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| Breasts: The Women's Perspective on an American Obsession | Breasts: The Women's Perspective on an American Obsession describes and explores national breast fetish, which is defined as a culturally constructed obsession that is deeply interwoven with beauty standards, breast-feeding practices, and sexuality. By tracing the complex history of this erotic fascination and discovering how it affects men's and women's sexuality and their relationships, this book will help women accept their breasts as they are and provide male readers with insight into how women think and feel about their bodies. Proving breasts have a venerable history, this book urges readers to see beyond the contemporary standards of visual perfection that surround this fetish. |
| Changing Bodies, Changing Lives | A monumental, encyclopedic discussion of sexual and emotional change during the teen years. Recommended for grade 8 & up. |
| Cunt: A Declaration of Independence | Hey, a book about our favorite topic! “Cunt does for feminism what smoothies did for high-fiber diets—it reinvents the oft-indigestible into something sweet and delicious.”
—Bust Magazine |
| Femalia | Not all vulvas look the same and this book shows it all. "You will find these images some of the most beautiful you've ever seen, or be shocked by them. This book is a magic mirror letting you know exactly how you feel about female genitalia. It's a perfect coffee table book."
--Annie Sprinkle |
| Full Exposure : Opening Up to Sexual Creativity and Erotic Expression | "I found in Full Exposure a wonderful, sex-positive volume, melding philosophy, apologetics, and personal anecdotes. I enjoy Susie Bright's casting the burden of proof onto the naysayers, requiring that the repressed and the frightened justify their censorious dogma. And when they try, she shoots them down, like beer cans lined up on the back fence. She does, after all, write about (a fantasy of) making love to Dan Quayle ... reading that was the most I'd ever appreciated the man--and this leads to one of her _dogmas_: 'Assume everybody is sexual.'" (reviewer from amazon.com) |
| How To Write A Dirty Story | Powell Books says: "Susie Bright is the first and reigning queen of contemporary erotica. In How to Write a Dirty Story she reveals her tricks of the trade and shows you how to heat up sex scenes in everything from traditional novels and romances to science fiction and humor. Easing the aspiring writer into the creative process, she tells you how to write the steamy plots and sensual characters that publishers and readers are looking for." |
| Nerve: Literate Smut | "Nerve founders Rufus and Genevieve frame the texts and photos with their takes on the many sides of sex — from shame and habits to taboos, debauchery, and, of course, love. Featured writers include Norman Mailer, Sallie Tisdale, Rick Moody, Thom Jones, Quentin Crisp, Lucy Grealy, Robert Olen Butler, Lars Eighner, Lisa Carver and Dr. Joycelyn Elders." |
| Sex & Single Girls: Straight and Queer Women on Sexuality | "Well-known writers and feminists address topics ranging from online sex to abortion, from bisexuality to interracial relationships, creating a complex portrait of women's sexual experiences, activities and preferences." |
| Taking Charge of your Fertility: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health | This comprehensive book explains in lucid, assured terms how to practice the fertility awareness method (FAM), a natural, scientifically proven but little-known form of birth control (which is not to be confused with the woefully ineffective "rhythm" method). Author Toni Weschler has been teaching fertility awareness for almost 20 years, and it's only just now gaining in popularity. As the book explains, by using simple fertility signs including peaks in morning body temperature and changes in cervical position and cervical mucus, it's possible to determine when ovulation is taking place. Fertility awareness is therefore useful for not only couples who are trying to conceive, but for those who are aiming to avoid pregnancy without the use of chemical contraceptives. (Amazon.com) |
| The Best in American Erotica | Powell Books says: "In The Best American Erotica 2002, Jane Smiley illustrates the singular escapism found in the gentlest caress, Maggie Estep relates the surprising sexual happenings in a detox clinic, Francesca Lia Block explores the aquatic fantasies haunting a surfer, and Ernie Conrick introduces a tennis star and sex symbol who surrenders to an unusual coach. In these twenty-five stories you will also find cutting-edge work from other luminaries and from the Internet, where the next wave of erotica has matured into some of the most enticing writing around." Now in its ninth year of publication. |
