One is a social system and the other is a demographic within that — Many Americans find it difficult to see themselves as a part of social dynamics. They’ve been fed a steady diet of faux individualism their entire lives, and they consequently have a difficult time imagining that they are anything other than an island, with no impact on or responsibility for anything…

Is it just political expediency or do Cheney and Kinzinger truly deserve to be punished by conservative metrics? — It’s no secret that politicians on both sides of the aisle often do things of questionable integrity in order to achieve the results that they want. Sadly, this type of rationalization almost seems to be a part of the job. However, the Republican National Committee (RNC) may be seen by…

I’ve started to get interested in the kitchen again as an antidote to stress — For the past 6 months or so, I’ve barely cooked. A few easy dishes here and there, but mostly we’ve had takeout or my husband has cooked. It’s something he’s very good at and enjoys, but the way things have been lately, even he hasn’t been doing much cooking. Life…

Here’s the latest on what we are looking to publish — All new contributors must read these guidelines. Sensual is first and foremost a community for sex-positive people of any sexuality to share and support each other. We talk about everything from sex work, to polyamory to BDSM. We talk about how our culture inhibits and tries to control sexual expression, particularly for women. We talk about erotic…

You have to treat her like a lover and not like a wife — There are many possible reasons why a couple’s sex life might fizzle over time. Health issues, including hormone changes, might be in play, for either men or women. Stress, trauma, exhaustion — these all could be factors. Many women have been socialized that their sexuality is inherently dirty and wrong…

Embracing true sovereignty — Tamar the Great of Georgia was crowned co-ruler of the Georgian kingdom in 1184 by her father, George III who had no male heirs. After her father died six years later, Tamar continued to reign, eventually taking on the title of mep’e or “king.” Under her rule, Georgia negotiated for…

And, in truth, all potential aspects of it are valid — There’s been lots of commentary on the fact that actor Leonardo DiCaprio, who is 48, only seems to date women who are 25 or younger. While this habit may well speak to him being part of a culture where women are often objectified and treated as trophies, it’s also in…

Here’s how we know, using Eisler’s scale of partnership and domination — Not too long ago the American Psychological Association issued new guidelines for working with men and boys. They took 13 years to craft and relied on 40 years of research data. The guidelines take into account differing experiences of masculinity in America, including differences related to race or sexuality —…

Moments of sharing and kindness are a welcome respite in a harsh world — We live in a big community where overall, people do try to be friendly and kind to their neighbors. As with all groupings of humans, this sometimes works better in theory than in practice, but it’s not like I was worried that Halloween wouldn’t be a fun night. Still, I…