Tonight's show: Raunchy feminist electro-rocker - Peaches!

Tonight we're exploring the life and music of Peaches - a Toronto-born electronic musician who now lives in Berlin. She is known for her sexually explicit lyrics, raunchy costumes, theatrical stage performances and feminist viewpoints. She plays her own instruments, programs her own electronic beats and produces her own albums. Basically, she's an all-around awesome lady and a great feminist icon.

Interviewer: "You knowingly offend a lot of people, Peaches. What offends you?"

Peaches: "The Jonas Brothers."

How understanding my cycle empowered me

For many women their extent of knowledge about their monthly cycle is not much more than, “I bleed once a month... if I’m not pregnant.” That was about as much as I knew once, but over the last five years I’ve learned a lot more about my cycle, and what I’ve discovered has changed my life for the better. This is the story of my cycle self discovery.

At sixteen I was prescribed the birth control pill, and I used it constantly for 10 years. I didn’t question anything about it; it was prescribed by my doctor, everyone I knew used it and it performed its function beautifully. It was easy because I never had to think about it. What I learned in recent years, however, is that not thinking about your cycle is doing yourself an incredible disservice.

After getting involved in feminism in my early twenties, I started to hear about alternative choices for birth control and sanitary products. The first time I stepped outside the Tampax box was when I tried the Diva Cup, which is an alternative to tampons and pads. The Diva Cup is a small silicon cup that you insert into the vagina to collect menstrual blood. The cup is reusable – you simply tip, rinse and reinsert as needed. Prior to using it, I’d never had any cause to take note of what was going on during my period. After using the Cup, I became comfortable inserting and removing it with my fingers and I could see the colour, consistency and amount that was normal to bleed each cycle. It doesn’t sound like much, but it was interesting and exciting for me to gain a better understanding of my period.

The Diva Cup

When I told other people about the Diva Cup I often heard, “Gross! I don’t want to stick my fingers up there and get my hands dirty!” It saddened and frustrated me that women could be so afraid of their own bodily fluids because tampons have allowed us to become so detached from our menstrual blood. I started to realize that women in general are poorly educated about their own cycles and about the variety of menstrual products and birth control methods that are available.

The next big leap for me was when I learned about a natural method of birth control that involves charting your cycle and making observations about your vaginal discharge in order to determine your fertility. I met with a Fertility Management Practitioner and learned how to observe, chart and interpret my menstrual cycle to determine when I’m fertile and infertile.

Prior to this discovery, I had no idea that women’s bodies give them direct and obvious signs when they’re fertile. I was outraged that I’d never been taught that in Sex Education. Learning how to chart and interpret your cycle using the Justisse method is effective, free and incredibly empowering. I won’t deny that in order to chart your cycle you need to be dedicated, organized, and practice charting for about 6 months before you get the hang of it. It’s not easy at first, but it’s so rewarding.

Now I intimately understand every phase of my cycle. I’ve been off hormonal birth control for almost two and a half years and I feel great. Many women are unaware of the potential side effects of hormonal contraceptives, including anxiety, depression, decreased sex drive, weight gain, intense mood swings and more.* Not only do I understand my cycle better, I feel that my sexuality is truly mine because it’s not influenced by external hormones. Since going off hormonal birth control, I’ve felt more confident and open about my own sexuality. It’s good to know what my natural rhythm is, because the more I understand about my body, the more I know what’s healthy and normal for me. Knowledge is power, especially when it relates to our own health.

I’m grateful for the inventions of tampons and The Pill and the many freedoms they have brought women, but we need to be aware of the other options out there. All women deserve bodily autonomy: the choice and resources to have children (or not), to have an abortion (or not), to choose our sexual partners, to choose when to have sex and so much more. In order to make those choices, we should know more about our cycles, but no one is going to spoon feed that information to us. You have to be responsible for your own reproductive health, and although that’s not easy, it’s empowering to take that responsibility into your own hands. I recommend it to everyone – so, what are you waiting for? Get out there and learn about your cycle! It’s probably some of the most useful and practical knowledge you can obtain.

*Reference: Coming off the Pill, the Patch, the Shot and Other Hormonal Contraceptives by M. Lalonde and G. Matus.

Your Birth Control Options
A great little video by Dr. Betty Dodson and Carlin Ross - two very cool feminist sex educators.