| The Bust Guide to the New Girl Order | This collection contains an engaging herstory of feminism, cheeky reviews of vibrators, essays on sex and the thinking girl, thoughts on that crappy beauty myth and more. It's serious, it's hilarious, it's got an essay by Courtney Love and hey, it's one of Bob's favorites. |
| The Clitoral Truth: The Secret World at Your Fingertips | "Sashaying boldly where others fear to tread, this manifesto on women's genital anatomy and sexual response includes discussions of the entrenched male-centered model of sexuality, an attempt to show women how to redefine their sexuality to emphasize full body pleasure, and advice on how to acquire a stronger sense of being independent sexual beings." |
| The Clitourist | BUST says: "The Clitourist is a happy little gem of a book about that happy little gem in your nook. Clever, informative, sex-positive and queer-friendly, this book belongs in every girl's cliterature collection." |
| The Ethical Slut | "Beyond the often unrealistic ideal of lifetime monogamy lies an uncharted jungle of delightful options - everything from committed multi-partner relationships to friendly sex, casual sex, group sex and more." |
| The New Good Vibrations Guide To Sex | Tips and techniques from America's favorite sex toy store. We love this book for its non-racist, non-heterosexist, non-ageist, radical, accepting attitude toward sex. It's an indispensable manual/users guide/encyclopedia of sex. If you only buy one sex book, this is the one. |
| The New Our Bodies, Ourselves | The vulva-loving superstar's best friend!
"An essential sourcebook for women of all generations explores health-care issues ranging from sexuality and childbearing through menopause and dealing with the medical establishment."
--Ingram |
| The Vagina Monologues | "Women have entrusted Eve with their most intimate experiences, from sex to birthing. . . . I think readers, men as well as women, will emerge from these pages feeling more free within themselves--and about each other."
--Gloria Steinem |
| The VBook: A Doctor's Guide to Complete Vulvovaginal Health | One reviewer says, "One of the best books on the subject of women's sexual health and vulva vaginal issues. Covers everything from underwear, vibrators, along with tasteful but blunt black and white photographs. If you appreciate the art work of Georgia O'Keeffe you will also appreciate the book." Strongly recommended by Vulvarhealth.org. |
| The Vulvodynia Survival Guide: How to Overcome Painful Vaginal Symptoms and Enjoy an Active Lifestyle | "Vulvodynia’s symptoms include burning, itching, stinging, rawness, and painful intercourse. This book will help readers identify triggers, modify their diets to reduce symptoms, find knowledgeable medical help, learn how to reduce debilitating pain, and renew their enjoyment of healthy sexual relations and normal daily activities." |
| Vinnie's Giant Roller Coaster Period Chart & Journal Sticker Book | Keep track of your period and have fun while you're at it! This book comes with lots of rad, retro-looking goodies and extras. A VP favorite! |
| Women: An Intimate Geography | "From a biological perspective, women are not the runners-up: women are the original article," says the author. A detailed and up-close exploration. |
| Yes Means Yes: Getting Explicit About Heterosex | Author Kath Albury manages to get to the bottom of how the English-speaking world talks about women who have sex with men and like it. She explains why straight women's desire gets people's panties in a bunch, why money shots get us all hot and bothered, why little girls (and little boys, for that matter) want to play dress up in Mommy's stilettos, and why Pamela Anderson is a fearless gender bender (eh?). |
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| Fat-Friendly Health Professionals List | This site provides an international list of some health professionals that some fat people have deemed fat-friendly (or who declared themselves fat friendly), as well as some other Web sites listing fat-friendly health professionals. |
| 28-days.com | Ovulation Calendar, Cycle Calculator, and Fertility Awareness Software Applications. |
| Abortion | Exhaustive, comprehensive pro-choice resources. Includes a city-specific clinic directory. |
| Alternative Medicine for Women's Health | About.com's pages on alternative medicine and women's health, from herbs to acupuncture to Kegels. |
| Always Your Choice | The women's health page of the AYC site. "Specializing in HIV counseling, treatment and prevention, treatment of STDs (sexually transmitted diseases), and general medical care." A great resource that doesn't talk down to the patient. |
| American Social Health Organization: Facts & Answers about STDs | Comprehensive site with thorough information regarding STDs and STIs. Also includes STD statistics, a sexual health glossary, and a tutorial for how to properly put on a condom. |
| Cycles Page | Use this free website to keep track of when you're ovulating and having your period. A fab resource! |
