Being ‘sex positive’ does not mean you are a sex addict. Here’s what you need to know

Sex positivity is perhaps one of most misinterpreted concept. Because it can be interpreted in different ways, chances of misunderstanding what it means stand high. There is also a social movement of the same name (sex positive), which promotes and accepts sexuality and sexual expression without criticism and emphasises on consensual and safe sex practices. But mostly when someone says he or she is ‘sex positive’ it means they have a positive attitude towards sex and is comfortable with one’s own sexual identity and sexual behaviour of others.

Sex positive people have an open attitude to learn about sex and healthy sexual activities. They know the importance of practising safe sex and encourage their partner to do the same. They value the importance of sex—both physical and emotional—and never hesitate to ask any question they have about sex. For sex positive people, sex is not a taboo and they discuss it without shame or awkwardness. However, owing to their openness regarding anything related to sex, such people are often misunderstood. Let’s look at a few misconceptions regarding sex positive people.

Sex positivity promotes safe sex and being comfortable with one’s own sexuality. It encourages people to think of sex not as a taboo, but as something that should be enjoyed. However, people often misunderstand this message and believe sex positivity means having lots of sex. But in reality sex positivity actually aims to remove the various stigmas related to sex and sexual choices people make.

Since sex positivity encourages people to break free from all shackles and enjoy sex without feeling guilty, they are mostly misunderstood as supporters of pornography. What these critics forget is, healthy discourse about the practice of safe sex in pornography does not mean they support pornography. Basically, sex positivity advocates safe sex—be it in real life or any medium through which people get to know about sex.

While criticising sex positivity, people often forget that sex positive people only promote consensual sex and often believes that they support sex with minors or animals. However, animals and children cannot give consent for sex and sex positive people only support consensual sex. So, this means they are totally against sex with animals or children. Sex positive people should not be misjudged as paedophiles.

Being sex positive does not mean it involves forcing people to have sex. Practitioners of sex positivity only propagate the practice of safe sex and consider sex to be a healthy part of life that should be enjoyed and not shunned. However, such people are often misunderstood as sexual abusers because of their open attitude towards sex and sexuality.

Sex positive people accept and respect other’s sexual choice and orientation. Sex positivity is an ideology that believes sex–as long as it is safe, healthy and consensual–is a positive thing. This does not mean they only support homosexuality or are homosexuals. This is one of the biggest misconceptions people have about sex positivity.

(All images used here are representational)