Category Archives: Pop Culture

Your Guide to Sexuality Museums


Posted on December 13, 2012 by

Sure, you’ve heard of The Smithsonian and The Museum of Natural History but have you heard of the Museum of Sex? Today I tip my glass of egg nog to a few museums you might not have heard of.

The Museum of Sex is in NYC. Tickets cost $17.50, which is pretty cheap as far as NYC is concerned. “The Museum’s permanent collection of over 15,000 artifacts is comprised of works of art, photography, clothing and costumes, technological inventions and historical ephemera.” Read more about it here. I went to this museum about 5 years ago and it was awesome then so I’m sure its even better now.

The History of Contraception Museum was founded by Percy Skuy, who began collecting contraception devices, tales, and ah-hem, dried beaver testicle in 1965. If you can’t make it to Cleveland, get this book. I LOVE this book. It helps me teach that as long as people have known how pregnancy happens, they’ve tried to prevent it. Even Cassanova got creative.

Or perhaps you’re just REALLY interested in menstruation? The Museum of Menstruation and Women’s Health is now just a website, but for a while, it was run out of the basement of a guy in Maryland. Here he explains why he shut the museum down, but don’t fret because apparently The New York Times says the website is “odd, funny, and well researched.”

Or maybe you’re traveling to Jeju? (Jeju is the island province of South Korea – yeah, I had to look it up.) Stop by the Museum of Sex and Health (warning: website not in English). From the reviews on tripadvisor, it sounds like a fun place! But please, if you make it to Jeju, you better not leave without going to the Museum of Women Divers first!

Gift Guide: Your 20s-30s Feminist Friends Going Through A Life Change


Posted on December 11, 2012 by

The 20s and 30s period of your life are full of big changes. It’s the time you get that great job you’ve always wanted; buy a nice home; consider (and maybe find) the one; even settle down and (perhaps) decide to have children.

So, what do you get that person for the holidays? Well, here’s some suggestions.

Starting a New Job / Settling into a New Home

A Great Art Print

I love this Surrealist classic, ‘The Treachery of Images‘ by Rene Magritte.

(8×12) Rene Magritte Le Trahison des Images 1929 Pipe Art Print Poster

Personalized Note Cards

Who doesn’t love a handwritten note? At Silhouette Blue, you can order personalized notecards for your friends and get them with or without a return address. (Full disclosure: I’ve gotten several sets from them and all are amazing and beautiful.)

Silhouette Blue Notecard

Image copyright Silhouette Blue.

Awesome Reusable Bag

Who doesn’t need one of these? No matter if you’re going to the gym or going to the grocery store, you’ll be in style – and helping the environment. I’m a big fan of Flip and Tumble bags, myself.

Flip and Tumble bag

Flip & Tumble 24-7 Bag, Eggplant/Slate

Plush Organs

Ok, so maybe you can’t display this at work (unless you work where I do), but all are adorable.

Ovary Plush

Ovary Plush – I Heart Guts

Words Cubed

Make poetry at your kitchen table or at your desk. It’s really a blast – and the things you can come up with…

Words Cubed

Words Cubed

A Ridiculous Pencil Set

Who wouldn’t get a chuckle when they see a reference to an ambi-turner?

Zoolander Pencil Set

Image copyright oneupdesigns

Smart Women Finish Rich, by David Bach

I’m passionate about women and finance – not enough women are financially-savvy, to their detriment. (I’m sure you’ll see a post about it…someday.) In the meantime, consider giving this book to your friend – male or female – to encourage their knowledge and, well, freedom.

Smart Women Finish Rich

Smart Women Finish Rich: 9 Steps to Achieving Financial Security and Funding Your Dreams (Revised Edition)

Might Have Met the One / They’re Going to Get Hitched

Tabletopics

I am obsessed with Tabletopics. They’re conversation starters that you can use with your beloved or anyone else – and they will take you into some places (and some topics) you never would have thought of.

Tabletopics

TableTopics Original

Guide to Getting It On

Here at Planned Parenthood of Southwest & Central Florida, we’re big fans of the Guide to Getting It On. Even if you think you know all the tips & tricks…you don’t. I promise.

Guide to Getting It On

Guide to Getting It On! A Book About the Wonders of Sex

Sexy Truth or Dare

This game is focused on what your partner likes about you - which is a great thing. (Do we need to know the wildest thing your partner did before they met you? I certainly don’t.)

Sexy Truth or Dare

Sexy Truth or Dare: Pick-A-Stick

36 Hours – Weekends by the New York Times

Ideas for every couple to sneak away to some place near them for a weekend – and enjoy. (Doesn’t hurt that the book itself is gorgeous.)