| FirstVisit | A guide to your first visit to the gyno! |
| Gay Health | "The first health and wellness site dedicated to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender men and women. Staffed by professional form within our own community, the site provides easy access to accurate, current and vital health information." |
| Go Ask Alice | Everything you (n)ever thought to ask about sex, sexuality and sexual health, brought to you by Alice. |
| Kegel Exercises | A why for and how to. |
| Mayo Clinic | A great resource for general health concerns, including issues that pertain to women. Boasts a great search feature! |
| Period Pages | Everything you wanted to know (and probably a lot more, even) about your period and your menstrual cycle, from a natural perspective. |
| Planned Parenthood | "Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc., is the world's largest and most trusted voluntary reproductive health care organization. Founded by Margaret Sanger in 1916 as America's first birth control clinic, Planned Parenthood believes in everyone's right to choose when or whether to have a child, that every child should be wanted and loved, and that women should be in charge of their own destinies." |
| Prostitutes Education Network | Health and legal info/resources for sex workers' rights. |
| SexualHealth.com | "The Sexual Health Network is dedicated to providing easy access to sexuality information, education, mutual support, counseling, therapy, healthcare, products and other resources for people with disabilities, illness, or natural changes throughout the lifecycle and those who love them or care for them." |
| Sister Wisdom | SisterWisdom is committed to providing Black women relevant and reliable information about HIV/AIDS and other sexual and reproductive health and rights issues. SisterWisdom also seeks to support Black women’s personal growth, and to inspire personal and community action that positively impacts the sexual and reproductive health and rights of all women--particularly those of African descent. |
| Sluts Against Butts | Canadian bad girls for a better tomorrow. These butt-kicking ladies are out to inform the world about what the tobacco industry is doing to women. In their words: "The corporate establishment works at keeping women and girls down by encouraging binding, self-destructive rebellion like smoking and starvation. They want us to be dependent and weak. Fuck that." One of Bob's personal favorite organizations.
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| STI/STD Risk Checklist | Need to check out what your sexually transmitted disease or infection risk might be in a jiffy? Check in here with the gurus at scarleteen (brought to you by Planned Parenthood). |
| Vulvar Health | Everything you ever wanted to know about how to keep your vulva and vagina healthy and happy. |
| Women's Sexual Health | "An informational site designed for women and their partners who have questions and concerns about women’s sexual health." |
| Women's Therapy Centre | "The site outlines several different female sexual dysfunctions such as Vaginismus, Dyspareunia, Vulvudynia, and Vulvar Vestibulitis." (from LJ user blue_sea_sons) |
| Yoni Massage | Mmm, yoni massage. A why for and how to. |
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| Ani DiFranco | "As original in style as she is earnest in her intent, DiFranco blends punk and folk sensibilities in her approach, while her upbeat guitar playing reveals a clear grasp of jazz, blues, and pop. Her striking lyrics carefully explore the intersection of the political and the personal; they helped win her an early loyal fan base of young women."
--UBL |
| Bikini Kill | "Revolution Girl Style Now" |
| Bitch and Animal | The Writers of the Pussy Manifesto. Sometimes folky and mellow, other times biting and sarcastic. Bob enthusiastically recommends their most recent album, Eternally Hard. |
| Hang on the Box | The only all-girl punk band in China! The first group (along with Bieniu and other scenesters, dancers, and visual artists) to feminize Beijing bars, thus having earned quite a reputation. Paying little heed to the double standards that degrade women for the same sexual promiscuity that wins men admiration, they hit the streets in tight jeans and leather, pink and silver hair, flaunting homemade piercings and tattoos. They are uapologetically open about sexuality in their art and performance and their attitude is infectious. In their words, "Who gives a fuck if our music is good or bad? We have just as much a right to play music as boys do!" |
| Hell's Belles | "Seattle favorites Hell's Belles play nothing but AC/DC songs, dead-on down to the note-for-note virtuoso guitar solos. The premise of a mostly-female band taking over the songs of the sex-crazed classic rockers is, of course, politically charged." Just wait til "Angus" starts stripping down to her underwear ...
