The Columbia Chronicle Sex Issue 2018

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THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE

FEBRUARY 12, 2018

Dear reader...

FROM THOSE WHO want to bang Pennywise, to people who put grapefruits places they were never really intended to go, to those who get their kink fix from fanfiction sites, The Chronicle doesn’t shame. Those from all walks of—consensual—life are welcome here.

With our 2018 Sex Issue, The Chronicle decided to ask the question, “So what are you into?” to explore some of the kinks, sex products and coitus concepts with which we were either unfamiliar or all too familiar.

So join us on a wild ride through the safe space we have created for all of our readers in honor of Valentine’s Day. And if you feel so inclined, kick back with a Sex Issue, lock your bedroom door and get down to whatever business comes natural. We won’t judge. Maybe you can tell us all about it for next year’s student confessions.

The Chronicle Staff

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>> PHOTO ILLUSTRATION MACKENZIE CROSSON

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THE SEX ISSUE THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE

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» SAMANTHA CONRAD/CHRONICLE

STUDENTStudents CONFESSIONS from around the college anonymously reveal their craziest sex confessions.

TESSA BRUBAKER & OLIVIA DELOIAN CAMPUS REPORTERS

WHERE’S THE CRAZIEST PLACE YOU’VE HAD SEX?

Either a movie theater or my high school bathroom.

-A. Smith

*Names have been changed WITH WHAT CELEBRITY WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE SEX?

Harry Styles.

-A. Smith*

Natalie Dormer from “Game of Thrones.” She’s blonde in real life, but I think she’s gorgeous.

-M. Harper* Bella Thorne. Just ‘cause it’d be funny.

-H. Valentine* Mainly because I just started watching “Lost” again, but Navine Anders.

-Q. Rey* Probably Jennifer Lawrence.

-S. Larkin* HOW DO YOU GUYS FEEL ABOUT INCORPORATING SEX TOYS INTO YOUR SEX LIFE?

I am totally for it. That’s the whole reason I bought my own Amazon Prime account, so my parents wouldn’t know I was buying dildos online.

-M. Harper I don’t know, for some reason, they just make me [uncomfortable].

-H. Valentine As long as they’re clean and sanitized, I’m all about it.

-Q. Rey

DO YOU FIND THAT YOU’RE MORE SUBMISSIVE OR DOMINANT?

I really like it when the guy is submissive. I love taking charge.

-A. Smith

I love to be submissive because I’m super controlling in my own life.

-M. Harper Submissive. I’m so lazy, I’m just like, “I’m just gonna lay down and let you do what you need to do.”

-Q. Rey

WHAT SONGS WOULD BE ON YOUR PERFECT SEXY PLAYLIST?

“Since I’ve Been Loving You” by Led Zeppelin. It’s slow, it’s passionate.

-A. Smith The really stereotypical song, “Pony” from Magic Mike.

-M. Harper “Wait a minute” by Willow. It’s not really sexy, but it’s really vibey.

-H. Valentine Probably Rihanna’s song “Higher.”

-Q. Rey Literally anything Barry White.

-S. Larkin

WHAT’S THE WEIRDEST MOVIE YOU’VE HAD ON IN THE BACKGROUND DURING SEX?

Every Disney Channel movie ever. -A. Smith

I actually lost my virginity to a guy while we were watching “Dragon Ball-Z.” -M. Harper Prince’s “Purple Rain.”

-Q. Rey “Mulan,” we started when the “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” [song] started playing.

-S. Larkin HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT ANAL?

Nope.

-A Smith

I was with a guy who was really into it, so I got to experiment a lot with it; I bought a set of butt plugs.

-M. Harper No... yeah... no.

-Q. Rey

A Denny’s parking lot.

-H. Valentine One time it was in a parking garage.

-S. Larkin During Mardi Gras on the curbside in-between two cars.

-Q. Rey DO YOU HAVE A WEIRD KINK?

My biggest kink while we’re having sex [is] a guy just telling me he wants to be a dad. It’s the weirdest thing ever.

-A. Smith I love getting tied up [and] tying people up is super fun.

-M. Harper No, but my boyfriend just loves feathers.

-Q. Rey WHAT WAS YOUR MOST EMBARRASSING HOOK-UP?

Before we had sex, he said something like, “I hope my dick gets hard.” And for some odd reason I didn’t question it, I don’t know why. But I was like, “OK, whatever,” so we’re f--king, and all of a sudden he’s like, “I can’t feel my dick.” And I was like, “What?” And he’s like, “Yeah, I can’t feel my dick because I’m on morphine.”

-A. Smith I met this dude on Grindr, and I was really sad, and I went over to his house [and] drank all of his alcohol. And then he tried to hook up with me [and it] was not happening. I said, “Let’s just go to sleep.” I slept at his house and left in the morning, and nothing happened.

-H. Valentine I was on my period and I had a tampon in, and the guy was really wanting to do it, and the tampon never came out.

-Q. Rey I was at some concert, and me and this girl got talking and we ended up in the bathroom and she ended up throwing up on me.

-S. Larkin

THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE

FEBRUARY 12, 2018

MIRANDA MANIER ARTS & CULTURE REPORTER

*Name has been changed.

FOR RACHEL BISHOP*, a bisexual 25-year-old law clerk who lives in Lakeview, dating straight people is like playing Russian roulette. “It’s really hit and miss [when dating],� she said. “For the most part, I’ve had [people react to me being bisexual with] either indifference or an, ‘Oh, OK,’ reaction, which is much better than the alternative, which is, ‘Is that even a real sexuality?’�

For bisexual people like Bishop, who make up 5.5 percent of women and 2.9 percent of men in the U.S., according to a 2016 survey by the CDC, or pansexual people who are attracted to all gender identities, dating straight

people can be a world of misunderstanding, discomfort or even fear. Bishop said she immediately discloses her sexuality to people on dating apps to avoid the “gay panic� experience when she tells them in person. “Women, especially queer women, tend to be objects of violence when we’re perceived to be ‘tricking people,’� she said.

Danielle Schanmier, a pansexual 21-year-old dog walker who lives in Lincoln Square, finds relationships with other queer people more comfortable than with straight people. “When you’re with someone, if they share a lot of [your] identity politics and understand where you come from and how you feel, then you’re going to feel a lot more val-

idated,� Schanmier said.

Beyond basic validation and comfort, straight people can also go out of their way—intentionally or not—to make bisexual or pansexual people feel uncomfortable by fetishizing their sexuality.

For instance, when Bishop uses dating apps, she said straight men often ask her if she’s interested in threesomes when they discover she’s bisexual. When Schanmier had an open relationship with their straight ex-boyfriend, they said he would shame them for flirting with other men but would try to coax women Schanmier flirted with into threesomes.

Schanmier said they have also been fetishized by straight women. When at parties, they often felt identified as the lone “dyke� by straight women who might try to use them to sexually experiment.

