Only Children: Motherhood Series
There seems to be many stigmas out there about only children, that is, one without siblings – they’re attention-seeking, anti-social, selfish, or somehow, all of the above. While most of these are misconceptions, they have real-life consequences for families. The mom-shame associated with having only one child can put unnecessary pressure on the mother to…
Gender Roles in Parenting: Motherhood Series
Are women expected to enter the “mother” category? What do we know about traditional gender roles in parenting? Given biological differences, societal traditions, and cultural stigma, women are often deferred into categories, and their multifaceted personhoods are reduced to a singular, gendered characteristic. These categories take many forms depending on the environment (e.g., boys…
Motherhood Series: Pleasurable Birth
The experience of labor and delivery can be described as many things, but “pleasurable” is probably not high on the list of associated adjectives. However, as in everyday life, the act of experiencing and squeezing pleasure out of mundane or even painful experiences can be a radical act. Along with the other recommended grounding techniques…
Stopping Hormone Therapy DOES NOT Make You Any Less Trans
Most mainstream information in the media surrounding trans identities focuses on hormone therapy and how a lot of folks choose to use hormones during their transition. One thing that is absent from most of these narratives is the fact that not all trans folks opt to stay on hormone therapy for the entirety of their…
Your Sexual Yes/No/Maybe Checklists Updated
You might have seen our post last year about the Sexual Yes, No, Maybe checklists as we’ve recommended to sex therapists and other providers who want to help their clients spice up or improve their sex lives. These organized checklists are just as useful to couples and singletons because you can explore things to try…
Looking at Serial Monogamy
With much attention being given to polyamory, Consensual Non-Monogamy, and group ventures lately, it’s easy for other relationship types to be overlooked. This is the case for serial monogamy or staying single for relatively short time periods before entering another committed relationship. While many engage in this relationship-hopping pattern, the intricacies of this dating style…
Motherhood Series: Where IVF Fits in a Post-Roe World
This article mentions sexual assault. In the months since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, it is clear that womb-owners’ bodily autonomy and the right to remain child-free are on the line as more states have restricted access to safe abortion measures. What remains unclear is how these new laws will affect want-to-be parents who…
What is a Sex Therapist?
What is a Sex Therapist? Though many of us know what therapists do, there is still a veil of mystery for some concerning sex therapists. So what is a sex therapist? Sex therapists are licensed mental health clinicians with additional training that better enables them to help their clients with sexual health concerns such as…
Motherhood Series: Childfree by Choice
When discussing parenting and all that follows this giant decision, it is easy to forget about the conscious decision to not have children. Although for long periods throughout history this was less of a choice due to individual positionality, capital production, and associated stigma, the number of people now choosing to be childfree has increased…
Motherhood Series: Birth Trauma and the Mitigating Role of Doulas and Midwives
While the birth of one’s child is often an empowering, positive experience, viewing all births this way limits the ability of mothers, their partners, and their children to feel and express any negative attitudes toward this momentous journey. Labor and delivery is a deeply personal and varying experience for each mother and each birth. Feeling…