-- Seattle Post Intelligencer |
| Jean Grae | The South African-born MC has appeared on countless records, but it was her feature on Mr. Len's "Taco Day" -- a powerful account of a sexually abused homecoming queen who goes straight Columbine on everyone in her path -- that led her to emergence from the underground. In her words: "They still want chicks with tits and ass out / My respect is worth more than your advance cash out." |
| Khia | Ever seen a 5-alarm blaze? It flames high and ferocious, dwarfing everything in sight, but starts with slow methodical smoldering. That's Khia, the Philly-born MC whose recent hit "My Neck My Back" went to the top of the charts and encouraged women everywhere to talk about what they want and need sexually. |
| L7 | All-female punk band originally from Los Angeles; in their day they put on lots of shows for social justice causes. |
| Le Tigre | "Bikini Kill founder and quintessential riot grrrl Kathleen Hanna formed Le Tigre, another bold, feminist-oriented trio, with filmmaker Sadie Benning and zine creator Johanna Fateman."
--UBL |
| Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott | "I'm all down for the women. Don't get me wrong, I love men. But women, we've been trampled on and we've been battered. [...] So many females go through the same old stuff, so if anything, I represent females, anything they want me to say. If you need me to say something, call me up, let me know, tell me what I need to write about and I'm'a sing it. I'm'a rap about it."
--Missy Elliott, BUST Magazine, Winter 2002 Music Issue |
| Peaches | Pop Matters calls Peaches' new record "the world's funkiest new wave album, a porn soundtrack without visuals, a feminist tract without politics." A former teacher riding her keyboard, brazen bikini spiders and all. |
| Sleater Kinney | The anthemic Olympia, WA-based all-girl punk trio. |
| Team Dresch | Queercore revolutionaries from Portland, OR. |
| The Donnas | BUST says, "Following in the illustrious footsteps of Kiss and the Runaways, the gals' songs are generally about having a good time and reveling in their female friendships. In Donna world, where the ultimate insult is that your dirty hair 'makes you look like you're 30,' life is simple and sweet," girl style. (Winter 2002 Music Issue) |
| The Gossip | Splendid ezine says, "Feeling aggressive? Feeling sexy? Feeling aggressively sexual? No problem. Just pull out That's Not What I Heard and roar along with it 'til you feel better." It's all true! You should especially listen to the song "Swing Low" (scandalous!). |
| The Yeastie Girlz | "A feminist rap trio comprised of members Jane, Cammie, and Kate, hailing from the fertile punk scene of Gilman St. in Berkeley, San Francisco."
--UBL |
| Tori Amos | A girl and her piano. Prolific songwriting. Founder of RAINN. |
| Tracy + The Plastics | BUST has this to say in their review of Olympia, WA-based Wynne Greenwood's (the mastermind behind Tracy + The Plastics) latest album: "[It] carries cacophonous lyrical explosions over fat keyboard bass leads and addictive electronic drumbeats. Bridging the gap between feminist video art and the burgeoning neo-New Wave music scene, this solo artist and her three personas (Tracy, Nikki and Cola) politicize the stage and provoke the audience with an intoxicating delirium of lo-fi video images and contageous songs. Tracy + The Plastics make talking to yourself a political act." (Winter 2002 Music Issue) |
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| BirthControl.com | "Providing information and quality birth control products gathered from around the world." |
| Body Electric School | "A school of the healing arts committed to helping people experience their potential as healers of self and others through touch, conscious breath, and honoring the wisdom of the body. Body Electric recognizes the holistic connections between mind, body, and spirit and offers opportunities to explore those connections in safe and supportive environments. Body Electric is committed to exploring the healing potential of erotic energy and recognizes the body's wisdom as ancient, sacred, playful, and profound. Body Electric is a school where all sexual orientations are celebrated and all spiritual paths are honored." |
| Emergency Contraceptive Pill (ECP) Providers in the U.S. & Canada | This is a handy directory to help you find out if/how you can get a hold of the ECP in a time of need. |
| Involuntary Celibacy Project | Resources and info for those who are involuntarily celibate. |
| Joyous Birth | Joyous Birth is an Aussie feminist birth group encouraging women's empowerment- and an evidence-based approach to birth. And they love vaginas, which we know because they told us so. |
