Okay, so I’m a bit ashamed to admit that I just started watching RuPaul’s Drag Race. I had heard of the show before, but it wasn’t until I started watching some reruns at a friend’s house that I realized how much I’d been missing out. The show is, in a word, fabulous. From RuPaul’s ever-changing wardrobe to the weekly “She-Mail” messages, the show is like a bad car crash- you just can’t stop watching. I mean, who doesn’t want to watch a bunch of dramatic divas compete for the title of #1 Drag Queen? Continue Reading →
Michaela
Michaela is a senior in college studying human sexuality and anthropology. When she's not blogging, you'll catch her crafting, cooking, or working at impish, a baby boutique. She hopes to one day be a professor of feminist anthropology/sexuality studies.
Recent posts
Toy Review: Dual Bliss Bullet Waterproof Vibrator
Thanks once again to our friends at Good Vibrations, I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing another awesome product- the Dual Bliss Bullet Waterproof Vibrator. I absolutely love the concept of dual pleasure! The Dual Bliss may look like a basic bullet vibe, but it is anything but basic. With two separate bullets controlled by the same remote, the Dual Bliss allows you and your partner to enjoy some good vibrations at the same time. It’s waterproof capability makes it an awesome toy for a steamy shower or relaxing soak in the hot tub. Continue Reading →
Young Ears are Listening: Gender, Body Image, and Top 40 Music
Yesterday, I was in the passenger seat of my roommate’s car. We were guiltily enjoying some Top 40 in the background as we enjoyed the gorgeous scenery, when suddenly we were accosted by these lyrics:
“Can you blow my whistle baby, whistle baby
Let me know
Girl I’m gonna show you how to do it
And we start real slow
You just put your lips together
And you come real close
Can you blow my whistle baby, whistle baby
Here we go” (Whistle, by Flo Rida)
So, not exactly what I want to hear on my car ride. Or, um, ever. Not to mention that it took us a good minute to even hear the lyrics. The song has a repetitive “whistle” riff that makes it sound like children’s music. Continue Reading →
Queering Jewish Traditions
Though I’ve become far less spiritual in the past several years, my Jewish cultural identity is still a huge part of my life. I treasure all of the holidays- for the food, the family, and the inevitable craziness that comes with all of the above. However, I have struggled to find my place in the Jewish community as a queer individual. My family and the Jewish community I surround myself with are extremely supportive of me, but the “laws” don’t always agree. In fact, the synagogue that I attended all throughout my childhood (I even had my bat mitzvah there) does not perform same-sex marriage. Continue Reading →
Attachment Parenting and Sexuality: Does Co-Sleeping Mean No Sex?
If you’ve been following my recent posts, you know that I’ve gotten a bit baby-obsessed as of late. No, it’s not the realization that my biological clock is ticking (though it definitely is), but in fact my new-found interest in parenting has stemmed from spending 18 hours a week at a baby boutique. Working in Western Massachusetts, I hear a lot about baby-wearing, green parenting, and, of course, co-sleeping. Co-sleeping, one of the three tenets of attachment parenting, is the practice of sleeping in the same bed as your child. Co-sleeping has tons of benefits, the most important of which is feeling close to your child. Continue Reading →
Fun Facts from a Vintage Sex Book
Over the past several years, I’ve amassed quite a collection of vintage/antique sex books. I keep meaning to share all the hilarious tidbits with MSP readers, but haven’t yet gotten around to it. So when Kate announced that this week’s theme was ‘Sex in History,’ I finally had a reason to share! My most recent trip to the Montague Book Mill (if you’re near Western Mass and haven’t checked this out, I highly recommend it) was a success. I walked out with two books: one on the history of the flapper, and the other on the history of, you guessed it, sex! Continue Reading →
Why Hide Your Hooters?
Working at a high-end baby store, I spend a lot of time thinking about breasts. You know the drill: breast pumps, nursing bras, reusable nursing pads, and, of course, the infamous Hooter Hiders. Hooter Hiders, made by Bebe au Lait, are essentially glorified aprons specifically designed to cover up during breastfeeding. This of course leads me to ask a pretty obvious question: why do we feel like we need to hide our hooters? Breastfeeding has become more and more taboo over time, which is ridiculous, considering most of us, at one point, gained all of our nutrients from breastfeeding. Continue Reading →
Gender on the Galactica
Ok, so I’m secretly a huge nerd. Well, maybe that’s not so secret. But recently I’ve been accepting my true nerdiness and allowing myself to delve into some awesome sci-fi shows. For the past week, I’ve spent most of my free time watching Battlestar Galactica. I’m only on season 2, but so far I’m fascinated by all of the sexuality/gender play on the show! Continue Reading →
A History of Sexual Behavior in Penguins
Researchers at the Natural History Museum recently discovered a 100-year old manuscript describing the sexual behavior of the Adélie penguins in Antarctica. If you’ve been reading my posts for the past few years, you know that I love anything vintage and sex related, and I love learning about animal behavior. Needless to say, I’m pretty excited about this manuscript! The paper, written by scientist George Murray Levick in 1911, describes the “disturbing” sexual practices of penguins, including what he described as rape and necrophilia. According to the Liat Clark, all of these behaviors can be logically explained. Continue Reading →
What I’ve Learned About Gender From Working in a Baby Store
Our culture is obsessed with gender. From the moment a new life enters the world, we feel the need to bombard them with “appropriately” colored gifts as a way to reinforce the gender we have assigned. I was aware of this phenomenon before starting work at a baby store, both from my experience as a babysitter and from my gender studies background, but I wasn’t fully aware of how serious people get about their child’s gender. We carry a variety of items in our store, including clothing that is both clearly gendered and gender neutral (or so say the colors). Despite the obvious trend of pink for girls and blue for boys, it still blows my mind when people refuse to buy something because it’s the wrong color. Continue Reading →