Culture

How things like sex, gender and relationships have been throughout, exist in and are presented by the larger world has a big impact on how they are for each of us, all on our own. Whether we’re talking about right, law and policy; specific cultural or community history, beliefs or norms; bias, inequity or privilege within the wider world – anything from our family, to our school, state or the globe, that’s what you’ll find here.

a vintage globe in monochrome

Highlighted content

Articles and Advice in this area:

Article
  • Gabriel Leão

The Care We Dream Of: Liberatory and Transformative Approaches to LGBTQ+ Health, edited by Zena Sharman, was created in collaboration with fifteen contributors from across North America, and “merges practical ideas with liberatory imaginings about what queer and trans health care could be, grounded in historical examples, present-day experiments, and dreams of the future. At its heart, The Care We Dream Of is a spell of transformation, one that’s both a loving invitation and an urgent demand to leave no one behind as we dream a more liberated future into being.” In conversation with Garbiel Leão, Sharman talks about all this and more.

Announcement
  • Sam Wall

It’s been less than a year since I wrote a blog post like this. In that time, there has been an increased wave of right-wing attacks on trans youth at the state level, trying to ban young trans people from sports, trying to ban trans stories from shelves, trying to revoke your access to medical care…

Article
  • Marisha Thomas

The bimbo is a product of a misogynistic imagination, a sex object and an ableist stereotype. Her image is tied up in ageism as well, being forever young and childlike. Because the outlines of the bimbo stereotype are so bold, and her character so outrageous, she also makes perfect material for drag and other kinds of gender play and parody. And, because gender is weird, people have begun to mess with language so that people of all genders can play with it as well. But is all of this, like, okay?

Article
  • Gabriel Leão

Abortion can be hard for many adults to understand and process, let alone for kids. As with so many potentially major life events, they are often left in the dark without any comment or explanation as if nothing happened, or receive a rigid lecture from an authority figure imposing only their singular point of view. The book “What’s an Abortion, Anyway?” proposes a new, more fluid and non-judgmental way to explain this event to the small ones.

Article
  • Gabriel Leão

Indigenous people have long been persecuted and oppressed on their own unceded land by the government of the United States and the picture gets darker with intersectionalities like gender, orientation and social class. SB8 is tinged with white supremacist, patriarchal and elitist values disguised as ways to help Texans. In an interview with Scarleteen, co-founder and sex educator Nicole Martin of Indigenous Women Rising (IWR) speaks on SB8 and Indigenous people.

Article
  • Gabriel Leão

Jane’s Due Process is an abortion fund in Texas that expressly supports young people. HK Gray was a young person helped by Jane’s Due Process, and who later joined their ranks as an organizer. HK has experienced many ordeals before, during and after her pregnancy, and understands from both professional and personal points of view exactly how disastrous a law like Senate Bill 8 (SB8), which you might know as the Texas Abortion Ban, can be.

Article
  • Ellis Schwamm

It’s extremely disingenuous to pretend that everyone but men struggle with emotions, and doesn’t help liberate us from the toxic ideal that “real men don’t cry,” or exhibit sadness. Men who date other men have additional obstacles to navigate if both they and their partners have difficultly accessing vulnerability. That’s why I’d like to take the time with you to discuss how social norms have shaped the emotional health of queer men and how crucial vulnerability is as an empowering vehicle towards deeper connection and compatibility in your relationships. I’ll also share some tips with you on how to uncover your own latent feelings and offer some suggestions on how to share these thoughts with someone you’re interested in or dating.

Advice
  • Siân Jones

Hi Sam! This is a great question. I love it for two reasons: first, because learning about feminism seems like a pretty great use for the internet, but far more importantly because you’re questioning the things you are reading and looking for additional perspectives so you can make your own mind up…

Announcement
  • Sam Wall

One of my favorite parts of Pride is watching queer stories and media be centered and shared throughout the month, which is why I put out a call to our wonderful Scarleteam to share their favorite pieces of queer media! The resulting recommendations are a great mix of books, podcasts, and T.V. shows…

Article
  • Gabriel Leão

In an exclusive interview with Scarleteen, Amnesty International Argentina Executive Director Mariela Belski, spoke about the road to the recent abortion legalization in Argentina, sex education in the South-American country and remembering the case of the child that acted as a catalyst to the changes the country has recently made.