The novelty of pan or bisexuality may be stimulating for straight people, but it may make them suspicious, according to Geoff Michaelson, a clinical sexologist. “In the old days, people were listening for the rustling of leaves,

footsteps, wondering if a tiger was about,� Michaelson said. “We still retain that scanning capacity, but other things are threatening to us. So something different for some people is attractive, and for some people is threatening. When someone says, ‘Oh, I’m pansexual,’ and the other person doesn’t really have any experience ... they may think, ‘That’s interesting,’ or they may think, ‘Maybe I should stay away from this.’�

Lee Bauch, a pansexual 22-yearold cafĂŠ manager who lives in Rogers Park, has been in a relationship with a straight man for more than three years. When Bauch and their partner transitioned from a monogamous relationship to an open one, they said their partner did not fetishize their sexuality, but he did have a conflicting response. He was lenient and more dismissive when Bauch pursued relationships with women, but whenever they pursued someone masculine, their partner became more threatened. “I don’t think I ever could date another straight person,â€? Bauch said. “[My partner] and I have

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come really far‌but I wouldn’t want to go through that again with another straight partner. I wouldn’t want to have to deal with explaining myself to another person; it would be easier on me mentally and emotionally to know that I could [share] certain experiences of being queer with someone and they could relate right off the bat.�

Bishop has found that her identity sometimes feels like it must be performed in certain environments. Straight people are often interested in a statistical breakdown of just how queer she is, Bishop said, as if her same-sex relationships are just hiatuses from her real life for when she’s “bored� or “experimenting.�

She also finds herself questioning if she should even bring her straight partner into queer spaces. “I feel like I have to prove my queerness if I’m there with a straight partner,� she said. “It’s the constant struggle of not being quite [LGBTQ] enough, while also not being straight enough.�

Âť JOCELYN MORENO/CHRONI CLE

‘Phases,’ fetishes and threesomes: Pansexual, bisexual people navigate relationships with straight people

mmanier@columbiachronicle.com

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THE SEX ISSUE THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE

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THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE

FEBRUARY 12, 2018

Shame, stigma, size: Realities of fat sex need to change JAY BERGHUIS COPY EDITOR

always had and are continuing to have sex, despite a culture that attempts to enforce their invisibility, according to Rebecca Jane Weinstein, author of “Fat Sex: The Naked Truth” and founder of PeopleOfSize.com.

Ninety-two percent of overweight women have a sexual history with men, compared to 87 percent of their thin counterparts, according to a September 2008 study published in Obstetrics & Gynecology. Even the researchers published that they were “surprised” by their findings.

According to Weinstein, society still perpetuates the idea that fat people are not sexual or desirable—despite the statistics.

“To put it bluntly, our society thinks that people of size are

FAT PEOPLE HAVE

unf--kable,” Weinstein said. “If somebody wants to have sex with somebody who’s fat, they must be desperate, or the fat person is desperate, or it should be done in secret, and it’s not something to brag about.”

Kitty Stryker, a freelance journalist and queer sex educator, has found that this lack of inclusiveness isn’t exclusive to heterosexuals. She said even communities that strive to be accepting can struggle with body positivity.

“The queer community on paper is…accepting of all different types of bodies,” Stryker said.

“In practice, they all expect that somebody else is the one who’s going to be open—not them.”

Despite a perception that fat sexuality is shameful, a large num-

ber of people have fat fetishes, an attraction to overweight or obese people exclusively for their weight.

However, Marie Southard Ospina, a freelance writer and editor who creates body-positive and sex-positive content for publications including Everyday Feminism, Bustle and Huffington Post, argues that using the word “fetish” to describe general attraction to fat people is something of a misnomer.

“I define a fetish as something that any one individual needs to feel sexually fulfilled,” Southard Ospina said. “We don’t call someone a fetishist because they’ve only had thin partners.”

A thin man may feel entitled to the attention of women of size because of his fetish and the cultural devaluing of fat women, Weinstein said. She added that a man may expect that a fat woman he desires will automat ical ly be appre» JOCELYN MORENO/CHRONICLE ciative and

attracted to him because of his fetishization of her.

Southard Ospina said she has some sympathy for people who feel ashamed of their attraction but added that her sympathy only goes so far because fat people face endless discrimination, and fetishization does not ease that. “[Thin people] are afraid of being judged, but the end result of that fear is further stigmatizing and oppressing fat bodies,” Southard Ospina said.

Though much progress has been made toward fat acceptance and body positivity, especially in the past decade, Stryker said discrimination and condescension still exist. Until a discrimination-free distant future, fat people should work on self-acceptance and empowerment, she added.

“Guilt is a wasted emotion, as is shame. Either you’re going to change [the] behavior, or you’re not,” Stryker said.

“Whatever you want to do with your own body is within your rights to do.”

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THE SEX ISSUE THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE

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THE TYPES OF PEOPLE YOU’LL MEET ON...

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MIRANDA MANIER ARTS & CULTURE REPORTER

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THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE

FEBRUARY 12, 2018

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THE SEX ISSUE THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE

GOING I N T H E B ED R O OM WOMEN AROUND THE globe use products such as tampons, pads, lube and condoms to protect and take charge of their bodies.

But are these products doing more harm than good.

Cotton is considered the world’s dirtiest crop because its heavy use of pesticides, according to the Rodale Institute, an organic farming research and outreach nonprofit.

Major condom brands like Magnum and Trojan use carcinogenic chemicals including nitrosamines. Nonoxynol-9, the active ingredient in most spermicides, can have side effects such as nausea, muscle pain and vaginal irritation, according to the University of Maryland Health Center.

This means each time a woman uses tampons, pads and condoms, they are placing pesticides and chemicals into their vaginas, which then get absorbed.

There are areas in the body where things are absorbed more easily, said Tasneem Bhatia, a physician specializing in integrative health and founder of CentreSpring MD, a holistic medical center. “Chemicals are lying directly next to the tissue, and it will absorb anything that it may touch,” she added.

“We’re putting products in places where we’re very vulnerable [and] our skin is permeable,” said Bhatia. “The mucous membranes [are] permeable and we’re not super conscious either individually or as an industry to what the impact of those chemicals are on us.”

Safer options without harmful chemicals or cotton are available. WUKA Wear, a period underwear company, uses a fabric derived from sustainable sources of beech trees. Lovability Inc. manufactures organic and vegan condoms, and Diva Cup produces a silicone menstrual cup.

Chemicals and pesticides used in conventional period and sex products can upset vaginal pH, said Tiffany Gaines, president and founder of Lovability. When the vaginal pH is thrown out of balance, women are more prone to yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis and other disorders, she noted.

It is estimated that women will use approximately 20 tampons per cycle, according to Diva Cup’s website. This is 20 times per month that many women insert harmful surfactants, adhesives and additives, such as known carcinogens and dioxins into their bodies.

Furthermore, regulation of tampons as medical devices is minimal. While the FDA recommends disclosure of additives and ingredients in pads and tampons to customers, it doesn’t require the industry to do so.

“If you look at a lot of the ingredients [in tampons], they are essentially endocrine disruptors and different types of toxins that are slowly being linked to different diseases—cancer, reproductive health and a lot of other issues that women have to deal with today,” Bhatia said.

If a woman still wants to use tampons, Bhatia recommends looking for organic products because those are typically free of harmful chemicals.

Another option is to use a menstrual period cup. Sophie Zizku, communications manager for menstrual cup company Diva International, said the Diva Cup—which is made from a dye-free version of health-care grade silicone—helps to maintain the natural environment of the vaginal canal and is ideal for every stage of the cycle. Diva Cup recommends sterilizing cups with hot water after each use.

Zizku encourages women to do their own research to find which safe, non-toxic products work for them.

“Learning more about your body and educating yourself about your anatomy can go a long way,” she added.

Gaines is a proponent of women taking control of their sexual health and providing condoms to their partners, which she said equalizes risk while being empowering. She thinks it’s up to both men and women to be responsible and take control of the products entering their bodies.

“We want women to feel accountable to each other and society at large so that they feel proud of being powerful in the bedroom, in the boardroom and beyond,” Gaines said.

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SAMANTHA CONRAD GRAPHIC DESIGNER

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THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE

FEBRUARY 12, 2018

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THE SEX ISSUE THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE

A different kind of daddy: Sugar relationships go beyond financial MACKENZIE CROSSON & SAVANNAH EADENS SENIOR PHOTO EDITOR & METRO REPORTER *Names have been changed

face increased tuition, high living costs and poorly paying jobs, but some make ends meet by becoming sugar babies—financially supported in exchange for relationships with men that may be sexual, romantic or platonic.

Weary of the extensive hours at a retail job with little payoff, Taylor Roberts*, a senior psychology student at Loyola University, looked to the popular website SeekingArrangement.com for additional financial support as a sugar baby.