Feminist sex education workshops here in Calgary!

Check out these upcoming workshops from Venus Envy! Both are $15 and held at the Calgary Sexual Heath Centre (304, 201-14th Street NW). The workshops are hosted by Patty Thille, an experienced sex educator.

I'm Coming! A Guide to Women's Orgasm
Tuesday, June 7 from 7-9 p.m.
This session will look at some of the reasons women have difficulty with orgasm, offer suggestions around play to enhance sexual feelings, and cover important anatomical information. Discussion includes the g-spot, clitoris, and tips to use both alone and with a partner.

Erotic Talk: Talking Dirty for Everyone

Thursday, June 16 from 7-8:30 p.m.
Know what you want, but not sure how to get it? Whether you're not sure what words to use, or how to start spilling them out of your mouth, this workshop will give you ideas on how to make talking about sex just as great as doing it.

If you'd like to stay informed about future workshops offered in Calgary, follow Venus Envy Sex Ed in Calgary on Facebook.

Erotic talk workshop - just in time for Valentine's!

Venus Envy and the Calgary Sexual Health Centre bring you a 90 minute workshop on talking dirty - just in time for Valentine's day!

Workshop description: Know what you want, but not sure how to get it? Whether you're not sure what words to use, or how to start spilling them out of your mouth, this workshop will give you ideas on how to make talking about sex just as great as doing it.

Date: Friday, February 11
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Cost: $20.00 per person
Note: This workshop is for women only
For more info click here or visit the Venus Envy Facebook page

Going Down on Everyone: A Workshop About Fellatio and Cunnilingus (Dec 19)

Patty Thille, a sex educator with Venus Envy, will facilitate "Going Down on Everyone", a workshop about fellatio and cunnilingus that includes anatomy, safer sex, communication, positions and technique for mouths, lips, tongues and hands. Great for anyone who wants to know more about going down, regardless of gender or sexuality!

Venus Envy is committed to making sex education accessible and fun - they think sex should be dirty in a good way! Patty has been offering sexuality workshops for over six years, and this event will be educational, humourous, non-judgemental and empowering.

All details on the Facebook event page!
You may also wish to follow Venus Envy Sex Ed in Calgary on Facebook to keep up-to-date with workshops being offered in the future.

Going Down on Everyone
Sunday, December 19, 7:00-11:00 pm
Workshop start: 7:30 pm
714 5A St NW (buzzer: M. Hopkins)
Pay-what-you-can

Call 403.710.0093 or e-mail mark@swallowabicycle.com if you have any questions.

Free film to honour World Aids Day on Dec. 1

In honour of World AIDS Day, AIDS Calgary Awareness Association, Fairy Tales Queer Film Festival and Club Sapien present:

SEX POSITIVE
A Documentary Film by Daryl Wein

Wednesday December 1, 2010 | 7:00 pm
Club Sapien | 1140 10th Avenue SW
Free admission

What if you knew a deadly epidemic was coming… and no one would believe you? Exploring the life of Richard Berkowitz, a revolutionary gay S&M sex worker turned AIDS activist in the 1980s, whose incomparable contribution to the invention of safe sex has never been aptly credited.

The film will be followed by an AIDS Calgary Safer Sex Game-Show and Sexy Carnival Games, all in support of AIDS Calgary Awareness Association.

Tonight's Show: Virginity

Tonight Jennie and Bee discuss virginity. A few questions that we'll ponder:

- Why is virginity so important/sacred/valued?

- Where did the 'idea' of virginity come from?

- Why does virginity only matter for women, and not for men?

- What exactly does it mean to lose your virginity today? (Does anal sex count? How do gays/lesbians lose their virginity? Do bisexual people get to lose their virginity twice?)

Tune in tonight from 8-9 pm for a rousing discussion on this fascinating topic! As always, we podcast our shows so you can download the podcast if you miss our live show.

Tonight's Show: Interview with a Sexual Educator

Tonight we interview Patty Thille, a former physical therapist with an MA in Women's Studies. While writing her MA Thesis she took a job at Venus Envy, a feminist sex toy shop in Halifax, which lead her into the field of sexual education.

