A blog reflection by Women’s Center student staff member Shira Devorah

So I really love to talk about sex. It’s probably my favorite topic ever. I used to work for peer health education and with the sexual health committee at UHS here on campus. I’m considering becoming a therapist focusing on sex and relationships within the LGBTQ community.

I’ve always considered myself to be sex positive. But now I’m worried that identifying as such can be problematic.

Sex positivity, in a really bare-bones sense, is a movement that unpacks our taboo notions of sexuality and embraces and promotes human sexuality and personal exploration. There is a huge emphasis on safer sex and informed consent, encouraging respect for people’s personal preferences and boundaries.

I’m definitely here for all of this.

But what are the limitations of this movement?

At surface level, sex positivity is a really cool thing. I feel confident discussing birth control options and my needs with friends and partners. Sex positivity has really allowed me to open myself up as a person and not deny my interest and care about this subject. The fact that this movement exists means that I can one day work in a field devoted to improving sex lives for LGBTQ people.

But sometimes I wonder if I really want to call myself sex positive anymore. Is being sex positive actually accessible to other people? 

Although in theory sex positivity creates space for all people to explore their sexuality, in reality these conversations are not always accessible for everyone. There are many reasons sex positivity isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, even though it may be mine.

It’s difficult for women to be open about sexuality without some sort of pushback, and it can be especially challenging for women of color.

There are a lot of negative stereotypes surrounding women who choose to reclaim their own sexuality through sex positivity. First off, women who identify as sex positive often get sex shamed for their openness discussing these taboo topics. People tend to make a lot of assumptions about women who are open with their sexuality – that we’re ‘slutty’, interested in casual sex, unfeminine, or the object of male desire. These looming misconceptions may turn women off to the idea of being sex positive.

Although I may encounter some of these problematic assumptions, because I’m a white woman(ish) I’m not ever racially stereotyped based on my openness with sexual topics, which can be a reality for many people of color.

Many women of color are fetishized based on their race, and so they may feel more conflicted about associating with this term. For example, black women are often stereotyped as hypersexual, while Asian women are stereotyped as submissive sex objects. Since women of color are often already sexualized in troubling ways, sex positivity might make women of color feel more ostracized. Franchesca Ramsey has a really great video on sexual and dating racism you should check out here.

Feminista Jones from her website, feministajones.com

Some activists, like Feminista Jones, a Black feminist sex positive blogger, have helped counteract this narrative within sex positive circles. Jones has  written about subverting the idea that Black women are hypersexual. In her piece “From Slavery to Sexual Freedom,” Jones discusses embracing Black female sexuality is an act of defiance against the fetishization of women of color. This is one example of how sex positivity can be reclaimed as an intersectional term – but this still doesn’t solve the systemic issue of racial sexualization.

On a different note, I’m also mindful about potentially alienating asexual people and survivors of sexual violence. Sure, I absolutely love being an open book when it comes to sex and sexuality. This means that I talk a lot about sexuality in a variety of different ways; I feel comfortable discussing the educational aspects of sexuality, like teaching people about consent or how to use contraceptives.

Still, I sometimes find myself  discussing less ‘academic’ aspects of human sexuality. I am comfortable with pretty personal conversations, but a lot of people may not be. Some people may even be triggered by these conversations.

Of course, there is a vast difference between discussing safe sex and talking explicitly about sex with friends. Still, the line between informative sexual discussions and casual and potentially invasive discussions may be difficult to draw – especially if you’re like me and never stop the conversation. For close friends, I have a better understanding of what their boundaries are, and know what is and is not appropriate to say. These kinds of discussions are very different than those concerning contraception, which can be appropriate based on who is having this conversation, which spaces they are taking place in. In spaces that are more public, it is possible that people may overhear and be triggered by my discussions. Sometimes conversations that aren’t sexually explicit may still be troubling to some individuals. I need to stay tuned to the needs of all people who may be present.

I don’t know everyone’s stories, and it’s not my business to know their trauma or identity. It is, however, my business to be courteous and kind – and my loud, boisterous chats about contraception might not be as enjoyable to someone else as it is to me.

So how can I problematize sex positivity while continuing to associate with the movement?

I think I need to re-define what sex positivity is to me. It is all that I have grown accustomed to, but so much more. My kind of sex positivity is an inclusive one, accessible to all bodies. My sex positivity is open and honest, but should not be loud nor in-your-face. My sex positivity reclaims sexuality, but understands how sexuality can be misused and feed into rape culture and patriarchy. Most importantly, my sex positivity is my own, and I do not have have to expect other people to see things the way that I do. It does not make them any less of a feminist to feel uncomfortable with sex positivity, it just makes their lens different.

art by Ronnie Ritchie, for everyday feminism

I would really love to reconcile with the term “sex positive” while being mindful that this identifier is not always accessible, realistic, or even as positive as the title claims.

I must be critical of the limitations of being sex positive. I want to expand my awareness for who is included and who gets left out of this narrative. My sex positivity needs to include all bodies, all genders, and all sexualities. In order to reconcile with my own sex positivity, I must remember that it is not the one right way to be a feminist.

Meet DeVenna,

She is an Environmental Studies major and an URACADian*. Devenna is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Lambda Phi chapter. She would like to continue her research regarding human/environment interaction and how they impact each other. Specifically, how African American’s are impacted by the environment and vice versa. Her future plans will be to join the Peace Corps.