After initially signing up as a joke, Roberts has had two different sugar daddy relationships in approximately five years— neither of which involved intiTODAY’S COLLEGE WOMEN

mate physical or sexual relations beyond kissing.

Melissa, a 26-year-old sugar baby from Ontario, Canada, said sugar arrangements are full-time jobs that require skills and upkeep.

“Being a sugar baby involves having a real relationship with your sugar daddy,” Melissa said in a Jan. 29 Facebook interview.

“Sometimes we have intimacy and sometimes all they want is companionship.”

Despite popular conceptions, not all sugar relationships are strictly transactional. In addition to financial benefits, both babies and daddies may gain companionship, emotional connection or, according to Roberts, who hopes to go to medical school, a mentorship with a respectedneurosurgeon.

Roberts said she was hesitant about getting involved with her second sugar daddy after her first

experience “went from really nice to really creepy and intense,” because she was being stalked near the end of the relationship.

“I feel like sometimes the baby is looked at as an object,” Roberts said. “Just because you can essentially afford my time doesn’t mean that you can just treat me how you wish.”

Sheena Hoffmann, a clinical psychologist and certified sex therapist in Chicago, said there are risks and stigmas in sugar dating.

“When there is any sort of age discrepancy, there is going to be an inherent power dynamic where the person in the older

age is going to have more power,” Hoffmann said.

Morgan Smith*, a 20-year-old former Columbia student, signed up for SeekingArrangement.com as a freshman in college. In fall 2016, she said she met an attractive 38-year-old man who took her to an apartment, where they then drank tequila and had sex.

At the time, she was struggling with stress from school and mental health, Smith said, adding that she thought a sugar daddy would be an escape from her prob-

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lems because other girls had talked about easily earning thousands of dollars. But Smith said the man refused to pay her, and she felt like she had been used. “[Sugar relationships] could be beneficial if women have more of an idea of how to be a sugar baby,” she said. “A lot of girls think they are strong enough, but a few months later might realize their actions.”

Visit ColumbiaChronicle.com for additional reporting.

» SAMANTHA CONRAD/CHRONICLE

THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE

FEBRUARY 12, 2018

PROBLEMATIC CHRONICLE STAFF IT’S COMMON TO have sexual fantasies you’re too embarrassed to disclose to anyone, much less a sexual partner, but what about the fantasies—or kinks—that are better left unsaid?

Nobody should have their sexual freedom and curiosity limited, but there are some fantasies that aren’t above the criticism of kink-shaming, which means disapproving of someone’s sexual fantasies or fetishes, on grounds other than prudishness.

These kinks have larger implications outside of the bedroom that can cause harm to those involved, so The Chronicle staff has compiled a list of what we consider the problematic kinks that can easily ruin the mood.

Somnophilia is basically being aroused by the thought or act of having sex while you or a partner is asleep. This is a completely fine kink to have—as long as both partners are consenting. A lot of porn, however, depicts this kink in a dangerous way by ignoring the communication and consent needed for healthy sex, and many people can misguidedly believe acting on this kink is OK without proper communication.

There is somnophiliac porn listed as “I have sex with unaware sleeping girl and she wakes up and loves it,” which can promote unsafe behavior, but it may also be a way for people to alleviate their urges for this kink without potentially hurting their partner.

Your sex life is not exempt from promoting oppression. “Yellow fever” or “jungle fever” are still manifestations of racism that should be acknowledged as such.

Race-based kinks use the same stereotypes that greatly hinder people’s success in employment or education and demonizes them in the criminal justice system.

The stereotypes behind these kinks perpetuate the dehumanization of people of color, no matter how harmless you think they are.

Fetishization of LGBTQ couples:

The outright sexualization of gay and lesbian couples by straight people is offensive and predatory.

LGBTQ couples already fight to prove their love isn’t something for the public to gawk at, and this kink continues to paint those couples as abnormal.

Some may think straight people who get off on same-gender porn are helping the cause for equality for LGBTQ couples because they’re not viewing same-gender sex as gross, but there is a big problem with warping same-gender relationships into a spectacle for another’s pleasure.

Erotic asphyxiation:

Some find the idea of choking a partner—or being choked— arousing, but there’s some logistical problems that must be addressed. Most safe sex education can barely cover the proper use of contraceptives, let alone adventurous kinks.

It’s dangerous to promote kinks like choking without ensuring everyone knows the proper steps to take. Otherwise, people can get hurt. If you and your sexual part-

ner are interested in experimenting with new kinks, there must be a conversation on boundaries, safe words or signals and thorough research on the right way to choke someone for pleasure.

Watersports and scat play:

It is no surprise that bodily fluids will be involved in sex, but fetishes related to urine or feces cross the line from hot to health hazard. Peeing on or being peed on for sexual pleasure, known colloquially as watersports, can run the risk of infection.

Fecal fetishes run the gamut for potential health risks and can lead to getting sick from bacteria such as E.coli or salmonella. Sex can be adventurous—but it should also be safe.

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KINKS

Somnophilia:

Race-based kinks:

chronicle@colum.edu

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FEBRUARY 12, 2018

Tale of two twirlin’ girls technique behind the dance, but there was a good balance of warm up and beginner work, and by the end of the lesson, my feet were off the ground.

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The last 15 minutes of the class

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An important thing to note before you go: Wear short shorts to this class because in pole dancing exposed thighs are important. While this hurts momentarily, the payoff of the beautiful poses you can strike from halfway up a pole is truly amazing. If you like fitness, music and having fun, then you should take a pole dancing class.

10 minutes I was expected to do KENDRAH VILLIESSE ONLINE CONTENT PRODUCER that was absolutely terrifying.

When you are circling around the pole, you don’t notice whether you look awkward. It doesn’t matter how tall or skinny you are because this class is a safe space for everyone. The focus is to be comfortable and get the proper technique.

Overall, the class felt like a dance workout. It takes a lot of upper body strength to be able

to hold yourself up in the air on the pole. Proper technique is also needed to make sure you don’t injure yourself as well as to make the dancing entertaining and exciting.

This was a truly eye-opening experience. After taking this class, I feel more confident in my body and I have higher self-esteem.

The Brass Ring, an unmarked studio where men and women wrapped their bodies around poles in the middle of the room. Without touching their feet on the ground, they twisted their arms and legs, circling their bodies around the poles. Knowing in I WALKED INTO

As someone who was the “awkward” dancer on the high school dance team, I could only imagine how uncomfortable I would look twirling around a pole. But I was wrong. The minute I grabbed the pole, all insecurities, doubts and negativity drifted away. It was empowering.

kvilliesse@columbiachronicle.com

TWO YEARS AGO, I had the opportunity to take a pole dancing class as part of a school project and I loved it. I don’t know why it took so long for me to get back into it, but I’m glad I did.

I took my first class at The Brass Ring, 2539 W. North Ave., in 2015 and because I had such a great experience, I decided to go back for this re-

lcarlton@columbiachronicle.com

view. Before you jump in and start spinning, you have to take a “Pole Basics” class. At The Brass Ring, you must to take this class a minimum of three times before participating in the level one course.

Since I had already taken a class, I knew that upper body strength was important, so I worked out during the weeks leading up to this class, which ended up making the moves easier for me.

This was a basics class so you may not think you’d get into the

LAUREN CARLTON COPY CHIEF

» ZACK JACKSON/CHRONICLE

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THE SEX ISSUE THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE

Live in the city You

LOVE Love housing fair

On-Campus & Off-Campus

Summer 2018, fall 2018, spring 2019

February 27, 11am–4pm stage two, 618 S. Michigan Ave. free food · special pricing · giveaways

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THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE

FEBRUARY 12, 2018

What if Harry Styles, Spider-Man and Sailor Moon walked into a bar?

The Chronicle explores the world of explicit fanfiction Man walk into a bar. They both lock eyes from across the room with Sailor Moon, who gives the men a wink and suggests a rendezvous in the bathroom with a quick nod of her head. They follow eagerly as other bar patrons are none the wiser to what is going down just a few feet away.