Patty teaches numerous workshops on sex and aspects of sexuality. Some of the workshops include; I'm Coming! A Guide to Women's Orgasm, Going Down: A Guide to Fellatio, and Up Yours! Anal Pleasure and Health. To stay informed about Patty's upcoming workshops, join her Facebook group: Venus Envy Sex Ed in Calgary.

Tonight we'll be discussing the workshops, sex toys, and myths about female sexuality and orgasms. It should be a delightfully sexy show! Tune in from 8:00 to 8:30pm on CJSW 90.9 fm in Calgary. You can listen from anywhere in the world on cjsw.com, and don't forget to subscribe to our podcast!

Best Blow Job Quote Ever

Sex and the City is one of my all-time favourite shows. I've watched all six seasons over and over again, and I never get sick of it.
Last night I was revisiting season 3, episode 9, aptly titled Easy Come, Easy Go. In the episode, Samantha is sleeping with this guy, Adam, who has "funky tasting spunk," and eventually she refuses to give him another blow job. This, my friends, sets the scene for possibly the best quote on blow jobs ever.

Adam: C'mon, give me a little BJ! Up and down a couple of times, you're done. It's easy!

Samantha: Easy? You men have no idea what we're dealing with down there. Teeth placement and jaw stress and suction and gag reflex. And all the while bobbing up and down, moaning, and trying to breathe through our noses. Easy? Honey, they don't call it a "job" for nothing.

So true!

Wild Girl, Virgin, or Something Inbetween?

Jessica Valenti, founder of the kick-ass feminist blog, Feministing.com, was recently featured on the Today Show. Check out the video - the women are chatting about young women's sexuality and the abstinence movement. I think some of the points that Jessica makes are really important - especially her point that when it comes to women and sexuality, there seems to be only two options: you're either the promiscuous girl gone wild, or the chaste virgin. In reality, most women fall somewhere inbetween the extremes of wild girl and virgin, yet those are the only two options for female sexuality that we are presented.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Penis Art is Offensive

Artist Kristin Ivey's latest exhibit is sadly being censored by Calgary's Eau Claire Market. The exhibit, entitled "The Phallus Series", is currently showing at The New Gallery at Eau Claire Market and consists of colorful re-purposed prom dresses shaped into penises. Just before the shows opening, Eau Claire Market decided that a curtain should be installed to block view of the sculptures from the public following a string of complaints. According to an article in FFWD magazine, it seems as though the primary concern is that these sculptures will continue be offend passers-by.

The sculptures are not depicting anything unnatural about the human body (...okay, maybe the pretty pastel colors of these 3-footers are a bit unusual, but that's art, right?). Even if they are slightly over-the-top, I don't quite appreciate the underlying motives for blocking the whole thing up.

Considering that galleries have the specific purpose of displaying art (which often deals with controversial themes), the folks at Eau Claire should have thought about the potential controversy that art shows tend to generate before deciding to house a gallery in their space. It's pretty obvious that there are much more disturbing images Calgarians are forced to view whether they want to or not (see: post about Campus Pro Life's Genocide Awareness Project display).

Of course, I wonder: had the artist been male and the sculptures, barely identifiable lace and silk replications of vulvae, would the higher-ups at Eau Claire be stressing censorship of the "male" sexual experience as swiftly and as strictly as they have done in this case? Let's just wait and see what happens when the opportunity arises, since we know it will...

In protest of this blockage, I suggest you support the show and go check it out. It's on now and will run until May 9th, 2009.

See the gallery's website for further details on the exhibit.

Going to Toronto? Check Out This Feminist Shop!

Good For Her is a feminist sex shop located in Toronto. I just discovered their website, and the shop looks like a really neat place. Definitely worth a visit if you'll be in the Toronto area.

Some cool things about Good For Her:

• They have women and trans only shopping hours on Thursdays and Sundays. What an awesome idea - it allows for a more comfortable shopping environment for those who may be a little nervous or shy.
• They have an advice column with information on toys, body issues, health, orgasms and more.
  
• They carry environmentally responsible products and ensure that all products are safe for you.
• They have a very informative sex toy guide.
• They host the Feminist Porn Awards every year: "As feminists and sex-positive people, we want to showcase and honour those who are doing it right, like filmmakers who understand that people of colour are sexual beings - not sexual objects. Like performers who want to see body diversity, so they shake their ample butts in front of the camera. Like everyone who ever said "why aren't my fantasies and realities ever reflected in porn?" so they picked up a camcorder and recorded their friends getting it on."

