures are less frequent due to unique challenges, risking undetected issues. Ventilator calculation formulas often used to guess patients' height, can be fed incorrect information because of bias, they do not account for these known bias', and as a result women are suffering more from errors. Addressing these issues through sex-specific medical device sizes and protocols could greatly enhance women's healthcare outcomes.
Forbes • Brittany Barreto
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