The New York Times: 36 Hours in USA and Canada

The New York Times 36 Hours: 150 Weekends in the USA & Canada

Marriage, a History, by Stephanie Coontz

Feronians, you’re a smart bunch. You probably know that marriage has been largely a financial transaction throughout history – but how did we throw it over for love? Coontz, a historian on the family and marriage, writes a compelling book on how love conquered marriage.

Marriage, a History, by Stephanie Coontz

Marriage, a History: How Love Conquered Marriage

Learnvest Financial Plan

Lots of people choose to combine their finances with their partner’s after a period of time; the Learnvest Financial Plan gets your finances in good shape to do so. (Full disclosure: I did one it was amazing – it seriously changed my life. Hence, my crusade for female financial literacy.)

Learnvest Financial Plan

Image copyright Learnvest.com

‘I’m a Mrs’ Kit

I wrote a post last week about how I plan to change my name after getting married next year, and I fully plan to use one of these kits. (By the way – these are helpful for anyone who wants to change their name, male, female, or transitioning.) Do you really want to spend a day going from office to office on a name-change quest? I think not.

I'm a Mrs Kit

Image copyright I'm A Mrs.com

They’re Building a Family (Pregnancy or Adoption)

(I’ve never had a baby, so the fabulous Genevieve and Fosgood assisted me with this section. Thanks!)

The ‘Snoogle’ Body Pillow

Many a person has sworn that a body pillow is a must-have for pregnancy. Get your friend theirs before they even need it.

The Snoogle Body Pillow

Leachco Snoogle Total Body Pillow

A Great Footstool

Check out their decor before you get this one and maybe get a gift receipt, but feet often swell in pregnancy – and it’s a useful gift for after-baby as well, because sometimes, you just want to put your feet up.

Footstool

Growing Up Green Wood Step Stool, Natural

Darth Vader & Son

For those dads that are Star Wars fans, I give you Darth Vader and Son.

Darth Vader and Son

Darth Vader and Son (Star Wars)

Dad’s Playbook

For those dads that might be Star Wars, maybe they’re sports fans – and what’s better advice than that from the great coaches of the times?

Dad's Playbook

Dad’s Playbook: Wisdom for Fathers from the Greatest Coaches of All Time

Gift Certificate to a Massage Therapist

It doesn’t matter how the child got there, child rearing is stressful. Why don’t you consider getting a massage for Mom (and maybe even Dad too)?

Massage Envy Gift Cards

Image copyright Massage Envy. It's a chain here in Florida, but I bet you know where a good one is near you!

Everything You Never Wanted Your Kids to Know About Sex (But Were Afraid They’d Ask), by Justin Richardson

Sex, when talking to kids, can be a terrifying experience to some: we here at Planned Parenthood of Southwest & Central Florida recommend this one to parents of any age to think about what they might say when their child starts asking those dreaded questions.

Everything You Never Wanted Your Kids to Know About Sex - But Were Afraid They'd Ask

Everything You Never Wanted Your Kids to Know About Sex (But Were Afraid They’d Ask): The Secrets to Surviving Your Child’s Sexual Development from Birth to the Teens

…and the ever classic Go the F–k to Sleep

Go the F--k to Sleep

Go the F**k to Sleep

So, Feronians, have any suggestions on what you’d get your friends who have had an eventful year?

Please note: Some links in this post are affiliate links.

Feronia Gift Guide 2012


Posted on December 10, 2012 by

It’s that time again! The Feronia Gift Guide is back to help you with stressful holiday shopping. You can still peek at last year’s gift guide, but I’ve wrangled up a few more things you and your friends will love.

Ms. magazine put out a really good list of excellent non-fiction feminist books, from Bell Hooks to Ariel Chevy, that span issues of gender, race, class, and their intersectionality. You can’t go wrong with any of them really but especially check out Audre Lord, Susan Faludi, and bell hooks.

For some more, um, recreational reading you can check out Goodvibe’s list of sexy books. Show your 50 Shades of Grey-loving friends another take on erotica.

Support some rad lady artists and make your artsy friends happy. Gingko Press just put out a book of Tiffany Bozic prints.

Charmaine Olivia is another amazing artist. Her prints sell out fast but these sticker sets are beautiful and affordable.

The mommy-minded might appreciate these Nikki McClure Mama Baby prints. They’re both gorgeous and environmentally friendly; the paper is recycled and was created using wind and alternative power.

One condoms make excellent stocking stuffers. The designs on the packaging are so cool you (almost) won’t even want to use them (but you still should).

If you’re feeling feisty check out Babeland for a great selection of sex toys and erotica. Don’t forget to pick up something for yourself.

If you want to give a meaningful gift that helps others, hook up yourself or a friend with Women for Women, an organization that allows you to help finance business training and support for women survivors of war and conflict.

Have you guys stumbled upon something awesome this year you think we should know about? Post it in the comment section.

Gift Ideas for the Strong, Smart, and Courageous Girl (and Boy!)