A Thought Provoking Film about Misogyny and Pop Culture

A special thank-you to the almighty power(s) that inspired Dr. Thomas Keith to make this intriguing film. Dr. Keith, a California-based professor of philosophy, is the writer, director and producer behind "Generation M: Misogyny in Media & Culture". The film explores the roots of misogynistic attitudes in popular culture, ultimately unearthing the imposed expectations that societies have placed -and continue to place- on women. The film allows us to view these revelations from the unique perspective many of us rarely have the opportunity to experience : that of the informed and culturally aware male.

Keith breaks it down nice n' simple, looking first at the core of what misogyny is: hatred of women. He talks with writers, scholars, medical professionals and others about the many disturbing, synthetic and twisted ideals that misogyny breeds. Violence as power, sexual exploitation, and gender-based oppression caused by misogynistic behavior are just a few of the topics examined closely in Generation M.
One of the speakers in the film described the illusion of liberation through hyper-sexuality in women. Of the strange desire within women to nurture this illusion by obeying what mass media instructs, she says,

"It's a whole new opportunity for (us) to participate in (our) own exploitation".

I can't agree more, as sad and as devastatingly truthful as it may be.

I love that this film has the ability to speak comfortably to men about the social and psychological dangers of misogyny. The film isn't completely revolutionary as an examination of feminist values; much of the subject matter could be considered common knowledge. The approach, however, is gentle enough that almost anyone can relate to it whether the issues are new or not. So it is revolutionary in its ability to address both men and women... straight and queer... from the often undervalued male standpoint. Props to Dr. Thomas Keith for standing in the face of what so many others prefer to turn their backs to.

For information on how to obtain a hard copy of this film (and plenty of others) for public screening or personal use, visit Media Education Foundation's website; it features a plethora of engaging documentary films like this one.

The link to the Generation M page (which includes the trailer as well as a preview version of the film) can be accessed from above.

Monkeys Shed Light on Gold Diggers, Prostitution

National Geographic News reports that male chimps who share meat with female chimps double their chances of having sex with those females.

"The findings support a long-held hypothesis that food sharing improves male chimpanzees' chances of mating. Males observed in the West African nation of Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) shared monkey meat with females that exhibited the pink swellings on their rear ends that indicate ovulation and sexual availability. More surprising was that males shared meat with females that didn't have sexual swellings, perhaps in hopes of future success, the researchers say."

So, what does this tell us about our own evolutionary origins?

National Geographic says that studies of human hunter-gatherer societies have long shown that skillful hunters have more offspring and wives. So does this mean that we should stop giving "gold digging" women such a hard time? Is it just hardwired into our genetics to swoon after someone who is successful?

This story also reminds me of prostitution - the male monkey offers the female something of value for sex. Maybe prostitution has been called "the oldest job in the world" because monkeys were doing it long before we were...?

This Week's Show - Purity Balls

Join us on Monday March 9th for an hour-long discussion on Purity Balls: a growing yet controversial movement among Evangelical Christians.
(8:00 - 9:00 pm on CJSW 90.9 fm in Calgary, or online at www.cjsw.com)

Essentially, Purity Balls are attended by fathers and their teenage daughters. Fathers pledge to protect their young daughters' purity in mind, body and soul. Daughters are expected to remain virgins, abstaining from pre-marital sex. A stronger father-daughter relationship is promoted as a means to affirm spiritual and physical purity.

We will be discussing the history of Purity Balls, what supporters and opponents say about them, and naturally, we will discuss feminist viewpoints on the topic.

Below are links to some videos and articles that we have used as references. Check them out for more information on this fascinating topic.

Articles
Would You Pledge Your Virginity to Your Father? - Glamour Magazine
Dancing the Night Away, With a Higher Purpose - The New York Times
Premarital Abstinence Pledges Ineffective, Study Finds - Washington Post

Videos
Comedian Bill Maher on Purity Balls
Randy Wilson (creator of Purity Balls) on the Today Show
Purity Dances on Good Morning America

Websites
Generations of Light - Website of the Wilson Family (creators of the Purity Ball)

Wanda Sykes on a "Detachable Pussy"

Well folks, as February comes to an end we say goodbye to Black History Month, but we say hello to March which is Women's History Month!
In honour of both these months, I'd like to share a video by Wanda Sykes. Wanda is by far one of the funniest women in comedy, and this particular piece on the benefits of having a "detachable pussy" is pure brilliance. Check it out!

