Sex positivity - meaning and definition
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Definition
Sex positivity is an attitude that treats consensual sexuality as a healthy part of life and respects people's different choices, including choosing little or no sex.
At a glance
- Sex positivity treats consensual sexuality as a healthy part of life.
- Its core principles are consent, accurate information and respect for diversity.
- It includes respecting people who choose little or no sex, such as asexual or celibate people.
- In dating profiles, the phrase usually signals openness and a non-judgemental attitude.
In detail
The idea is often traced to psychoanalyst Wilhelm Reich and was developed further by sex educators and feminist writers from the 1980s onward. Its core principles are consent, accurate information and respect for diversity in orientation, relationship style and desire.
Sex positivity is sometimes misunderstood as meaning that more sex is always better. Most advocates stress the opposite: respecting asexual people, people who are celibate and people who say no is part of the same principle. In dating profiles, the phrase usually signals openness and a non-judgemental attitude.
In a sentence
- My profile says I'm sex-positive, which means I don't judge, not that I'm up for anything.
- A truly sex-positive approach respects asexual people too.
Where the word comes from
The idea is often traced to the psychoanalyst Wilhelm Reich in the early twentieth century and was developed further by sex educators and feminist writers from the 1980s onward.
Not to be confused with
- Hookup culture
Hookup culture describes a pattern of casual sexual encounters; sex positivity is an attitude that accepts many choices, including abstinence.
Common questions
Does sex positivity mean wanting a lot of sex?
No. It means respecting consensual choices, including choosing little or no sex. Advocates stress that respecting people who say no, who are celibate or who are asexual is part of the same principle.