Episode 406: Reclaiming Shame-Free Sexuality

“Slut” is a powerful term that has historically been used as an indictment of women’s moral character. And as my guest today explains, as long as terms like this retain their power, we’re never going to have true gender equality in the bedroom. She argues that it’s well past time to reclaim the word slut once and for all, so let’s talk about it.

I am joined once again by Dr. Hilary Caldwell, a sex worker, author, academic, and sexologist. Her bold political memoir, Slutdom: Reclaiming Shame-Free Sexuality, challenges the enduring impact of slut shaming and argues for a world in which everyone can pursue pleasure without fear, stigma, or coercion.

Some of the specific topics we explore include:

• What does it mean to reclaim the world “slut,” and why is it important?
• Why is reclaiming sexual slurs controversial?
• What does it really mean to be sexually empowered?
• How can we become more sexually empowered?

You can check out Hilary’s website to learn more about her work.

Got a sex question? Send me a podcast voicemail to have it answered on a future episode at speakpipe.com/sexandpsychology.

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Credits: Precision Podcasting (Podcast editing) and Shutterstock/Florian (Music). Image created with Canva; photos used with permission of guest.