With millions of fanfictions posted on free sites such

ArchiveOfOurOwn.org, FanFiction.net, Wattpad.com, Tumblr.com and numerous fandom-specific sites, the possibilities are endless. Did your favorite couple in a show breakup? In fanfiction, they’re back together.

Do you ship two celebrities? Look no further. Are you into a specific kink and can’t find porn that works for you? Great news for you: Fanfiction is your friend.

For those who want to find some sex-filled stories starring your favorite characters or celebrities, we’re here for you. Here’s a guide to the smuttiest, kink-filled fiction out there and more vanilla porn for any fandom.

Because FanFiction.net outlawed writing anything above a mature rating—which would include explicit or NC-17—more than a decade ago, it’s not the best

place to go for smut, and Wattpad and Tumblr don’t have a consistent tagging and rating system, so we won’t be addressing those much in our guide.

AO3 has the best search system and fanfiction variety, so we will focus on finding fics through that site.

So sit back, learn and then let us know what awesome, smut-filled stories you find. chronicle@colum.edu

HARRY STYLES AND Spider- as

Guide to finding fanfiction What’s your fandom?

stories? Narrowing down the search with this field can help This is the most basic field to sift through all the fics with search for a fic; though, if you are pairings that don’t interest you. looking for a particular kink and don’t really care who the charac- How popular/old of a ters are, you can skip this. AO3 fanfiction do you want? hosts fics from more than 27,000 fandoms, so, odds are you can find If you’re looking for a fanfiction your favorite one. written in 2005, AO3 won’t be the place to look since it was What’s your pairing? fully launched in 2009, so with that search, you’d have better After you choose your fandom, luck on FanFiction.net, which this is the most important question went live in 1998. Or, if you’re you’ll have to ask yourself. You checking back into a fandom may like reading “Harry Potter” and are looking for stories writfanfiction, but do you want to read ten within the last six months, about Harry and Draco or are you you can do that, too. Also, are looking for Hermione and Snape you looking for the most popu-

Why should you read fanfiction?

Alternate Universe (AU): The story has

taken characters of the fandom and placed them in completely new lives and situations.

AO3: Shorthand for

ArchiveOfOurOwn.com

Canon: The story follows the timeline and events of the universe up until the setting of the fanfiction.

Fic: Shorthand for fanfiction.

Het/Slash: Short-

DESIGN BY ZO

lar fanfictions starring your pairing or do you want to show some love to the less recognized authors?

Sorting by kudos is the best way to find all those stories.

Other things to consider: Do you want an AU? Are you into canon? Are you trying to get risqué or are you more into vanilla smut?

Did you ever wonder what your favorite male character would be like if he was pregnant? Are you interested in diving into the complicated world of Alpha, Beta, Omega Dynamics? All of these things— and so, so much more—can be found with AO3’s tagging system.

“There are some fics that are more well-written than novels I’ve read, and this fiction subgenre deserves more respect and attention.” -ZE “How can you pass up a free story based on a real or fictional person? It may be weird to some people, but reading fic is fun and basically harmless.” - BPS

Fanfictio

Visit Fanlore.org for more terms

ZOË EITEL

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

THE SEX ISSUE THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE

s used in fanfiction and fandoms. hand for whether a story focuses on a heterosexual (het) couple or a male/ male or female/female (slash) couple. Other options include polyamorous relationships and gender-swapped couples in which canonically male characters are written as cisgender females, and vice versa.

Kudos: The liking or favoriting system on AO3.

Smut: A widely used term that means the fanfiction has explicit content/sex.

BROOKE PAWLING STENNETT

TITLE

Recommendations

on terms:

ZOË EITEL

OË HAWORTH

“A Little Bit Closer” by marswithghosts

FANDOM/SHIP

“Check Please”—Eric Bittle/Jack Zimmerman

“Shameless”—Ian Gallagher/Mickey Milkovich

WORD COUNT/RATING 309.8k/Explicit DESCRIPTION

This is an AU and officially the longest fic I’ve ever read. It’s so good that I’ve read it at least three times. Ian is a stripper who gets involved with a middle-aged mobster, and Mickey was taken in by the mobster when he was a kid and grew up to work directly under him in the Chicago Outfit. Ian and Mickey start a relationship behind the mobster’s back, which, as you can assume, starts a plethora of problems. Every scene has a purpose that all ties up in the end.

TITLE

“Soft Hands, Fast Feet, Can’t Lose” by dolce_piccante

FANDOM/SHIP

WORD COUNT/RATING 107.9k/Explicit DESCRIPTION

This webcomic started a few years ago on Tumblr and quickly gained its own fandom. While the relationship itself—Eric Bittle and Jack Zimmerman—is canon, this particular fic is an AU where Eric is a librarian living in a small apartment when he falls in love with hockey legend Jack. Jack is canonically depressed, and this story deals with how that fits into their relationship—both in the bedroom and out—beautifully. The angst is very light, usually I need to cry at least twice in fics these long to feel satisfied, but it surprisingly balances incredibly well.

Although I’m usually not into side original characters, the world-building is so good that the original characters became some of my favorites.

TITLE

FANDOM/SHIP

“Ninety One Whiskey” by komodobits

WORD COUNT/RATING 112.8k/Mature

“Supernatural”—Castiel/Dean Winchester

One Direction—Louis Tomlinson/Harry Styles

Another long AU, Louis and Harry go to the same college in Texas where Harry is the biggest football star around. Too bad Louis can’t stand football players. Harry’s fraternity brother makes a bet that Harry can’t get Louis to sleep—or fall in love—with him, to which Harry says, “challenge accepted.”

As the story continues and as the boys get closer, you forget that this was originally all for a bet—and so does Harry— until you’re abruptly reminded.

TITLE

“Regardless of warnings the future doesn’t scare me at all”

by Chash

FANDOM/SHIP

“The 100”—Clarke Griffin/Bellamy Blake

WORD COUNT/RATING 20.8k/Explicit

DESCRIPTION

BROOKE PAWLING STENNETT

TITLE

“The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Ian Gallagher” by ShamelessQuestions

DESCRIPTION

DIGITAL MANAGING EDITOR

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With more than 400 “The 100” fics to her name, you would think Chash would run out of ideas, but you can always count on her for a well-written plot. In this one, Clarke is dealing with an unplanned pregnancy and decides to move to her father’s hometown where she meets Octavia and ends up moving in with her and her brother, Bellamy. The Blake siblings help Clarke through her pregnancy while Bellamy and Clarke get closer and closer.

FANDOM/SHIP

WORD COUNT/RATING 401.1k/Explicit DESCRIPTION

Listen, I’m not even a fan of “Supernatural” as a show, but this fic is amazing. I found it on a Tumblr fic rec list one dreary, rainy afternoon with nothing but time for once in my life. The fic, which reads more like a long novel, follows 1st Lt. Castiel Novak and Sgt. Dean Winchester during the spring of 1944 in Nazi-occupied France. It’s the slowest burn you’ll ever read, but the angst and love story is so worth the more than 200,000 words it takes to get the payoff. Also, the author gives you the opportunity to experience a sad ending or a semi-happy ending with a convenient “choose-your-own ending.” To no surprise, I chose the happy one.

TITLE

“Paint” by minverse

FANDOM/SHIP

Bangtan Boys/BTS—Kim Taehyung | V/Park Jimin

WORD COUNT/RATING 74.8K/Explicit DESCRIPTION

I’m still fairly new to the BTS fandom, and I told myself I wouldn’t dive into this particular rabbit hole and yet, here I am. I’ve slowly let go of fanfiction over the years, but coming into a new fandom full force has inspired my love of reading it again. This fic centers on Jimin as a beautiful drag queen—the fact that this isn’t canon is a horrible thing—and Taehyung questioning his sexuality after meeting him. But it’s not as cheesy and cliche as it sounds whatsoever. Not only is this a coffee shop and a loving and supportive queer community AU hybrid, but it also portrays healthy relationships and life lessons you won’t ever forget. Trust me, this fic is fairly short in fanfiction terms, but so much support, diversity and hilarious moments are there for your enjoyment.

THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE FEBRUARY 12, 2018

Having a sex life with an STD *Names have been changed

After interviewing two individuals who are currently living with an STD and an expert on sexual health, The Chronicle compiled some guidance about what to do if you receive a positive diagnosis.

DURING HER FIRST week of college, Emily Smith* said she had unprotected sex and started to feel symptoms of an STD. After waiting a week to go to the doctor, Smith said she was diagnosed with the herpes virus.

“I felt really fed up with myself because I had put myself in this situation,” Smith said. “I just wanted to turn back time and change all of that.”

One in two sexually active people will contract an STD by the age of 25, and about one in six people from the ages of 14–49 has genital herpes in the U.S., according to the American Sexual Health Association.

The mental strain of living with an STD was the greatest hardship for Robert Brown*, a local college student, when he was diagnosed with Herpes Simplex 1. Brown said others who have recently been diagnosed with an STD should know that they are not alone, and more people have an STD than many realize.

“I had a really hard time accepting that I was no longer a quote unquote ‘healthy person’ [and] that I had this thing that was going to live with me for the rest of my life, and that was scary at first,” Smith said. “I found a lot of comfort knowing there’s a

KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT ALONE

» INFO COURTESY AMERICAN HEALTH ASSOCIATION » SAMANTHA CONRAD/CHRONICLE

SAMANTHA CONRAD & TESSA BRUBAKER GRAPHIC DESIGNER & CAMPUS REPORTER

lot of other people that are dealing with the same issues and

they’re going on to live happy and healthy lives.”

J. Dennis Fortenberry, a Pediatrics professor at Indiana University School of Medicine who is on the board of directors for the American Sexual Health Association, said the first step after an individual is diagnosed with herpes is understanding that disease is common, it is treatable and that there are numerous support groups for others like them.

Fortenberry added that it is also important for people to realize herpes outbreaks become less severe over time.

“A lot of people get very upset when they learn they have herpes,” Fortenberry said. “They feel like they’re contaminated, like they’ll never be able to have sex again.”

GET EDUCATED

Smith said when she was diagnosed, she had to conduct her own research to truly understand what she was living with so she could counteract the societal misconceptions about STDs.

“It’s really not as bad as ple would think living it,” Brown said. “I’ve had three outbreaks since contracted it.”

peowith only I’ve

INFORM YOUR PARTNER & EXPLORE NEW OPTIONS

Deciding when and how to inform one’s partner about an STD is a matter of personal choice, according to Smith.

Brown said he usually tells his partners about his STD once sex becomes something they are discussing and that it is important to understand their partner’s position regarding the matter.

“Even though you are protected, it’s not 100 percent guaranteed that you’re not going to contract it, but it greatly increases the chances you’re not going to.”

“You need to give them some time to think about it because if they’re willing to commit to you and willing to engage with you then they need to be aware of that,” Brown said. chronicle@colum.edu

18

THE SEX ISSUE THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE

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THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE

FEBRUARY 12, 2018

Y’all really wanna bang Pennywise?

ERIN DICKSON & KENDRAH VILLIESSE STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER & ONLINE CONTENT PRODUCER WHILE SCROLLING THROUGH

Smith-Walters also expressed her lust for The Joker, played by the late Heath Ledger in “The Dark Knight” and Jared Leto in “Suicide Squad.”

“He is not monstrous, but he is still that villain that is really scary [and] psychotic,” Smith-Walters said. “Something about it is just attractive; it is like Bonnie and Clyde syndrome. You fancy something that is dangerous.”

Most horror movies are strategically designed and filmed to explore taboo subjects that lure audiences into different stimulations, according to Brendan Riley, an associate professor in the English and Creative Writing Department.

“Hollywood likes to play with that temptation of the seductive horror figure,” Riley said. “There are a number of films where there’s overlap between the murderous and the attractive.”

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As an avid fanfiction reader, Smith-Walters said it was intriguing that she was so invested in the dangerous but exciting stories about Pennywise that she started to imagine herself in the stories with the creepy and monstrous characters.

“The idea of a clown being dangerous and embodying everything you’re scared of is a turn on,” Smith-Walters said. » JOCELYN MORENO/CHRONICLE

Tumblr, Maisie Smith-Walters, a social media journalist for BBC, stumbled upon photos of Pennywise, the clown from the 2017 remake of the horror film “IT.” The comments on the photos, including, “The best carnival ride is riding Pennywise’s d--k,” made her realize she was not alone in finding the clown and his twisted smile attractive.

Smith-Walters said she views creepy villains as more than just horrific figures. She and hundreds of others have recently taken their fantasies to social media where they could express their sexual desires together.

“This is not a new phenomenon, but with the internet it is more prominent because [of] fanfiction [and] memes that is why it has become more obvious,” Smith-Walters said.

Ewelina Beardmore, a psychotherapist and clinical manager at Innervoice Psychotherapy and Consultation, said after seeing an explicit movie, the body undergoes an experience. The brain translates the physical reaction into an emotion, such as fear or sexual arousal.

“Our brain’s going to associate emotions with the physiological reactions,” Beardmore said.

“Based on the context that we’re in, we’re going to label the emotion a certain way.”

Cultural backgrounds and what a person assigns as sexual are both going to elicit a different reaction in each individual. Clowns can either be seen as disgusting monsters or funny entertainers, Beardmore said.

Seeing a horror movie and being sexually aroused both get a person’s blood rushing, and emotions between the two different feelings could be misinterpreted, Smith-Walters said.

Smith-Walters added that the attraction to a horror movie character can be exciting but can be dangerous when the line between fiction and reality blurs.

“Harmless fun on the internet, saying you want to have sex with a clown, is fine,” Smith-Walters said. “But if you are writing letters to someone who is incarcerated for murdering a whole family, then it is an issue.”

chronicle@colum.edu

20

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THE SEX ISSUE THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE

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THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE

FEBRUARY 12, 2018

A conversation about male feminists

Put down a dark towel: It’s time to destigmatize period sex

TYRA BOSNIC & ERIC ELDRIDGE OPINIONS EDITOR & WEBMASTER

JAY BERGHUIS COPY EDITOR

Eric Eldridge: Am I a bad feminist?

Tyra Bosnic: I don’t know. How do you view women?

EE: Like humans?

TB: So not like defenseless angels who need you to save them from sexism?

EE: I wouldn’t say “saving,” but wouldn’t using my excess agency as a man to contribute to the cause just be doing my part? Aren’t I best equipped to make non-feminist or anti-feminist men see reason?

TB: It’s an honorable intention, but the execution determines if you’re an ally rather than perpetuating the same harmful narrative under the guise of feminism. When advocating for oppressed groups, it’s important to be cognizant that you benefit from some of the same oppressive systems relished by anti-feminist men.

EE: So how can I empower folks around me without making them feel like they’re in my debt? Also, how can I self-identify as a feminist on Twitter or Tinder without devoting a nuanced paragraph to it or being performative?

TB: It comes down to subtlety. If you have to constantly remind people that you’re a feminist, the statement loses its meaning. Small actions that communicate your true intentions show women around you they can trust you. If a friend of yours is angry because another guy catcalled her, for example, you have the ability to validate her anger by telling her that’s not OK and offering any help that may make her feel safer.

EE: Okay, so I don’t want to be unambiguous about offering support when a friend is catcalled, and it would be taking it too far to insist that I or another dude walk her home or something? Restricting someone’s agency like that would defeat the purpose.

TB: Exactly, and because you mentioned Tinder, we should also address some of the “male feminists” in the dating scene. There is nothing wrong with a privileged person dating members of a marginalized group, but using that relationship status to gain feminist brownie points or broadcast to the world how progressive you are is never good.

chronicle@colum.edu

EE: It’s important to open yourself up to criticism. I’m sure the last thing women want is a guy mansplaining feminism to them.