She is will be creating a film that will explore “What does it mean to be Black in America?” Devenna will conduct interviews with a variety of subjects (known and unknown volunteers from the street) before and after the 2015 Baltimore uprising. The purpose of this research is to shed light on the reality of the Black American experience. Moreover, the ultimate goal was to gather individual feelings, to prove that stereotypes should not be used, and that everyone has a different understanding of what it means to be Black.

Read more about her research here…

*URCADian ~ One who participates at URCAD.

Our recent U.S. presidential election has shocked many and left questions about the future of our communities and nation. Student Life's Mosaic: Center for Culture and Diversity and Interfaith Center staff reaffirm our commitment to diversity and inclusion,  to productive, authentic and mutually respectful cross-cultural dialogue, and to positive social change-based education and equality for all. 

We stand by each other and lift each other up as one campus, state, nation and global community.  We choose to see differences across social identities - including political affiliation - as strengthening our community, rather than dividing it. Socially just education, inclusive learning spaces, and supportive communities are more important now than ever, and we encourage all of UMBC to commit and/or recommit to it with us.   

We know these are challenging times for all of us.  Now and in the days ahead, we must come together to reaffirm our values of diversity, inclusion and social justice - especially in support of our community members who may be feeling fearful and vulnerable.  If you witness or hear disruptive behavior, an act of intolerance, or other behaviors of concern on campus or in our surrounding communities, please following these suggested reporting options: 

Behavioral Risk Assessment and Consultation Team (BRACT), 410-455-2393- http://www.umbc.edu/saf/staff/bract.php

UMBC Hate and Bias Response Policy and Procedures

http://police.umbc.edu/files/2016/09/8.0-Hate-and-Violence-policy-procedures-1.pdf

UMBC Counseling Center, 410-455-2472, http://counseling.umbc.edu/ 

Division of Student Affairs, 410-455-2393, http://www.umbc.edu/saf/ 

As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us Monday-Friday, 10am-5pm at 410-455-2686 or mosaic@umbc.edu if you feel the need to talk, process feelings, or just need time to take a break. 

Onwards and Upwards,

Lisa, Krutika and Joe - Student Life's Mosaic: Center for Culture and Diversity Staff

A weekly round-up curated by Women’s Center staff member, Michael Jalloh Jamboria

In the spirit of my friend, who gave us the glorious name ‘Slaying on the Weekly’, every week I will be bringing you some interesting, funny or thought-provoking content from the internet! Be sure to join us next week for more and continue to slay!

Things you should know:

As President Obama welcomes the President- elect, many are reminding others that he is #notourpresident. As we try to understand what this means for our communities and loved ones, be sure to watch Hillary Clinton’s concession speech. It’s disheartening yet inspirational and a call to action as we move forward as a nation.

Article of the Week:

Jess Myers, the director of the Women’s Center, wanted to share one of the articles of the week. Here’s Why We Grieve Today. Please remember that it’s perfectly acceptable to grieve. It’s ok to be sad, cry or scream. Your emotions are valid and if you need a place to process them, the Women’s Center will be here for you.

I’d also like to share Finish your Ugly-Crying, Here’s What Comes Next. The author shares things we can all do to support the “mental health and safety of your friends”.

UMBC Happenings:

There is great activism and craftivism in the works. Artist collectives and protests are happening all throughout Baltimore and other major cities. Get involved, reach out to the Women’s Center to share your needs and concerns. We want to be here with you as you grieve, heal and rebel.

Song of the Week:

I’ve been listening to really great music recently, and I want to share that with all of you! This week’s song is Keep Your Head Up by Tupac.

I love you, I see your pain. We’re here for you. Until next week!

Name: Amul Choudhary

Internship, Co-op or Research Site: National Institutes of Health/NCI

Position Title: Intern

Major(s)/Minor(s): Biochemistry / Molecular Biology

Work Term: Fall 2016

Briefly describe your internship, co-op,  or research opportunity, including your day-to-day tasks, responsibilities, and assignments.

My internship took place inside the Division of Cancer Treatment & Diagnosis at the NIH Headquarters in Bethesda, MD. Daily, my main project at the start was development of a searchable database of patients so that the department could observe trends in demographics, cancer types, and trial enrollment as well as work on speed in onboarding new patients. To accomplish that, I had to first overhaul some of the onboarding procedures the DTCD was using. While developing the database, I worked on a Phase II trial analyzing patient responses to a drug and eventually my analysis was used as part of a published (pending) manuscript. I presented my findings at Fort Detrick in Frederick, MD to some of the administration of the NCI as well as participated in the NIH Poster Day. This was all during the summer and now I am back there during the Fall continuing to refine and expand the powers of the database as well as shifting through results of other trials hoping to add to other ongoing publications..

Describe the process of obtaining your internship, research, or co-op opportunity.

I applied through a personal contact, then was asked to gather letters of recommendation and submit to a background check before being given an interview.

What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization/company?

Meeting some amazing people and expanding my network

How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?

The analysis I completed for the Phase II trial will most likely play a major role in having the drug in question approved by the FDA.

What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?

Be ready to commit time outside the office and do lots of research on your own time to be always up to speed. After all, "opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." A lot of work is the pure drudgery of pouring through patient files, but also some of the most interesting discoveries are made at the 11th hour.

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Want to be the next Intern of the Week? Make sure to fill out this form and stay tuned. New interns are announced every Friday!