Posted on December 4, 2012 by

I was recently at the birthday party of an eleven-year-old girl, and was horrified at the toys she was receiving from adults.

There is a brand of dolls that is a close relative to the Bratz® Collection called Monster High®. The dolls are so sexualized and stereotyped, I was gagging. Long and lean with large breasts and round bottoms, lips plumped and eyes wide and slanted. At this point, the eleven-year-old has about 10 of these dolls, and collects other pieces of the brand’s merchandise like clothing, accessories, books and posters. She is immersed.

Monster High Dolls

These are the Bratz Monster High Dolls.

My problem isn’t that she enjoys playing with dolls, or that it’s too gender-specific for my liking, but I can’t help but be aware of how sexualization is ingrained in our children from a very young age, and it is done through mediums just like these dolls. Young people internalize these images and believe they somehow should look the same way. Specifically, let me link to my post from a few months back that explored the link between sexualization of girls and the American Psychiatric Association’s warnings about the dangers such phenomenon presents for the young consumers. 

So the great news is, I found a website called A Mighty Girl that sells books, toys, movies, music and clothing specifically for “smart, confident, and courageous girls.” Clicking on their home page, I instantly saw a banner for a section called The Ultimate Guide to the Independent Princess (um, yeah, that just happened!).

The Paper Bag Princess

Recommended by A Mighty Girl: The Paper Bag Princess.

The minds of young people are extremely vulnerable to influence, and what happens in childhood often blooms in adulthood. If insecurity about the way one looks begins young enough, it will often carry on the haunt the consumer for the rest of their adult life (our mainstream society is very superficial). Though the website caters specifically to “girls,” the books, games, and toys in this site are appropriate for all children, regardless of gender.

So, in closing, as you consider your holiday gift giving to young women or young men in your life, consider the impact your gift could have on the receiver. Will you be a smart, confident, and courageous consumer?

Links We Love in Sex & Health: Thursday Edition


Posted on November 29, 2012 by

Gender-Neutral Swedish Toy CatalogueHappy Thursday, Feronians!

Today, we’re sharing some of the best things we’ve found around the internet, running the gamut from serious to amazing.

And in the land of awesome:

Happy Halloween, Feronians!


Posted on October 31, 2012 by

Please enjoy it safely, and remember: just in case your Halloween gets really fun, you can always get Plan B at your local Planned Parenthood health center. Stay safe out there.

We’re sharing some fun stuff today as a celebration of the holiday:

Fun Friday – 10 Weird Human Sex Facts


Posted on August 24, 2012 by

KissHappy Fun Friday, kittens! We hope you’ve had a good week and have exciting plans for the weekend.

In honor of Fun Friday, courtesy of The Frisky, here are 10 weird sex facts that prove we’re civilized here at the top of the food chain and yet still pretty freakin’ gross …

Ode to Joy Nash’s ‘Fat Rant’


Posted on August 21, 2012 by

Joy Nash's 'Fat Rant'As I’ve mentioned previously on the Feronia Project, I used to be very overweight, or as actress and body rights activist Joy Nash calls it, “moderately obese.” This began from infancy, and the pounds continued to mount until I found myself at the age of 24 standing 5’4″ and weighing 218lbs. I felt ashamed, humiliated, and invisible to my culture and those around me. I grew up consuming teen magazines and watching MTV just like my peers did, and always felt sick and sad that overweight women were not portrayed in the media in any sort of positive light. We were only the ass of jokes or the example of what not to “let yourself become.”

In a time of loneliness, isolation and depression related to the scrutiny of my body issues, I came across a video on Myspace (remember when that was THE PLACE on the web?) that absolutely empowered me and lit me up inside. It was called “Fat Rant,” a short declaration of independence for fat women like me to stop self-hating and seize life!

I eventually did lose 70lbs through maintaining an online food diary and exercising, and have managed to keep it off for a year and a half. As Joy points out in her video, 95-98% of people who lose 75lbs or more gain it all back within the first three years, two-thirds of those within the first year. So I realize my work is still ahead of me as I maintain a different and more active lifestyle than before, and take my health one day at a time.

But to you, Feronia readers, you likely have had body issues at one time or another – it’s hard to escape the forcefed images of the Photoshopped thin ideal (harassing you in the check-out line magazine racks, internet advertisements, and ANY television show). I encourage you to check out Joy’s “Fat Rant” – I hope it will make you feel a little more entitled to relaxing in your own skin, no matter what size your clothes are.

Fun Friday: Women & the 2012 Olympics


Posted on August 10, 2012 by

Happy Friday, kittens! We hope you have a fantastic, fantastic weekend.

So, I don’t know about you, but I think the world is a funny one. I’ve been watching the Olympics non-stop, myself, and rather ironically, after our post on Tuesday on bias against women in the 2010 Olympics, London 2012 has really been the year of the woman.

We’ve got two good articles for you today:

How much the world changes in two years!