» JOCELYN MORENO/CHRONICLE

EE: This takes it back to “compensating” for the imbalanced state of things.

It’s almost selfish not to promote and normalize your “unconventional” love.

That can be risky depending on who and where you are, though. It can be a red flag if someone repeatedly exaggerates their position. Considering how many outspokenly anti-gay politicians are caught with a male escort, it’s not unreasonable to question whether a man aggressively broadcasting feminist rhetoric has ulterior motives. That said, I hope it’s more likely they’re just lacking self-awareness, not realizing that they’re potentially hurting their own cause by beating people over the head with their good intentions.

TB: Men are so far removed from gender-based oppression that they don’t always see the harm in their actions and rarely have to face the consequences of them.

survey published Sept.

23, 2016, by the Flex Company, which creates menstrual cups that can be used during sex, of 500 men and women surveyed, nearly half described period sex as “gross” or “kinda gross.”

Women were two times more likely than men to refuse sex on their period, and 45 percent reported being rejected by a sexual partner for desiring period sex.

Despite these statistics, many women reported to feminist publication Jezebel that they were more aroused during their period, some even saying that period sex was some of the best of their lives.

So, if women desire sex during their period, why is it that so many of us are scared to initiate it or downright refuse it when offered?

The answer, at least for heterosexuals, seems to be internalized misogyny.

Straight women are culturally trained to prioritize the pleasure of their boyfriend or husband over their own. Because periods are something “foreign” to cisgender men, they are often viewed as gross and messy when the reality may be different.

In fact, a 2011 study published by Feminism & Psychology reported that women refused period sex not because of their own discomfort, but out of fear of partner rejection and a desire to avoid emotional discomfort from that rejection.

A male partner may never say outright that he finds the idea of period sex repulsive, but taking a look at our male-centered culture reveals our general shame and stigma around menstruation. It starts at a young age, when boys and girls are separated in schools to learn about supposedly gender-exclusive human biology that everyone should know.

This leads to a culture of misconceptions about menstruation, with some men even believing that women can control the flow of their periods or that all women get their periods at the same time.

If men are not even getting a basic education on menstruation, and we insist on keeping periods the proverbial dirty little secret of women, then it’s not surprising men are likely to picture waterfalls of blood and the equivalent of a murder scene on their post-coital cotton sheets when the reality is much more tame and, often, much more enjoyable.

If women are taught to prioritize these uneducated and biased beliefs

ACCORDING TO A

over self-advocacy and experience, they become complicit in shaming their own natural functions and desires.

This is a public service announcement for men, women and nonbinary people who are interested in exploring some consensual menstrual time between the sheets: Lay down a dark towel, put on a condom to keep things a little cleaner and protected, and learn to use your washing machine and shower. I promise it won’t be any more gross or different than the sex you have the rest of the month, just a little more visible.

jberghuis@columbiachronicle.com

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THE SEX ISSUE THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE

Sexual harassment in the work place plagues college women TESSA BRUBAKER & SAVANNAH EADENS CAMPUS REPORTER & METRO REPORTER

I FEEL MY cheeks flushing and my heart racing. I tell him to f--k off, but he thinks I’m joking. I feel violated and ashamed, but I brush it off, pretend it didn’t happen and keep cleaning tables.

I was flirting with him, so it’s probably my fault. So why do I want to puke? I didn’t give him permission to grab my ass like that as I bent over the booth to fill the napkins.

He grabbed me … underneath.

I felt his hand in a place I should never feel unless I’ve consented, especially not in public, at my job, where I am supposed to be safe. A rush of voices in my head drown out my throbbing heartbeat, saying that, as a woman, my actions have consequences; it’s inevitable that men will treat

me this way and there is nothing I can do about it. My parents, teachers and coworkers always say “boys will be boys.” I don’t want to cause any problems, so I finish the shift and clock out.

I was working at a diner in my hometown, a classic place where nothing ever changes. It’s stuck in a time warp in which men and boys are never held accountable for their lewd comments, the anxiety they create and the vulnerability they instill. Coworkers and customers sexualized me before I even understood what they were doing or knew how to respond.

Workplace sexual harassment is defined as unwanted sexual advances, requesting sexual favors or any verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature toward

an applicant or employee. It can include anything from inappropriate jokes to unwanted touches.

Knowing the definition of sexual harassment is important in order to recognize when it happens.

It’s not just the coworker that grabbed my ass—it’s the customers who make me feel like I can’t turn my back to them without hearing whispers about my body, the older men making comments like, “I’m sure you’re having fun with boys this weekend,” and the manager who laughs when I report the problem. Young women face inappropriate and dangerous behavior while working part-time jobs they need in order to afford expenses like rent and tuition.

Based on data reported by BuzzFeed News, people who work in restaurants experience a higher rate of sexual harassment

I’m not your eye candy or a coworker who wants to listen to your sexual frustrations. It is infinitely more discouraging to realize this isn’t just happening in crappy, part-time jobs. Sexual harassment is everywhere. Women need to be able to speak out against sexual harassment without fear of losing tip money or losing their job.

It is important that women continue to demand to be treated the way we deserve. If someone in your workplace refers to you sexually or makes a joke you don’t appreciate, respond with, “I don’t appreciate being spoken to that way.” If you witness sexual harassment, speak up.

If you are a victim of sexual harassment, it’s not your fault. It’s the product of our toxic and misogynistic culture that needs to change. But until that happens, remember no job is worth the harassment— there’s always another where you can feel respected and safe. Let’s be an advocate for ourselves and other women.

Want to get involved? Sign up for our annual Race for CAASE on 7/23!

Email ebryan@caase.org for more info.

We believe in a community free from sexual exploitation.

CAASE addresses the culture, institutions, and individuals that perpetrate, profit from, or support sexual exploitation. Our work includes prevention, policy reform, community engagement, and free legal services to anyone who is a survivor of sexual assault (or exploited in prostitution).

To learn more, visit www.caase.org.

307 N. Michigan | Suite 1818 | Chicago, IL 60601 | T: 773-244-2230

chronicle@colum.edu

‘I’m not your eye candy’:

than any other industry. More than 170,000 sexual assault claims were filed to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission between 1995 and 2016. Out of the claims filed, 83 percent were by women. This doesn’t account for the many cases that went unreported.

Restaurant employees often rely on tips to earn money, so if a paying customer sexually harasses a worker, the employees and managers may be less inclined to speak out against it.

Women in the service industry are required to be pleasant and personable, which men often interpret as flirting. Waitresses are often scared of losing tip money, so not only are they experiencing sexual harassment from coworkers, but also from customers.

When women report harassment to management, most of the time, nothing is done to put a stop to it. Anytime I would confront a man about his behavior, I went from being the sweet, young girl to the “moody bitch.” I could never please everyone.

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THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE

FEBRUARY 12, 2018 IN >>

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SAVANNAH EADENS METRO REPORTER

IT HAS BEEN 465

days since I last had sex. I haven’t been counting, but sometimes it feels like everyone else has. It’s almost as if I go any longer with this unintentional abstinence I will reclaim my virginity. A born-again virgin, if you will. It actually has a nice ring to it.

When I tell people I haven’t been intimate with someone for the entirety of my college career, they are often shocked. There seems to be an underlying stigma against not having sex in college.

While our parents’ generation likes to think college is a coitus fest, the reality is just the opposite.

Studies have shown that young men and women assume that sex is happening all around them and all the time. In the 2008 book “Guyland: The perilous world where boys become men,” sociologist Michael Kimmel asked male students in colleges across the country what percentage of their classmates they thought had sex every weekend. The average response was about 80 percent, but the actual figure is between 5 and 10 percent.