| Museum of Menstruation | A history of menstruation and women's health on the web. |
| Museum of Sex | Located in NYC, just opened this year. Assistant Curator Rebecca Ames says, "While some of our subjects -- like Margaret Sanger and Mae West -- are immediately recognizable, we hope that other profiles, like those of Madame Restell (the notorious 19th century abortionist), Sally Rand (the burlesque queen who created the fan dance in the 1930s) and Gladys Bently (the Harlem Renaissance-era cross-dressing blues singer) will be new discoveries." |
| Pee Standing Up! | A why for and how to. |
| Sacred Sex | A place where you can read about tantra yoga, karezza, and other forms of sex worship. |
| TechnoDyke.com | Women's sex & health, for and by technodykes. |
| Tranny Resources | Medical and other resources for transsexual women. |
| Vagina Vérité | "A forum for conversation on vagina-related subjects. Its mission is to provide a comfortable environment for women to talk about their experiences, ask questions, and learn about services and sources of information. Its purpose is to engender respect and appreciation for our bodies and sexuality through open discussion." This site has a great section on perceptions of taste/touch/look/feel of vulvas and vaginas, although the woman working on the site seems to be a little confused about the difference between vulvas and vaginas.
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| Vulva University | VU is "for women seeking to explore, expand and renew their sexual lives, through classes, discussions and the exchange of ideas." |
| womensenews.org | "Women's eNews is the definitive source of substantive news--unavailable anywhere else--covering issues of particular concern to women and providing women's perspectives on public policy. It enhances women's ability to define their own lives and to participate fully in every sector of human endeavor." They also have an RSS feed. |
| Yoni Temple | More info about the yoni. |
| Yoni.com | A gentle approach to everything you wanted to know about the yoni. |
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| A Woman's Touch | AWT helps you explore your healthy sexual self through their unique combination of sex education, health information and tasteful shopping. Owned & operated by 2 women, a physician and a sex educator and counselor, they provide you with accurate information, safe and non-toxic adult products, and complete privacy and discretion in handling your order. |
| Come As You Are | "Canada's first co-operatively-run sex toy, book and video store. Our approach to sexuality is one of respect, openness, humour, communication and responsibility. We are service- and community-oriented; accessible and disability-positive." |
| Good For Her | "Toronto's cozy, comfortable and accessible place where women and their admirers can find a variety of high quality sex toys, books, videos, workshops, sensual art, and much more." LJ user purplepaisley says, "This is my all time favourite store. Very small, very friendly. They offer you tea when you come in!" |
| Good Vibrations | A worker-owned, women-owned cooperative that sells all manner of sex paraphernalia in an environment that is open and positive for women. |
| Libida | "We want women to feel excited about their sexuality and tap into their libidos. Our mission is to provide women (and their men) with a unique place - a clean and elegant space where women can access accurate and relevant sexual information and purchase individually-tested and expertly rated sex toys for sale with ease and confidence. We want women to be able to explore their own sexuality -- without apology." |
| My Pleasure | Their motto reads: "We can satisfy even the toughest Clitoris." |
| Toys in Babeland | This feminist-owned and operated toy store's mission states that they "promote and celebrate sexual vitality by providing an honest, open and fun environment, encouraging personal empowerment, educating our community, and supporting a more passionate world for all of us." |
| Venus Envy | A store for women and the people who love them. Located on the Web and in Canada (all hail!). |
| Vixen Creations | Wide range of quality, handcrafted silicone toys. Beautiful glitter, marbled, and solid colored toys. Dozens to choose from at great prices. |
| Womyn's Ware | "Womyns'Ware Inc., located in Vancouver, BC, offers products, services, and an environment for the celebration and empowerment of women's sexuality. With a strong emphasis on education, the women of Womyns'Ware deal with sex and sexuality in a frank and forthright manner." |
| Xandria | More sex toys for women! Get $4 off by identifying yourself as a "first time buyer" during the ordering process (discount code: BST1201). |
