As I have said in previous posts, I am an amateur historian, a comic storyteller (even if my humor if a bit darker after 11/5/24), and a smart-alec. If you leave a comment without thinking, expect a reply that reflects that thoughtlessness, but with some humor thrown in to soften the hard edges.
This diary is an abbreviated history of the sexual revolution since the introduction of birth control for those assigned female at birth, the legalization of reproductive healthcare options and heterosexual sex. A heavy lift, but here we go!
To all those heterosexual men who voted for Hair Furor (you know, that doddering, 78 year old, 34-times found guilty of felonies, twice impeached, orange-hued guy who has also been found liable for sexual assault, and who lost the popular vote twice), I have a simple question for you: do you like sex with those assigned female at birth? And, you still voted for Hair Furor? Really?!?!
Here’s the thing: you just voted against sex with those assigned female at birth. From the time the sexual revolution took off in the 1960s, those assigned female at birth (heretofore referred to as ‘women,’ or, in the singular, as ‘woman’) have been taking control of their own bodies, choosing when they decide to have children and generally becoming equal citizens in this country.
I realize that this challenges your worldview by stating that women are, actually, equal to you, a heterosexual man. They are not objects, they have a wide range of emotions, and their brains have loads more white matter which means that they can think both emotionally and logically at the same time. Your brains lack the copious quantities of white matter, which means that you lack the ability to think both emotionally and logically at the same time. Which further means, you might have trouble keeping up with women in discussions. This is directly due to the fact that testosterone inhibits the formation of white matter.
I realize this scientific fact may further injure your outrageously fragile male ego, but, it is, in fact, true. And, maybe, just maybe, your ego can handle it.
So, what does this have to do with your vote for Hair Furor? Well, since the legalization of a woman’s right to choose whether or not she has an abortion in Roe v. Wade, and then was affirmed (that means ‘confirmed’ or ‘validated’) by the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization ruling, women and their doctors have been making the decision if and when to end a pregnancy.
Now, your feelings about this choice are not irrelevant, but they come second to how and when a woman chooses to stay pregnant. That is her choice. Not yours.
Unfortunately, that right was taken away by the reactionary, political activist justices currently on the Supreme Court. At least, in a legal sense. The fact still remains that women retain bodily autonomy in every sense, except when it comes to deciding when to terminate a pregnancy, even if that pregnancy threatens her life or the future life of the embyo/fetus gestating within her body.
”Ok, AKBear,” I hear you say, “but what does this have to do with me and sex with women?” Well, dear reader, I am so happy you asked that question. Simple biology holds us to sexual reproduction. Meaning, when women have sex with men, it may result in pregnancy. Which further means, women, who have similar sex drives as men, may choose to no longer have sex with you. Which, for you, heterosexual man, is a bad thing.
Sex with a heterosexual male is now a life-threatening proposition to women. A woman who is pregnant may die because of her medical condition. She may prefer to stay alive and not chance getting pregnant by having sex with you. And, that is her right to bodily autonomy.
So, if you are against abortion, have a vasectomy! It is a simple, safe procedure that can be reversed if and when you and the woman you love decide to have children. It protects your freedom to have sex with women (please, still use condoms to prevent the spread of STIs and VDs!), you won’t have to panic about an unplanned pregnancy if the condom breaks, and you can confidently have recreational intercourse with women while also respecting a woman’s right to not die because of the legally dubious decision to restrict her bodily autonomy! Best of all? You won’t kill your sexual partner with a potentially complicated pregnancy!
Take some agency in your own sex life and get the snip! Reassure your sexual partner that you are a responsible man who realizes that safe sex is for everyone!
[As a quick aside, and this will be difficult for many men to handle, but, try to keep up: women menstruate every 3.5 or so weeks. I say ‘or so’ because every woman’s cycle is different at different stages of her life. Teenagers have a lot to learn about their bodies and what kind cycle they experience at any given point in their adolescence. A woman might never have a set cycle at any time in her life. Another woman might be as regular as the lunar cycle. A woman going through the stages of menopause might not have a cycle for months and then several cycles in a row. Expecting women to track their cycles is a ridiculous proposition as every woman is unique.
This said, every man should experience what menstruation feels like. There are several TENS machine options out there and, I am quite confident, women who will gladly share their personal menstruation experiences with you. The TENS machines cannot replicate the complex hormonal changes every woman feels, but it can give men a better understanding of what women experience throughout their cycles.
To the male allies and supporters of women, go out there and experience menstruation! And, maybe carry pads and tampons with you, pick up chocolate (if age appropriate, an adult beverage preferred by your partner) and feminine products (take a picture on your phone of your partner’s preferred products so’s you can do this and keep it handy) without hesitation and without whining … remember, you are a strong and appreciated ally to the women in your life!]