In another study, New York Magazine partnered with SurveyMonkey to poll 700 college students in their junior and senior years, most of whom also assumed their peers are banging like rabbits. Sixty-four percent of juniors and seniors said they

tionships and meeting people.

Sometimes, students are simply too busy getting their degree to get it on.

When I’ve become sexually frustrated recently, I ask myself: “Am I upset I’m not having sex because I feel I’m missing out on the experience, or because society tells me I’m missing out?”

The answer is that I’m perfectly fine with or without sex in my life.

In fact, many people are.

Sex isn’t something mystical or transcendent, and it may be normal to feel like we’re missing out on prime time to experiment with our bodies and others. But we’re young, and there will be plenty of opportunities in the future.

Don’t force something that just isn’t happening because everyone thinks it should be. The very

49% of men say they aren’t sexually active

41% of women say they aren’t sexually active

basis of sexual freedom is that we have the option to participate or not. Life goes on.

seadens@columbiachronicle.com

that is your choice

believed they had far less active sex lives than their friends did, but 41 percent of women and 49 percent of men said they were not sexually active.

These studies show that we align our behaviors with whatever ideal is current in our subculture.

Right now, TV movies and social media tell us that everyone is getting it on, Rachel Hills, author of “The Sex Myth,” said in a 2015 article in The Cut, a publication within New York Magazine.

This culture breeds anxiety in people like me who are afraid there is something wrong with our lack of time in the sack.

Not everyone in college is having a major sexual awakening, whether they are choosing to abstain or not. Sometimes the opportunities just don’t present themselves for students to have sex. Insecurities can also keep students from intimate rela-

THE SEX ISSUE THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE

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THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE

FEBRUARY 12, 2018

Pills, patches, shots! Oh my!

New male contraceptives may not be available anytime soon BLAISE MESA METRO REPORTER DESPITE THE POPULARITY of con-

doms, new birth control products for males could be on the market, but not anytime soon, according to Logan Nickels, director of operations and programing at Male Contraceptive Initiative, a male contraceptive research and advocacy group.

While no new forms of male contraceptives are close to being introduced, patches, pills and injections are in development and have shown promising results. In 2011, 45 percent of all pregnancies were unplanned, and among people aged 15–19, three out of four pregnancies were unplanned, according to a March 2016 report from the National Center for Biotechnology Information.

“Men don’t have a low-maintenance, long-acting contraceptive that

allows [them] to take a long-term view of fertility and family planning,” Nickels said. “[Newer contraceptive options] fit the needs of more users than the current options give.”

During a test of an injectable male contraceptive, only four pregnancies were recorded from 266 male participants in the study—a 96 percent success rate, according to an October 2016 study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

Other forms such as a pill or reversible vas-occlusion have been shown to reduce unplanned pregnancies and can contribute to avoiding unintended pregnancies in the future, according to a January report co-authored by the Male Contraceptive Initiative.

“Men are looking for [a] long term, reversible [method] that doesn’t have to have the physical barrier a condom has,” Nickels said.

Of the major birth control options men have that allow them to remain sexually active—vasectomy or condoms—the condom is the only option that doesn’t require a surgical procedure, making it more accessible to college students.

Even though the condom boasts an efficacy rating of 96 percent when used properly, misuse of condoms brings the

» ZACK JACKSON/CHRONICLE

efficacy rate down to 87 percent, according to Nickels.

Men consider condoms an imperfect solution, Nickels said. Even though condoms are popular, there is still a demand for other contraceptive options, such as a pill, which 49.3 percent of the 9000 men surveyed said they would be open to taking, according to the January report.

Despite success of some contraceptive methods, and nearly half of the men showing interest in new forms, drugs that were put through trials have had setbacks that shut down the trials early.

A trial of an injectable contraceptive resulted in an estimated 910 adverse effects related to the method, such as muscle pain at the injection site and acne. Other more severe side effects included depression, one case of an irregular heartbeat when

taken off the medication and intentional overdose of acetaminophen, according to October 2016 press release on the report.

However, the trial’s abrupt end was met with backlash because women face similar side effects from contraceptives with equivalent forms of birth control.

The risks and side effects of these new methods will be a factor in whether they’ll be used, said Austin Rees, a sophomore cinema and television arts major.

“Obviously birth control affects people. Women on birth control go through all the same issue [with contraceptives],” Rees said.

Even with new forms of male birth control in development, plenty of rigorous trials are needed before they can be put on the market, according to Nickels.

“There’s a lot of work to be done, [but] there are a number of early candidates for male birth control that show a lot of potential,” Nickels said. “There is a lot of excitement in the field.”

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when porn preferences and sexuality don’t align SAVANNAH EADENS METRO REPORTER

» PHOTO ILLUSTRATION ZACK JACKSON/CHRONICLE

MICKI HARRIS STARTED watching gay porn when she was 13 years old. Harris, a junior photography major, said something about

the sound of men having sex intrigued her.

“When I am engaging in heterosexual sex, my indication that it is going well—at least on my part—is hearing the response of a man and hearing that in porn is kind of important to me and turns

» GETTY IMAGES

me on more,” Harris said.

Harris now identifies as pansexual and often watches different kinds of porn, including male-onmale, depending on her mood, she said. She is not the only woman who enjoys pornography that does not match her own sexuality or society’s norms.

Women enjoy watching other women have sex, according to data from PornHub, a free porn site. The site’s highest trending search was “Porn for Women,” and “lesbian” was the number one searched term worldwide in 2017.

In 2014, BuzzFeed teamed up with PornHub to break the myth that women don’t watch porn and found that women were 132 percent more likely to search for lesbian porn than men. However, the data did not include the specific sexualities of the women searching for lesbian porn.

Melissa Novak, a licensed clinical social worker and certified sex therapist in Chicago, explained that sexual fantasies are not a reflection of sexual preferences, especially with porn. There are

straight women who watch lesbian porn, trauma survivors who enjoy aggressive or degrading porn fantasies and an infinite number of variations, Novak said.

“For women, it could also be that they really enjoy oral sex... so it doesn’t mean a woman necessarily wants to go down on another woman. It could just mean that she likes the style of the way it’s shot, [the] scenario and engagement,” Novak said. “But it’s going to be determined by that person, and there’s a lot of reasons why you might like something [in porn] and you may never want to do it in your actual life.”

Novak cited studies showing men typically ejaculate harder when they are watching other men ejaculate, so heterosexual men’s fantasies often include watching “a gang-bang type or multiple-male scenario.”

Pleasure gained from porn often comes from the video or image’s context, especially for women.

Mental and physiological arousal are not the same. Cisgender men have a significantly higher concur-

rence with their arousal pattern, so when they think they’re aroused, their bodies typically mirror that, Novak said. This is not always the case for women.

Confusion may result when porn watchers have identified as a particular sexuality and find satisfaction in something that doesn’t align. Everyone has different reasons for engaging in fantasies.

Bree Bracey, a senior theatre major and president of Columbia College Chicago Feminists, also watched male-on-male porn as a teenager.

“Gay male porn feels like it is directly about the carnal desire of sex, and it’s nice if you are very sexual and [want] the sex and not the strings attached,” Bracey said. “Queer women sex feels like it is more about the intimacy and both parties receiving pleasure. There is comfort and stimulation because when you watch straight porn, it is frustrating to see male pleasure getting a lot of attention and the woman just feels like a set piece.”

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seadens@columbiachronicle.com

An X-rated freedom:

THE SEX ISSUE THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE

28

THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE

FEBRUARY 12, 2018

YOU WANT TO PUT THAT WHERE? orange, a grapefruit and a lemon in her kitchen, intimacy expert Denise Walker, known by fans as Auntie Angel, wanted a novel way to pleasure her boyfriend in the bedroom. With trial and error, the grapefruit technique was created.

Cut the ends off the grapefruit and leave a hole in the center through which the penis is inserted. The person on the other end then performs oral sex.