Woman Auctioning Off Her Virginity

Now this is interesting. Twenty-two year old Natalie Dylan (a Women's Studies graduate, by the way) is auctioning off her virginity. It sounds like a crazy idea, I know, but when you read her justification for doing so, it actually makes a lot of sense.

A couple of the most thought-provoking sentences from her justification are below:

"Like most little girls, I was raised to believe that virginity is a sacred gift a woman should reserve for just the right man. But college taught me that this concept is just a tool to keep the status quo intact...
When I learned this, it became apparent to me that idealized virginity is just a tool to keep women in their place. But then I realized something else: if virginity is considered that valuable, what’s to stop me from benefiting from that? It is mine, after all. And the value of my chastity is one level on which men cannot compete with me. I decided to flip the equation, and turn my virginity into something that allows me to gain power and opportunity from men. I took the ancient notion that a woman’s virginity is priceless and used it as a vehicle for capitalism."

I actually think this is pretty cool. Personally, I am sick of our society thinking that a woman's virginity is sacred and pure. But if men out there want to believe that, then why not capitalize on it and sell it to the highest bidder?
Thoughts?

Charlotte Roche's "Wetlands" is Causin' Some Controversy.

A novel by Charlotte Roche entitled Feuchtgebiete, which roughly translates to “Wetlands” in English, has sparked a number of debates within and extending beyond the worldwide feminist community. The novel is told from the perspective of 18-year-old Helen whom examines her sexual self in ways that are apparently quite graphic according to reviews. Responses to the book vary; some say the book is a groundbreaking piece of feminist literature while others are saying it’s plain old pornography and that it holds no particularly feminist value. First of all, why should it matter? I mean, who says porn and feminism can't be friends? Second, most pornography relies on heavily exploitative images, leaving very little room to appreciate the real
human body and its functions. Considering that mainstream porn is designed to get you off quickly, I think it’s high time we bring a little intellect and some curiosity back into the sexual realms of ladies and gents alike. If we can do that by turning to a provocatively written novel (as this one seems), then so be it!

The author herself seems to have suggested in a recent interview that the book may not speak of feminism in an outwardly political sense but that it may shed light on a different kind of exclusively female complex: our sexual self-awareness. In my opinion, social politics cannot and do not make up the prime interests of feminists; the politics of body image are quite relevant to all women, feminists or not. So, why all the controversy? It seems women’s erotica is so carefully critiqued and evaluated for its morale… much more than the average misogynistic porn flick to say the least.

Feel free to browse through this interview with the author or check out a
fabulously witty review of the book from our dear friends at Jezebel.

This is what Christmas looks like at Playboy

Just in time for Christmas, the Mexican issue of Playboy features a nude "virgin Mary." I'm not even religious and I'm offended by this!

From an article in The Sun:

The December issue features model Maria Florencia Onori posing as the Virgin wearing nothing but an angelic white cloth.

The release was timed for the day before Mexico's traditional Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe, a celebration of an apparition of the Virgin in the town.

Its headline reads in Spanish: "We adore you, Mary."

*Sigh* I hate our culture's obsession with female virginity.

Tonight: "Mr. Right" (Monday Dec 1, 2008 8:30pm MST)

On tonight's show we'll be airing a discussion between Jennie and I along with our guest volunteers, Casey and Morgan. The four of us sat down to talk about the idea of the alleged "Mr. Right".

Is the notion of finding one's "Mr. Right" a fictional, socially constructed figment of our imagination, or is it a valid basis on which to form our standards in terms of relationships? What kind of role has this image played in our past? In current pop-culture? We'll ask some of these questions and look at how this idea is presented in the media on shows like Sex and The City and in film; particularly, Disney' s Snow White.

This is the last of two contributions to the show by Casey and Morgan over the past few weeks, so a special thanks goes out to them for their hard work!

Tune in Monday Dec 1, 2008 at 8:30 PM (MST) on CJSW 90.9 FM or listen online @ www.cjsw.com