Focus

Doing It Right: Sex On The Left

Sex can be disastrous, delightful or extremely okay, but it is always slippery as fuck. From bi erasure to ethical ghosting, male circumcision to family abolition, we ask: what does leftist sex look like? And can we ever do it right?

Doing It Right: Sex On The Left

Sex can be disastrous, delightful or extremely okay, but it is always slippery as fuck. From bi erasure to ethical ghosting, male circumcision to family abolition, we ask: what does leftist sex look like? And can we ever do it right?

Explainers: How Racism Affects Our Sex Lives

Does love transcend everything? What does it mean to fall in love in an unequal world? Dalia Gebrial looks at how race shapes our experiences of sex and desire, and asks: what would it take to create better conditions for loving one another?

Novara FM: Who Has the Right to Sex?

Amia Srinivasan and James Butler explore the philosophical grey zones between power, intimacy and violence.

A graphic with the words 'sexualised' 'desexualised' 'disabled' 'woman' 'black' beside and image of a Black woman in a wheelchair

Opinion: Navigating Sex and Desire Is a Headfuck When You’re Black, Disabled and a Woman

by The Triple Cripples

We develop our ideas about sex and relationships by observing the world around us. Things get tricky, then, when there's nobody you can relate to.

Analysis: Ecofascism Is Infilitrating the Conversation Around Reproductive Rights

by Annabel Sowemimo

Neocolonial arguments for population control are worming their way into global health, writes Annabel Sowemimo.

a group of seals lie together on a beach

Opinion: Challenging Monogamy Is a Political Act

by Sophie K Rosa

Regardless of the relationship style we choose, we should all challenge compulsory monogamy, writes Sophie K Rosa.

A woman is held to the floor by a number of police officers

Opinion: The Police Are the Domestic Abusers of the Nation

by Shanice McBean

When the Met are searching a quarter of Black boys, it’s time to admit that they are abusing us en masse, writes Shanice McBean.

Ash Wednesday: Do I Think About Rape Too Much?

Why are women more afraid of violence from strangers on the street when - statistically speaking - home is the place where they're most unsafe? Ash Sarkar takes a look at how rational fears are used to justify irrational policy decisions, and what we miss when we talk about 'rape culture'.

Opinion: Carceral Feminism Isn’t the Answer to Sexual Violence

by Caren Holmes

We can't call ourselves abolitionists if we make an exception for rapists, argues Caren Holmes.

Interview: Sex Work Sucks. So Does Sex. So Does Work.

by Laura

When Laura started sex work, she expected a whole new experience. In fact, it was a lot like her old work: drudgerous and dull. As told to Rivkah Brown.

Novara FM: Sex Sells

The left often defends sex workers, but how often do we defend sex work? Women from the Queer Whore Collective speak to Rivkah Brown.

Analysis: Why Is Gen Z So Sex-Negative?

by Asa Seresin

From TikTok’s #CancelPorn movement to annual battles over kink at Pride, Gen Z appears to be at war with sex. In fact they're continuing one started by feminists in the 70s, writes Asa Seresin.

Opinion: Why Are Intactivists Up In Arms About Male Circumcision?

by Jordan Osserman

The reasons have a lot less to do with human rights than with capitalism, argues academic and trainee psychoanalyst Jordan Osserman.

Feature: Who Ya Gonna Call? A Guide To Ghosting

by Charlotte Bayes

Charlotte Bayes, your friendly neighbourhood relationship expert, advises how to be a kinder dater.

Opinion: There Is No Sexual Liberation Without Bisexuals

by Jacob Engelberg

In attempting to assimilate to the straight mainstream, queer liberals have reinforced the gender binary and edged bisexuals out of the struggle. This is counterproductive, argues Jacob Engelberg, as it's we who most trouble oppressive sexual norms.

Opinion: Monogamy Is Cool, Actually

by Chal Ravens

Rejecting normie coupledom is all the rage on the left, but polyamory isn't praxis, writes Chal Ravens.

Opinion: It’s Time to Abolish the Family

by Judy Thorne

Let's end the monopoly that romantic and biological relationships have over care, writes anthropologist Judy Thorne.

Feature: Ask Justin: I’ve Never Kissed Anyone. What Do I Do?

by Justin Hancock

I'm a 21-year-old university student with a painful secret: I've never kissed anyone. What do I do? Stop worrying about your friends' judgement and listen to your body, writes sex and relationships expert Justin Hancock.

Doing It Right: Sex on the Left is part of Novara Media’s Decade Project, an inquiry into the defining issues of the 2020s. The Decade Project is generously supported by the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation (London Office)

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Designed by Pietro Garrone with help from Max Ryan.

Produced by Rivkah Brown and Chal Ravens.