Using food during sex not only spices things up, but it allows your partner to have a snack while giving you pleasure, Walker said.

With the popularity of the grapefruit technique, Walker started Angel’s Erotic Solutions, which features her seminars for learning oral techniques.

“Sex is meant to be fun, and sometimes we take the fun out of it because it becomes so routine,” Walker said. “The chase of being with someone is thrilling, so the sex is thrilling. Once you get into a long-term relationship, the sex becomes predictable.”

There are various kinds of foods that can be used during sex, but it is important to use foods you or your partner are not allergic to.

Dessert foods are the most common because most people enjoy sweet tasting foods, according to Reverend DiAnna Ritola, an interfaith minister and spiritual sex and intimacy coach in New York.

WITH ONLY AN

Berries, Jell-O, cucumbers and pudding are great contributors to bedroom play, Ritola said.

“It gives you a chance to be silly. A lot of times we don’t give ourselves the chance to be silly during sex, yet the thing that consistently brings people closer together is laughter,” Ritola said.

“When we get silly during sex, food play can be a part of that; it is a way to connect at a level that becomes more intimate the more you do it.”

Korey McWilliams, a sex therapist in Chicago, said although using food during sex broadens your sexual repertoire, it is important to be cautious when using food around the genital areas.

“Be careful of what you put in your urethra, vagina, or anus,” McWilliams said. “Putting things into your vagina can throw off your pH balance. A vagina has its own cleaning mechanism and

is not really happy about foreign [objects] being put in there.”

Food sex can also build confidence, Walker said. Her seminars are used to understand sexuality and it has made her audience more comfortable with performing in bed.

“There is nothing wrong with being sexual,” Walker said. I teach [people] how being in control of your sexuality helps build your confidence.” kvilliesse@columbiachronicle.com

KENDRAH VILLIESSE

ONLINE CONTENT PRODUCER

DOS AND DON’TS CONCERNING FOOD PLAY:

Do This:

* Also an aphrodisiac

*Chocolate: A classic food everyone enjoys. Whether it is melted, bar or another form of candy, it is the perfect dessert. *Avocado: Because who said avocados were only good on toast and for guacamole?

Whipped Cream/Pudding:

Draw pictures on your body, make a bikini. The design options are endless.

Sushi: Live out your “Sex and the City” goals and place sushi rolls on your body and surprise your lover when they get home.

Strawberries: Using strawber-

ries or other fruit will not only be pleasurable to eat off of your partner, but you will feel healthy doing it.

Cheese: You can never go wrong with a nice cheese. If you are a cheese lover like I am, this is the perfect food to try.

Don’t do these: Spaghetti: Not only will it take forever to eat off of your lover’s body, but it will also be a marinara and noodle nightmare.

Oatmeal: Lumpy, messy, bland.

No good.

Pretzels: With crumbs everywhere and a dry mouth, using pretzels during sex is not ideal.

Hot sauce: It may be great on

certain foods, but it is not ideal to lick off a body. Plus, it can drip into unwanted territory.

»S

AM

ANT

HA C ONR AD

A N D M AC K

OS E NZI E CR

/CH SON

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IC

LE

Beans: Unless you want to burn your partner’s body, a steaming pile of baked beans may not be the best option.

Sandwiches: Please save this for after sex and not during. Eating deli meats and condiments off your partner is not sexy.

THE SEX ISSUE THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE

Solo, together or far apart:

29

Technology advances modern sex toy options MACKENZIE CROSSON SENIOR PHOTO EDITOR

toy market that now includes Bluetooth vibrators, mobile applications, remote controls, updated vibration technology and adaptable shapes, sexually active people have more options than ever to spice up their sex lives. The Chronicle compiled a list of innovative sex toys that cater to anyone’s desire.

Photos provided by manufacturers

WITH A SEX

Lush by Lovense:

Crescendo by MysteryVibe:

PULSE III - SOLO by Hot Octopuss:

We-Vibe 4 is intended to be worn by a woman during penetrative sex for extra clitoral and G-spot stimulation. The company’s website says the toy has been tested by sexual health experts and claims it is “the most advanced couples vibrator ever created.” Controlled by a wireless remote, the toy features six different vibration modes with additional intensity controls and is 100 percent waterproof with a silicone casing for easy cleanup.

Crescendo is highly customizable and personable for many reasons, but most notably for its bendable form that allows users to shape the toy to their desired position or amount of stimulation. Couples and individuals can take advantage of MysteryVibe’s mobile application, which has a custom vibrations playlist for individualized patterns. As it says on Crescendo’s information page, “the only limit is your imagination.”

This is the third generation of a male stimulator developed by a company in London. Billed as “The World’s first Guybrator™” and using PulsePlate Technology™ to deliver intense high amplitude oscillations. PULSE III and its older counterparts can be used with or without lubricant and also features a DUO version for couples use, so while still catering to men it features extra vibration to stimlate women.

mcrosson@columbiachronicle.com

We-Vibe 4 by We-Vibe:

Lush is a remote-controlled, Bluetooth vibrator that its manufacturer claims has “the longest control range out of all wearable Bluetooth vibrators,” according to its website. Its smartphone application allows for close range and long-distance control, syncing the vibrator to music and more. Lush offers a wide range of versatility in sex play—especially for those who are in a long distance relationship or are interested in getting a little more intimate with a partner out in public.

The application is available for iPhone, Android, Mac and Windows PC.

30

THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE

FEBRUARY 12, 2018

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» SAMANTHA CONRAD/CHRONICLE

WHY DO I REALLY WANT TO MOVE IN WITH THEM?

been in a relationship with your partner for five years, one year or even six months, the question “Should we move in together?” may arise.

At first, the big step may seem like a great idea, but before you take the plunge, ask yourself these crucial questions to make sure the move is right for you.

WHETHER YOU HAVE

This can be a hard question to ask yourself, but it is important to take the time to evaluate your own emotions and have an honest conversation with yourself.

You may tell your friends, “Oh, I need a roommate anyway—why not split the rent with someone I love?” or “We basically live together anyway,” or “They stay over all the time, half of their things are at my place, it’s not going to be that different.” Yes and no.

Living with someone you’re dating is not a giant sleepover.

Despite your preconceptions, everyone needs space.

When a couple shares a home, there is no escape from seeing each other. Sure, you can tell them to stay in the other room— if you have a multiple bedrooms, which I highly recommend—if you get into an argument or have a frustrating day, but simply sitting in a different room isn’t always enough.

While you can always count on some alone time because we all

have different schedules, seeing your partner every day can put strain on a relationship.

HOW WILL WE HANDLE BASIC “ROOMMATE CONFLICTS”?

It’s not always easy to tell your roommate to clean up the dishes or not to leave crusty toothpaste in the sink. But imagine having to tell your significant other that.

It can be hard because you love them and you don’t want to start a “silly” argument, but feeling comfortable in your home is important. Before moving in together, couples should discuss what they expect from each other in terms of cleanliness and how to confront one another when those problems arise. Make sure you’re on the same page.

Even though you are dating, if you move in together you need to divide up the cleaning—and shopping—equally. One partner buying all the groceries and cleaning the bathroom will cause frustration and put more strain on

31

the relationship. Don’t bottle up your frustrations until you want to explode. Communicate.

AM I HAVING ANY DOUBTS?

Make sure you and your partner have had multiple, honest discussions about this decision and that living together is what you both genuinely want.

If they decide they want to, that’s great. Now you need to ask yourself if you have any doubts. If you do, communicate your reservations. Every couple has issues, some more manageable than others, but do not assume that they will miraculously get better once you move in together.

Even if your relationship does not appear to have any problems, ask yourself if you are ready.

If you need more time, that is not a bad thing. You know what they say, the best things are worth the wait. lcarlton@columbiachronicle.com

Are we there yet?

THE SEX ISSUE THE COLUMBIA CHRONICLE

SIDE NOTE: If they cut your hair off without your permission, don’t move in with them.

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