Sexuality, Then and Now

CC image courtesy of Flickr, Mr. Enjoy. Editorial note: The following is reprinted with permission from Eleanor Skelton’s blog. It was originally published as a guest post in a series on March 4, 2016. Laurie Works, the writer of this post, blogs at laurieworks.com. Lately, I’ve been thinking about relationships and sexuality. Who am I kidding. I’m always thinking about sex. I have

Purity Culture and My Sexuality

Humans are beautiful to me – whether they’re male, female, or non-binary.

Painting One-Dimensional Abusers

“I refuse to excuse what’s been done, but I also refuse to paint a one-dimensional, inhuman face onto my abusers.”

On Our Biology: Starshine’s Thoughts

“The war that our parents waged was not just on our selfhood or security or sexuality—it was on our biology.”

Hurts Me More Than You: Jace and Jocelyn’s Stories

“I believed my parents when they said this hurts me more then it hurts you. At least when I was young I did.”

Hurts Me More Than You: Polly’s Story

“I was 6 years old the first time I told my mother, ‘I like being spanked,’ to which she replied ‘Then, I’ll make sure to go harder.'”

Hurts Me More Than You: Deborah and Janet’s Stories

“The worst part of getting spanked was never the humiliation or the pain or the endless guilt and self-loathing or even the forced hugs and prayers.”

Here’s To Girls Who Have Been Made Ashamed Of Their Bodies: Pearl’s Story

“I’ve been loosely following Clare’s viral blog post about getting kicked out of her homeschool prom. The story resonated with me because it was similar to things I’ve experienced growing up in conservative homeschool/purity culture.”

Something Is Wrong With Me: Jane’s Story

“When I read Debi’s story, I thought I was given a great secret into the mind of a man. Between this story and also sneak reading ‘For Women Only’ by Shaunti Feldhahn, I formed the idea that men were sex robots that could be completely turned on and ready to hammer me from just glancing at my butt in tight jeans. Despite rejecting many of the teachings of my fundamental upbringing, I didn’t realize these views on men’s sexuality were so wrong.”

Owning My Sexuality: Sherah’s Story

“When I was 26, I learned something that changed my life. I am a sexual being. I have sexual energy available to me to help me grow up. There is hope right inside me that I won’t always feel like a mere child, that I will be able to grow up and be an adult.”